Playing within your Ability on the Course is like Investing within your Risk Tolerance

Hey guys Douglass Ergood here, I am former division one golfer at The University of North Carolina and now I am a Financial Advisor with Ergood Wealth Management at Janney. Welcome back to teeing up your finances! Today we will discuss an easy mindset adjustment on the course that I hope can reduce the number of double bogeys you card. I don’t know about you but sometimes I find myself trying to take on shots that I know I shouldn’t take. This approach to the game usually leads me to getting the ball into some bad spots during a round of golf. If you’re a golfer, I am sure you know what I’m talking about. My suggestion for you today is to work on simplifying the game by playing within your ability. You can start doing this by giving yourself more margin for error when choosing a target off the tee or going into a green. For example, instead of hitting driver into the narrowest part of the fairway, try hitting a 3 iron into the widest part. Or instead of aiming a 5-iron right at a back left flag try aiming 15 feet right of the pin and just short of hole high. Watch as the double bogeys just fall off your card with this simple shift in mindset. Like playing within your ability on the course, choosing investments that fit your risk tolerance and suit your long-term goals is important in building a portfolio appropriate for you. It is very important for you and your Financial Advisor to know your risk tolerance to be able to make the best recommendations that are within your level of investment comfort. I would love to have a discussion to help you figure out what level of risk is appropriate for you. In golf, as in life, it is the follow through that makes all the difference. Thanks for listening.