Among our prized memorabilia here at Winch Financial is a football helmet signed by three of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. Best of all, they’re all Packers. Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers share a historic legacy and an astounding seven NFL titles so far. In honor of those titles, here are seven lessons you can learn from these storied players as you build your own legacy. Find your passion. Nobody gets to the NFL without passion for the game. These players fought through injuries and battled some of the bitterest cold in league history. It’s tough to play in a -46 wind chill with nothing but old school cleats on your feet if you don’t have a passion for the game. Bart did it, though, in the famous Ice Bowl and Brett quarterbacked the Packers in the second coldest game in franchise history, the 2008 NFC championship game. Passion for the task at hand helps in the face of whatever adversity you might encounter in your own life. Be a team player. Though they have diverse personalities, all three quarterbacks have earned the lifelong respect of their teammates. Elite quarterbacks are students of the game. For every minute you see them on the field, they’ve spent hours studying playbooks and reviewing game film. Planning makes the execution seem effortless. Allow yourself to recover from your mistakes. These three players are among the all-time best, but all three have thrown their share of interceptions, missed open receivers and fumbled the ball on key plays. As Coach Lombardi himself said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Don’t be afraid to take a risk, learn from your mistakes, and keep moving forward. Don’t be threatened by anyone else’s success. Favre offered to wait as long as necessary to share the field with Bart Starr. He didn’t have to do that. One… | Read More »
Month: November 2015
Don’t be afraid of your financial advisor
An astounding 71% of Americans say they’re afraid to speak with a financial advisor, according to a recent survey by the Harris Poll. In addition to cost concerns, many of the people cited said they were afraid an advisor would give them bad news about their financial situation. The quickest way to ease these fears, of course, is to sit down with a financial advisor. We suggest choosing an advisor who is also a fiduciary, which means he or she sits on the same side of the table with you, gets paid on a percentage of your assets, and makes money when you do. As Madam Curie said, “Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” In the face of long life expectancy, it is critical to understand the obstacles you may face in your retirement. A financial advisor will encourage you to take a thorough look at your finances, which might be painful, but he or she also will talk you through solutions. Together, you can set up a budget, track your 401(k), Roth or traditional IRA contributions, optimize your Social Security withdrawals, review your insurance needs and talk through options to cover yourself and your family in the event of a debilitating illness. A qualified financial advisor works as an ally to combat the real fear in life, outliving your financial resources. Our clients tend to find genuine enjoyment in their meetings with our advisors. They provide an opportunity for reflection, goal setting, and genuine camaraderie. The meetings become touchstones and include laughter and respect, photo sharing and family pride, encouragement and prayers. If you find yourself among the nearly three-quarters of American adults who are afraid to talk to a financial advisor, pick up the phone and call us today. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll enjoy the conversation.