The air’s getting crisp, the tailgates are firing up, and your weekends just got booked. Football season is here. And while we’re not claiming to be sport analysts, we do believe the game has a few lessons that carry over into your financial life.
Look closely, and you’ll find that financial planning lessons from football are everywhere. Building a strong financial future has a lot in common with football. Both require strategy, adaptability, a balance between offense and defense, and a trusted team behind the scenes.
Here’s what the game can teach us about growing wealth and building a legacy.
Start with a game plan.
No team walks onto the field without a playbook. Coaches don’t make things up as they go, and the same should be true of your finances.
Whether you’re still growing your wealth or starting to plan for retirement, your financial plan should be a clear roadmap. It should reflect your goals, prioritizewhat matters, and give you confidence in your next move.
But plans change over time. Careers transition, kids head off to college, aging parents—these moments call for a fresh look at your approach. That’s why ongoing partnership with an advisor matters. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need someone to help you call the right plays as life evolves.
Take a moment to assess the field.
As you think about your next financial move, here are a few common questions worth working through—whether on your own or with a trusted advisor. Like a pre-snap checklist, these are simple but powerful ways to make sure you’re lined up correctly before you move forward.
Am I behind on retirement?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and the honest answer is: maybe—but probably not in the way you think.
Even if you’ve started later than you intended, there are still meaningful steps you can take to improve your outlook. What matters most is having a strategy that fits your timeline, your lifestyle, and your priorities. It’s not about catching up overnight—it’s about making each decision count from here forward.
Do I have a plan in place for my family?
Many people assume estate planning is something reserved for “later” or for people with large estates. But simple, thoughtful planning—like having updated wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations—can save your loved ones from confusion, legal delays, and unintended outcomes. Think of it as part of your offensive line: guarding what matters most from the unexpected.
How often should I be checking in on my plan?
Even a solid strategy needs regular maintenance. We typically suggest reviewing your financial plan at least twice a year—or anytime something big changes in your life. Just like great teams adjust at halftime, regular financial check-ins give you the chance to reassess, realign, and respond to whatever life throws your way.
You don’t need to answer all these questions today, but asking them now puts you in a stronger position to move forward.
Balance offense and defense.
Winning teams don’t just focus on scoring, they protect the lead. The same principle applies to your financial life.
Financial offense is all about growth: investing wisely, taking advantage of compounding returns, and developing a retirement income plan that supports your lifestyle. It’s about being intentional with your resources and making each dollar work smarter.
Financial defense ensures what you’ve built is set up for the full 100 yards. That includes having current estate documents, the right insurance in place, a plan for long-term care, and a tax strategy that preserves your wealth over time.
A strong financial plan does both. It looks ahead for opportunities and also safeguards against risks. When those elements are in balance, you gain peace of mind and long-term stability. This financial offense and defense approach is what helps families build confidence and clarity over decades.
Stick to the fundamentals.
The best teams win by doing the basics well. The same holds true for your financial life.
That doesn’t mean chasing the market or jumping on the latest investment trend. It means making smart, steady choices: building up emergency savings, managing cash flow intentionally, limiting high-interest debt, and consistently reviewing your strategy.
Midlife is when many people experience the most financial complexity—multiple income streams, aging parents, college tuition, business transitions. The fundamentals matter more than ever.
Right now, we’re helping clients simplify and strengthen the core of their plans: retirement income strategies, investment allocation reviews, insurance updates, and tax-smart savings moves. These aren’t dramatic changes—but they compound over time and create real traction. For many families, it’s about building wealth like football—slow, steady progress toward the end zone.
Avoid unnecessary penalties.
In football, avoidable mistakes can cost you the game. In your financial life, they can create stress and lost opportunity.
Unexpected tax bills, missing required distributions, overlooking beneficiaries—these issues are common but preventable. Many families also get tripped up by probate, unclear estate documents, or mismatched account ownership.
Working with a financial advisor helps you stay proactive. We help clients avoid costly missteps by regularly reviewing their full financial picture. It’s not about perfection. It’s about knowing the rules and staying ahead of the details.
When we meet with clients, they often say they didn’t realize how many small adjustments could improve their peace of mind. Something as simple as updating a beneficiary or adjusting a withdrawal strategy can have ripple effects across your entire plan.
Use timeouts to regroup.
Life moves quickly. Between careers, kids, aging parents, and everyday responsibilities, it’s easy to lose track of your financial plan.
But every great team knows the value of a well-timed timeout. It’s a chance to pause, reset, and check your alignment before moving forward.
Fall is a natural season for this kind of reflection. As routines settle and the holidays approach, it’s a good time to ask:
- Are we still on track for our long-term goals?
- Have our priorities shifted this year?
- Do we need to make any changes before the year ends?
You don’t have to go it alone. A conversation with a financial advisor can help you get back on track without judgment or overwhelm.
Surround yourself with the right team.
Even the most talented quarterback needs a team. Financial success works the same way.
Behind every confident financial decision is a support system—people who understand your values, who communicate clearly, and who care about the long game, not just the next play. That’s the kind of partnership we aim to build at SD Capital.
Our approach is simple: ask the right questions, listen closely, and make recommendations that reflect your life, not someone else’s playbook. Clients often say they feel more like family than account holders. That’s not accidental. It’s because we build real relationships, not transactional ones.
Having the right team in your corner means you’re not alone when the market dips, when life throws you a surprise, or when you’re ready to take the next step with your legacy. It means someone’s watching the blind spots so you can focus on what matters most.
Your legacy is the long game.
Football season reminds us that the best teams don’t just play for this drive, they play for the win. Legacy works the same way. It’s about what happens long after you leave the field.
Building wealth is important. But knowing what that wealth will do is where legacy comes into focus. These are the true legacy planning lessons that families benefit from most.
For some, that means helping the next generation start stronger. For others, it means giving generously, simplifying the estate process, or having honest conversations that bring peace of mind. There’s no single playbook. What matters is that it reflects your goals, not someone else’s.
If you’re unsure of which play to make next—or are ready to start strategizing—schedule a conversation with our team. We’ll talk through where you are, where you’re headed, and whether SD Capital is the right fit for you.
The opinions expressed in this material are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is not a guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.
Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee success or protect against loss in all market conditions.
This material is not intended to be a substitute for individualized financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult your financial advisor, tax professional, or legal counsel regarding your specific situation.
Brent Shimman is the co-founder of SD Capital with over 20 years of experience helping clients align their finances with what matters most. He lives in Oregon, Ohio with his wife and five children.
