I never really played tennis growing up. We were a football and basketball family.
But we watched tennis.
This month, two people from the world of tennis caught my attention.
Rafa and Roger.
Two champions of the game and two of the greatest players of all time.
Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from tennis. 22 Grand Slam victories.
Roger Federer retired two years ago. 20 Grand Slam victories.
But it was the video of Roger’s June 2024 Commencement Address at Dartmouth College that I really want to share with you. I’ve included a short clip of that speech below. (If you want to watch the whole address click here.)
He talks about the “greatest match of all time” when he and Rafa faced each other in the 2008 Wimbledon final. But he said something else that was particularly interesting. He quoted the percentage of points he won over his career. 54%.
And it made me recall the different approach to professional and amateur tennis that Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management fame shared.
Howard talks about how tennis is an entirely different game for an amateur player. His thoughts, shared in the short video clip below (click to play), resonate strongly with us here at HPH and how we think about investing for you, our clients.
We’re not trying to hit winners like a professional for a 54% success rate like Roger.
Investing like an amateur tennis player may not be a spectator sport, but it definitely lowers risk and is far more likely to provide a successful investment experience.
Hope you enjoy these insights.
Rob Pyne
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Choosing the best school for your child can be a significant financial decision but also a significant decision for your child and family. There are ten steps you can follow to make the most informed decision possible.
What is a digital estate plan and should you have one?
A digital estate plan is a document that outlines how a person’s digital assets should be managed after their death. The goal of a digital estate plan is to ensure that your digital legacy is handled according to your wishes and that your loved ones can access important information without legal complications.
Should you have one? Definitely! It’s incredibly important, given how much of our lives occur online today.
This article breaks down why and how.
Case Study: Sale of investment property and superannuation
Joan and Joan are retirees who’ve been clients with us for a while. As we do at every Progress Update Meeting, we recently reviewed their personal situation and goals and formulated a strategy to meet their changing needs and desires. This case study shows how this strategy reduced their assessable capital gain by $1 million while reducing the future tax burden on their children.
An invitation to our Aged Care Information Event
HPH Solutions and Mercer Care & Living are partnering to provide independent guidance, support and advice for families planning for ageing care. While HPH advises on all the financial considerations, Mercer Care & Living helps families navigate the time-consuming and confusing aspects of care and living options.
The rising cost of aged care is on the way from 1 July 2025.
Learn how HPH and Mercer can help you and your family make informed decisions by attending our free community presentation.
Find out more and register your interest to attend here.
Meet the team: Matt Hern
Matt’s a financial planner who has a fascination with human behaviour and how the things we think influence the choices we make. Matt has been with us at HPH since early 2022, and he always has interesting insights on the intersection of money and life. In fact, ‘Money for Life’ is one of the workshops Matt presents to corporate clients seeking to boost the wellbeing and welfare of their teams.
Find out more about his financial wellbeing presentations here. And more about Matt here.