Sources of happiness

GLOBAL INVESTOR FOCUS Happiness — 05
What does a good life consist of and where can we find our personal
sources of contentment and satisfaction?
Numerous specialists have given an answer to these questions in the
current issue of Global Investor Focus and the results are really surprising.
You will discover, for example, that satisfaction is something that
can be measured. In a global comparison involving 80 countries, Denmark
came out on top, followed by Switzerland and Austria. There are
many paths leading to satisfaction. We have invited people from all walks
of life to share their thoughts with us on the subject.
The quality of our social life is certainly important as a source of satisfaction.
Harmonious, nurturing relationships with family and friends
give us strength. Two other important pillars of a balanced life are having
work you are passionate about and fulfilling recreational and leisure activities.
It is up to each of us to find the right balance between these two
spheres of life. Clearly, the more financial freedom you have, the more
liberty you will enjoy to pursue a life of your own design. This independence
is yet another source of satisfaction.
A basic element within happiness is personal health, which obviously
becomes more important when illness or health problems are an issue.
Today’s immense store of knowledge and the fast pace of medical advancement
are keeping us healthy longer, and thanks in part to groundbreaking
technologies, medical science has also made it possible to
detect and treat diseases at an earlier stage.
The desire to enjoy life is growing. Sectors that can make a sound
contribution to a good life offer correspondingly good growth potential.
Our analysts spotlight several of these promising fields in this issue of
Global Investor Focus; they include medical technology, pharmaceuticals,
food, real estate, tourism and technology. Investing in companies
active in these sectors should bring good returns. At the same time, they
represent an investment in your sense of well-being and satisfaction.
Photo page 5/Cover: Thomas Eugster
I wish you much pleasure in reading our publication.
Urs Dickenmann, Head Private Banking Switzerland