Forecastle Financial: Transforming the Future of Health
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Guest Contributor Spotlight: A Conversation with Joshua Herring, President & CEO of the Longevity Science Foundation.
This month in THE KEY, we’re delighted to feature Joshua Herring, President & CEO of the Longevity Science Foundation (LSF). The LSF is a tax-exempt nonprofit dedicated to advancing the science of healthy aging so people everywhere can live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives.
Joshua’s story is as inspiring as the work he leads. He blends rigorous financial expertise with deep personal motivation, bringing a refreshing, people-first perspective to the longevity field. In our conversation, he opens up about why he left the world of ultra-high net-worth wealth management, how his family’s experience with cancer shaped him, and why philanthropy and legacy matter deeply in the longevity conversation.
JOSHUA’S PATH TO LONGEVITY — A STORY OF PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE
Joshua didn’t begin his career in science or medicine—far from it. He worked in ultra‑high‑net‑worth asset management at AllianceBernstein, advising family offices, multigenerational families, and institutions. His work revolved around long-term planning: preserving wealth, shaping legacies, managing future risk, and building financial resilience.
But life had other plans. Both of his parents are cancer survivors, and watching their journeys gave Joshua a front‑row seat to the transformative power of research, early detection, and compassionate medical care. Those experiences stuck with him. He felt an undeniable pull to help others access the same hope his family received. That’s when longevity stopped being an abstract idea—and became a calling.
He realized something that now guides his work at the LSF: “We spend so much energy building long-term financial plans. Why aren’t we doing the same for our health?”
His financial background is woven into every part of his leadership at the LSF:
He views longevity through the lens of strategic planning.
He brings a disciplined, investor‑minded approach to funding research projects.
He understands the psychology of planning for the future—and how to help people get there.
He connects the dots between wealth, wellness, purpose, and legacy.
This unique blend makes him not only a mission-driven leader but also an articulate ambassador for a field that can feel intimidating or overly scientific.
THE WORK OF THE LSF — TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF HEALTH
The LSF was founded in 2022 by biotech investors who recognized a major gap: early-stage longevity research needed more support.
Today, the LSF focuses on three core areas:
The Biology of Aging: Understanding how and why we age, and exploring interventions that might slow—or even halt—those processes.
Preventing and Reversing Chronic Diseases: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease are often seen as inevitable. The LSF challenges that idea.
Women’s Health and Hormonal Aging: An underserved area with extraordinary potential to improve health span.
Joshua explains that the LSF thinks in terms of ROV—Return on Value rather than ROI. Their outcomes aren’t measured in dollars, but in healthier years and improved quality of life.
WHAT LONGEVITY REALLY MEANS — QUALITY, NOT JUST QUANTITY
Joshua emphasizes that longevity isn’t about chasing immortality. It’s about:
Living with vitality
Maintaining independence
Staying mentally sharp
Avoiding preventable disease
And enjoying life on your own terms
He also stresses accessibility: longevity must be for everyone, not just those with resources or proximity to top healthcare systems.
THE EXCITING FRONTIERS OF LONGEVITY RESEARCH
Two areas stand out:
Regenerative Medicine: Stem cells, peptides, and regenerative interventions are showing astonishing results—from mobility improvements to potential disease reversal.
Women’s Hormonal Health: Joshua believes this may be the most underfunded yet high-impact area in longevity science.
“These investments pay dividends—not just for women, but for families and communities across generations,” he explains.
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS — AND WHY NOW
Philanthropy isn’t just a funding mechanism for the LSF—it’s the heart of its mission. Joshua has seen firsthand how philanthropy can shape not only institutions but also entire trajectories of human health. And because longevity science is still in its early stages, philanthropy can move mountains.
Joshua says people are drawn to the LSF because:
They’re tired of watching loved ones suffer from preventable diseases.
They believe in research that can improve the quality of life.
They want to invest in something with near-term impact.
They want their giving to reflect their values.
Unlike some areas of research that take decades to bear fruit, the projects the LSF funds are designed to reach real-world application within 2–5 years. That means donors get to see the ripple effects of their giving—not in a distant future, but in their lifetimes.
And, you don’t need millions to make a difference. Joshua often says, “A community of people each giving the cost of a burrito could fund life-saving research.” He believes deeply in the power of collective impact. Many of the LSF’s donors aren’t philanthropists by profession—they’re people who care enough to move the needle.
PHILANTHROPY AS A LEGACY TOOL
This is where Joshua’s financial background shines.
He sees philanthropy as a form of legacy-building—not just for wealth, but for values. He helps donors think about:
What impact do they want to leave behind
How their giving reflects what they believe in
How to pass both financial assets and a culture of giving to the next generation. “Your legacy isn’t just what you leave behind,” he says. “It’s what you set in motion.”
Because longevity affects everyone—children, parents, communities—supporting this work becomes a way to shape the health landscape future generations will inherit.
LEGACY & LONGEVITY — A NATURAL PAIRING
Joshua draws a powerful connection between legacy planning and longevity:
Families plan financially for children and grandchildren—but rarely plan for long-term health.
Longevity research offers a way to shape the future in meaningful, lasting ways.
Philanthropy creates impact that extends well beyond a donor’s lifetime.
Longer lives require stronger financial planning—and stronger health planning.
He sees longevity science as an opportunity to give future generations a world where aging doesn’t have to mean decline, where prevention is accessible, and where vibrant life isn’t a privilege.
“When you support longevity science,” he says, “you’re investing in the future health of your family—and everyone else’s.”
A STORY THAT REMINDS HIM WHY THE WORK MATTERS
He shares one story often: an 83‑year‑old woman from Maryland who reached out after years of chronic pain and healthcare frustrations. She wasn’t a donor—just someone seeking help.
The LSF guided her to the right questions, specialists, and resources. Today, her quality of life looks completely different. “That’s the heart of it,” Joshua says. “Research is essential. But impact happens when people feel seen—and helped—in real time.”
EDUCATION: BRINGING LONGEVITY TO THE WORLD
The LSF isn’t just a funder. It’s a teacher. Through articles, social content, partnerships, and community outreach, the LSF is making longevity knowledge accessible to:
Women navigating hormonal changes
People managing chronic conditions
Families wanting to understand prevention
Individuals curious about new technologies
“We’re not selling anything,” Joshua says. “We’re sharing information that can genuinely change lives.”
Joshua’s final message: “Think about your future. Think about your children’s future. Think about the world you want to help create. There is real urgency here—and you don’t have to know where to start. Reach out. We’ll walk with you.”