Learning to Be Happy With Less

If there’s anything that famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is remembered for — aside from work that left indelible imprints on the skylines of Chicago, New York and other cities — it’s his famous aphorism, “less is more.”

Of course, Mies meant that phrase in connection with architecture. His most famous designs, including the Seagram’s Building in New York, are masterpieces of minimalism. But just as his designs expressed essential architectural truths, so too does his aphorism. In investing, Mies’ words can serve as a valuable guide in at least two senses.