Tyra Jarvis of Kefi Coaching, EWGA Sacramento member and Par Sponsor, will be hosting our next EWGA Social.

When:  Thursday, May 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Where:  Pam and Shelley's Home, 5572 Latin Way, Fair Oaks, CA  95628

Join us as we celebrate International Coaching Week:  Learn about coaching and Asking for What You Want, experience coaching by participating in our group laser coaching session, meet our fabulous members, enjoy refreshments, and maybe win a door prize!

Check out pictures from last year (Scroll down to the Kefi Social).

Weather turned out great for Spring Fun League #3 at Bartley Cavanaugh on Saturday, April 25.  The game was individual Stroke Play with prizes awarded to the Closest to the Pin on all 3 pars and one overall low net.  If you didn't know the final foursome (Chao Chen, Lori Lucius, Laurie Hochmuth and Marcia Whiting), you might suspect some "trickery" with their entries for the closest to the pins, but we know better.  Congratulations to our winners!

                Low Net was Kris Corbridge with a 72

                Closest to the Pin Winners

                                #5           Lori Lucius at 10 ft

                                #8           Laurie Hochmuth at 8 inches!

                                #12         Chao Chen at 18 ft 7 inches

                                #17         Clare Payne at 6 inches!!   

A special shout out to Sally Paniagua with 7 ft 5 inches on #8.  Nice job!

So you're out on the course and feeling really good about your game. Your handicap is the lowest it's ever been and your friends have been commenting on how well you've been playing. But today is not the day you're going to be showing off your beautiful drive or the smooth putting skills. It's just an "off" day. It must be all those hazards on the course or the new clubs, you say to yourself. No matter what, it's just not happening and you walk off the course thinking "Why do I bother?"

Has that ever happened to you? Chances are the answer is a resounding yes, at least for those who are telling the truth. And as I've been playing a little bit of golf myself, I'm beginning to see parallels between golf and what I do to pay for it, financial planning.  

Here are the five things I believe are overlapping factors between golf and financial planning:  

1. Persistence, discipline and patience: To begin, golf requires persistence, discipline and patience, lots of patience. Financial planning, in essence is planning for your future and just as every individual is unique, so should be the process of financial planning. Although there is no one-size- fits-all solution, there are fundamentals that make up the holy grail of financial planning. Basics such as budgeting, cash-flow planning and paying off debt build a strong foundation and should be practiced on an on-going basis, every single day.  Working towards strategic goals such as retirement or college planning, charitable planning and leaving a legacy also require discipline and persistence. 
2. Focus on the big picture: Golf may be frustrating at times, but at the end of the day, it's all about having a good time on the course, enjoying the outdoors and spending time with your friends. Focusing too much on scores and handicaps can make you lose sight of the big picture. Similarly, in financial planning, it's important to focus on things like increasing your net worth and staying true to your financial objectives.  Rates of return for investments are important but daily, weekly or even quarterly monitoring may lead to an emotional decision that may jeopardize your long-term plans.
3. Be ready for the unexpected: Even the best laid out plans can go awry if all variables don't perform as expected.  And if you've lived long enough, you know that may very well just happen. So be flexible and make adjustments as needed. All the planning in the world can prove to be one dimensional if it is not adjusted to accommodate the changing economic and fiscal environment.  The uncertainty haunting the entitlement programs such as social security is no secret to anyone and we know that major reforms are needed to make the program sustainable. In light of such circumstances, it is imperative to keep track of your financial plan and adjust it on an on-going basis.
4. Play your own game: In this age of abundant and free information where everyone is an "expert," it is easy to get swayed by media hype, good or bad. Your neighbor's winning stock may not be the right fit for your risk tolerance or time horizon.  Remember, risk tolerance often times becomes irrelevant during bull markets (as in current times) but the real test is when there is chaos in the stock market and there is nothing but red as far as the eye can see.  
5. Seek help and work with a professional: Hiring a golf coach can help your game immensely. And let's take it a step further. What about hiring a golf caddy? Ok perhaps that may not be in the budget, but wouldn't it be just super to have one? The Wikipedia.com defines a caddy as "the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it." And so at the risk of sounding self-serving, I believe a golf caddy is synonymous to a financial planner in the investment world. She masters the technical knowledge and stays current with the dynamic and changing environment, while helping clients make critical decisions relating to their financial life.  Another function, often over-looked and perhaps a little under-appreciated, is the act of providing moral support and encouragement to clients as they move along the recommended path.

There are however, a few things in financial planning that are not at all like golf. For instance, in a friendly game of golf, your friends may let you take a few mulligans, but unfortunately, life may not work that way and there may not be many "do-overs." 

I started playing golf a few years ago and although I really enjoy the game, it is one of the most difficult things I've learned to do (and continue to learn) as an adult.  It is at best a humbling game, very much like life itself.  As I don't consider myself to be an expert on life, I do however see many similarities between golf and financial planning, as is reflected in this month's article. Read, enjoy and if you're not a golfer yourself (my apologies), feel free to share with your favorite golfer.