FINANCIALLY
Speaking
Golfing with a Caddy
by
Jeffrey M . Orth , ChFC , CASL Investment Advisor Representative of HTK
Jeffrey M . Orth is a Chartered Financial Consultant , a Certified Advisor in Senior Living , and an Investment Advisor Representative , with over 10 years experience as a business and personal planning , insurance , and wealth management specialist Jeff is available for group lectures and private consultations . Visit his website at www . ifitfinancial . com or call 408.842.2716 .
A3JM-0424-01E1
If you play golf , you understand that you will never have a perfect score . The game can be incredibly enjoyable , but there will always be a number of shots that you will not hit as well as you would have liked . The course seems to win more often than we do , but we still keep playing , dreaming about shooting our best round of golf ever . Perfection may not be possible in golf , even with the pros , but they know that having a caddy by their side can help them make necessary adjustments to get back on track .
Winning financially can often feel much like a round of golf . There are those periods where you feel you can do no wrong . You are on your game and everything seems to be perfect . Then , the next round looks like you have never played the game . Having a ‘ financial caddy ’ can help you successfully navigate the investment ‘ course ’.
A good caddy can watch you play a couple of holes and become a valuable aid in club selection and strategy to score your best on a given hole . They can take some of the guesswork out of deciding what to do and can reduce your exposure to the overall risk . You will tend to swing the club better when you are confident about your club selection . As a financial advisor and wealth manager , I function very much like a caddy . I sort through a large arena of financial instruments and discuss those products that might help eliminate , or at least minimize , losses while providing you with a satisfying outcome . It is my job to help my clients select the most appropriate ‘ clubs ’ available in the financial industry that may best produce the results they desire .
One thing that makes the game of golf more enjoyable is consistency . I realize that I may never be able to hit a 300-yard drive over water and draw it around a corner into the middle of a 20-yard fairway lined with bunkers , but if I can consistently keep the ball in play with a modest amount of distance gained , I am happy . Most people feel the same way about their investments . They are not trying to compete with the pros- they are just trying to keep moving steadily forward and attempt to avoid unnecessary penalties . Even if you feel you are a good golfer , having someone you trust walking alongside you , who is familiar with the course and its hazards , and the tools that work best for you , will generally help you play better than you could by yourself .
Like many amateur golfers , consumers often believe that the financial product they have in their hand is the best one to get them where they want to go . Maybe they have seen their friends have success with it and think it will also work for them . In reality that particular product might have little chance of being successful for them , given their current situation . It ’ s important to have the right club FOR YOU in your hand before you start to swing ! In golf , as in life , the instruments you select have a lot to do with where you are on the course .
When looking at all the clubs available to a golfer , I believe the putter is the most valuable club in the bag . It will never come up in a conversation about distance , yet it can help you improve your score better than any other club in your bag and is in fact the only club that is typically used on every hole . Many investors focus on their “ driver ” - investments that have the potential for the biggest returns — but that same “ club ” could also take them “ out of bounds .” Consistency and accuracy with your putter can have a big impact on the successful outcome of your overall game .
Like a caddy , I don ’ t hit the shot for my clients but I take the time to understand their capabilities or “ swing ” and can offer them sound direction in their “ club ” selections , to improve their potential chance of success .
The author ’ s opinions , comments information , etc . are those solely of the speaker and are independent of , and do not represent , HTK , and should not be considered as specific investment or planning advice . Please consider your options based on your individual circumstances . Gilroy Today and other listed entities are independent of and un-affiliated with , HTK and Integrated Financial Benefits Network ( IFit ).
S U M M E R 2 0 1 3 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 13