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Football season is here, and so are the lessons you can borrow from the field to improve your financial game plan. Just like an NFL team can’t win without balance, your retirement strategy needs more than one play.

In this episode of Money Wisdom, Jake Doser, CFP®, CPWA® and Nicholas J. Colantuono, CFP® draw from the NFL playbook to show how offense, defense, special teams, coaching staff, and even audibles translate into smart money moves.

1. Have a Coordinated Offensive Strategy

Like in football, you need to score to win. Many people ask, “If I already have enough, why keep playing the game?” But even if safety is your priority, growth is still essential. Whether you’re saving for retirement or preserving your money in retirement, you need to keep putting points on the scoreboard.

Leaving your money in cash or CDs means missing out when the market performs well. After all, your assets still need to outpace inflation. The key is having a winning investment strategy that you’re comfortable with.

2. Play Solid Defense

To protect yourself from market volatility, rising healthcare costs, taxes, and inflation, you also need a strong defense. With the right balance of growth and protection, you can manage inflation and guard against risk — keeping the ball moving down the field toward a confident retirement. Your ideal mix of offensive and defensive plays depends on your lifestyle, spending habits, and stage of life.

3. Don’t Forget Special Teams

An often-underrated part of the game, special teams play a crucial role in a successful strategy. In financial planning, this refers to the specialists. Whether it’s a tax planner, estate planning attorney, Medicare agent, or insurance professional, each member plays a vital role on your team to help protect your money and maximize its full potential.

4. Build the Right Team and Coaching Staff

Having a great plan means nothing if your team can’t execute it. Just as a coach and defensive coordinator must be on the same page, your financial partners need to be aligned too. Your household is part of this team as well. If you’re married, you and your spouse must be in sync. And if you have adult children, they should be informed about your plan.

5. Be Ready to Call an Audible

When major life events occur, sometimes you need to call an audible. In football, that means changing the play at the line of scrimmage. As your financial quarterbacks, it means we make adjustments to your plan. The beauty of a solid plan is that usually only one or two small changes are needed — not a complete overhaul of everything you’ve carefully put in place.

Interested in building a simple, actionable plan for your retirement and investment success? Get your free Money Map book by texting “MAP” to 800-757-0436.