This year’s London Marathon is expected to break records as the largest of its kind in the world, with over 56,000 runners set to take part in the event on 27 April 2025, the BBC reports. These hardy individuals will take on the 26.2-mile circuit to challenge themselves to the limit and raise money for charity in the process.
As the runners set off from the starting point in Greenwich Park, they will all have some things in common: the route, distance, weather, and running conditions. Crucially, they’ll also have some things that are individual to them, such as their philosophy, experience, reasons for taking part, targets, and fitness levels.
All these aspects have some interesting parallels with financial planning. When you’re organising your wealth, you’ll have your own variables, like age, personal wealth, approach to risk, and levels of financial understanding.
Some elements of financial planning also share common ground with the ethos of marathon runners.
Read on to discover five of these parallels, and what you can learn from the London Marathon about financial planning.
1. Always look to the finish line
However they do it, however long it takes, the end result of crossing the finish line is every runner’s ultimate goal.
Equally, financial planning is about looking at your long-term goals and keeping these in mind at all times. An unwavering and resolute determination to achieve your objectives can help you keep a clear head and an eye on the prize.
2. Be prepared
You can’t just show up for the Marathon and hope for the best. It takes careful planning, persistent and consistent training, and an understanding of your physical strengths and weaknesses.
Most people spend months gearing up for a marathon, gradually pushing their stamina and fitness levels to the max.
Similarly, preparation is the key to effective financial planning. Having your goals in mind and then thinking about how you can organise your wealth to reach them can help keep you on the road towards achieving your objectives.
3. Stay on track
While runners might slow it down between races, it’s a rare athlete who just grinds to a halt after they’ve finished a marathon.
Rather, they’ll keep training, stay in shape, and be ready to up the pace in preparation for their next major event.
You can keep your wealth on track towards hitting your targets with the same approach of nurturing and conditioning. Regular reviews, especially with an experienced financial planner, can help to keep your finances in great shape.
4. Expect the unexpected (and stay calm throughout)
In the London Marathon, sometimes it rains when it wasn’t forecast. Or it’s hot. Or you hit a wall of fatigue where you were fine in training. There are any number of “or” and “what if?” scenarios, and you can’t prepare for every single contingency.
What you can do is stay calm and focused, with the finish line in sight.
With any kind of long-term financial planning, whether that’s your investment portfolio or trying to mitigate tax, there will also be times you can’t predict. Markets fluctuate, and rules can change.
Crucially, resisting the impulse to sell and instead choosing to ride out the storm, or adapting to a change in legislation, is almost always the most sensible course of action.
5. Have an expert team around you
You might associate marathon running with big names such as Paula Radcliffe and Mo Farah. But, behind every big name is a team of experts working with them: trainers, nutritionists and physiotherapists, all bringing their professional skills together to create a likely winner.
In the same way, talking to an expert financial planner can help you get the most out of your investments and assets, making them work as hard as you do.
Get in touch
Running the London Marathon takes hard work, dedication, preparation and perseverance. In just the same way, creating a comprehensive, effective financial plan takes careful curation, a steady guiding hand, and a clear direction. That’s when you get the results you want.
If you’re looking for a financial planner in Bristol to help you stay focused on your long-term financial plan, we’re your expert team.
Please get in touch either by email at helpme@aspirellp.co.uk or by calling 0117 9303510.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax planning.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
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