My daughter lives in Hanover, NH and is a big tennis fan, as am I. We were thrilled to learn that Dartmouth University invited tennis star Roger Federer to speak at their commencement on June 9 this year! He focused his talk on “tennis lessons” that made me think about how playing tennis and investing have many parallels.
Certainly, both involve strategy, planning, adaptability plus a bit of luck! In tennis, you need to anticipate your opponent’s moves and plan your shots accordingly. Similarly, in investing you must anticipate market trends and make strategic decisions about where to allocate resources.
Both also demand continuous learning and adaptability. In tennis you constantly refine your skills and adapt to different playing styles. Hitting a strong inside-out crosscourt forehand to your opponent’s weaker backhand is a path to probable success. Likewise, in investing you need to stay informed about market changes and be ready to adjust your strategies. When the Fed telegraphs a dovish interest rate forecast, it is best to modify strategy accordingly.
Also, patience and discipline are crucial in both areas. In tennis, staying calm and composed helps you make better decisions on the court. Don’t rush that put-away volley, or you might hit it out or into the net! In investing, maintaining a disciplined approach can help you navigate market volatility and avoid impulsive decisions. Don’t chase that high-flying investment theme unless there is a strong case supporting it.
And finally, luck is also a factor in tennis and investing! There are many unpredictable aspects to tennis like “net cords” where the ball just trickles over the net, gusty wind conditions, or bad ball bounces. In investing, sometimes the markets move in unpredictable ways that are either to your detriment or benefit. The timing of cash flows into the market could also be a positive or negative factor depending on when you entered the markets. Also, unexpected economic or geopolitical events can significantly impact market returns.
While luck can influence outcomes in both tennis and investing, skill and preparation often mitigate its impact. Both in tennis and investing, a well-prepared investor is better prepared to capitalize on lucky breaks and to recover from unlucky events. Just like having a diverse selection of shots and skills in tennis helps your game, likewise diversification in investing helps mitigate risk.