With the Rugby World Cup now less than a week away, you can imagine how the preparation has been cranking up for the 20 teams who will be heading to Japan to fight it out for the Webb Ellis Cup.<\/p>\n
The players will have been in the throes of intense fitness training, strict dietary regimes, a programme of warm-up friendlies, psychological testing and much more to ensure they are match-fit and ready to withstand the physical and mental rigours of such a huge sporting occasion. And behind each team of players will be a whole host of experts including doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists and psychologists, all working closely with the coach who is entirely focussed on making sure that the players are in tip top condition at exactly the right time. It\u2019s teamwork that makes the dream work!<\/p>\n
A sports coach fulfils the role of mentor, consultant and motivator to guide an athlete into achieving their full potential, leading and motivating in order to keep individuals focussed and to maximise performance.<\/p>\n
While none of us would question the need for a sportsperson, be they a rugby player, a paddler or a rhythmic gymnast, playing professionally or for fun, to have a coach to help them prepare for important matches and tournaments, we often have trouble identifying or justifying this need for ourselves in certain areas of our lives. And financial planning is one of those areas.<\/p>\n
Many people fail to see the need for a financial planner, thinking they can easily go it alone. Others think that they don\u2019t earn enough. However, just as a sports coach will have an in-depth understanding of the skills, tactics and strategies needed for their prot\u00e9g\u00e9 to succeed, a financial planner can take an objective view of your overall situation and use their knowledge and experience to help you work out exactly what your financial goals are and how to achieve them.<\/p>\n
This applies whether you are a billionaire or on a more modest salary. In fact, it\u2019s arguably more important if your funds are limited and each expense is a choice which has to be carefully considered. While you might find it difficult to take a step back from the everyday quagmire of getting the bills paid and putting food on the table, a financial planner won\u2019t. They can help you prioritise your expenses and adjust your saving and spending accordingly.<\/p>\n
In my role as a financial planner I have helped literally hundreds of expats living in Asia make the most of their postings abroad when they often have more disposable income than at other times in their lives. While financial planning gets a bad rap and can seem boring, I really do believe in the transformational power it has to improve people\u2019s lives. I\u2019ve seen it first hand many times.<\/p>\n