Tom Brady and Drew Brees are meeting in the NFC divisional playoff game today. Tom Brady is 43; Drew Brees is 42 – the oldest match up for quarterbacks in a playoff game. Messrs. Brady and Brees will be first-ballot Hall of Famers when their careers end. Mr. Brees is the NFL leader in passing yards with 80,358. Mr. Brady is second with 79,204. Mr. Brady is the all-time leader for touchdowns with 581, Mr. Brees is second with 571. Mr. Brady ranks eleventh for games played at 301, and Mr. Brees ranks sixteenth. Mr. Brees and the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl 45, and he was named the games MVP. Mr. Brady is the all-time leader in Super Bowl wins with six, and he was named the Super Bowl MVP four times.
A quarterback aged 40 or more is rare, and these two are defying the odds. Despite their success, they have faced criticism and doubts. The San Diego Chargers traded Mr. Brees in 2005 after successful shoulder surgery. I bet the Charges wished they had kept him on the roster. He continually faces criticism about his height and arm strength. Phil Simms said, “Listen, his arm strength was never great.”
Tom Brady was the 199th pick, drafted in the 6th round, a snub he has not forgotten. In 2016, Max Kellerman “decided to declare that Brady’s career was about to be over sooner rather than later.”[1] He also called him “a bum.” After four years, Mr. Kellerman admits he was wrong about Tom Brady’s late-term playing career.
I’ve never met Tom Brady or Drew Brees, but I suppose they ignore the criticisms, and they probably aren’t aware of most things said about their potential “demise.” Rather than listen to the experts, they work out regularly, practice often, eat well, and repeatedly perfect their craft – they follow their plan and focus on what they can control.
The average NFL career lasts 3.3 years.[2] Mr. Brady is playing in his twenty-first season, Mr. Brees is in his twentieth. To survive and excel in the NFL for two decades requires perseverance, dedication, and tenacity – traits these two NFL greats have in abundance.
As an investor, you may face criticism and doubt about your investing style or portfolio. TV personalities, experts, analysts, relatives, neighbors, friends, or social media trolls may give you pause to think about your financial future. You may hear others say: “How come you own that company?” or “Why don’t you own this company?” or “The stock market is going to crash, you should sell your stocks!” Tune out the noise and chatter.
To create generational wealth, focus on those things you can control and ignore the rest. Here is a shortlist of things you can manage.
- Savings. How much money do you save per month or year? The amount you save will have the most significant impact on your future wealth. Contribute the max to your 401(k) and IRA. Automate your savings. If you save $10,000 per year for thirty years, you could have more than $1.5 million in assets when you’re ready to retire.
- Expenses. You have complete control over your spending. The less you spend, the more you save. January is an excellent time to review your spending habits. If you spend some time pouring over your bank and credit card statements, you may find a few expenses to reduce or eliminate.
- Investments. You can purchase any investment in the world – stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, Bitcoin, art, jewelry, etc. However, if you want to retire in style, it’s best to own investments that grow, like stocks. The 100-year average for stocks has been 10%. If you keep most of your money in cash, it will lose value every year because of inflation and taxes.
- Diversification. Diversify your assets across stocks, bonds, and cash and rebalance your portfolio annually. Diversification is considered a free lunch on Wall Street.
- Plan. Your financial plan is unique to your situation. To succeed as an investor, buy investments you’re comfortable owning and follow your plan; it is your financial playbook, guiding you to long-term success.
Investing is not a sporting event, but it does require a game plan with long-term strategic thinking to succeed.
If you’re wondering, Brees holds an edge over Brady in games won – 5 to 2.
“Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.” ~ Rudy Tomvanovich
January 16, 2021
Bill Parrott, CFP®, is the President and CEO of Parrott Wealth Management in Austin, Texas. Parrott Wealth Management is a fee-only, fiduciary, registered investment advisor firm. Our goal is to remove complexity, confusion, and worry from the investment and financial planning process so our clients can pursue a life of purpose. Our firm does not have an asset or fee minimum, and we work with anybody who needs financial help regardless of age, income, or asset level. PWM’s custodian is TD Ameritrade, and our annual fee starts at .5% of your assets and drops depending on the level of your assets.
Note: Investments are not guaranteed and do involve risk. Your returns may differ from those posted in this blog. PWM is not a tax advisor, nor do we give tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for items that are specific to your situation. Options involve risk and aren’t suitable for every investor.
[1] https://www.sportscasting.com/max-kellerman-finally-admits-he-was-wrong-about-tom-brady-becoming-a-bum/
[2] https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/207780/current-and-former-nfl-players-in-the-drivers-seat-after-completing-mba-program