Well, have you made your bracket yet? It’s March, after all! Around the office, we always enjoy following the March Madness tournament. And we’ve been known to put a little money on the games as well – “little” being the operative word. It’s part of the fun!
With a junior in high school applying to colleges and developing post-secondary plans, I’m looking at the tournament a little differently this year. I want his top-choice schools to do well! My Cinderella favorite is High Point University out of North Carolina. It’s their first time ever in tourney and while they’re seeded 13th, I’m rooting for them.
Historically, the odds of a 13th seed upsetting their first-round opponent – 4th-seeded Purdue in this case – are low but not impossible. If by some miracle they were to take the whole tourney, I have no doubt I would win any NCAA pool out there, but statistically, the odds are way against me. Some of the other schools my son is considering (Kansas, Tennessee) have slim-yet-better chances.
However, the thrill of following the tournament is that no one really knows how it’s going to go. Never before in its more than 80 years has there ever been a perfect bracket. The odds of picking all the winners correctly are astronomical.
This has a way of balancing the playing field across bracket-makers. Even if you don’t know a single thing about basketball and are choosing your winners based on which team colors you like more, you might still come out ahead in your office pool.
Experts analyze stats, odds are set, and predictions are made but upsets always happen. Some underdog team you’ve never heard of will manage to pull off the impossible and knock out a top seed.
March Madness reminds us that anything can happen. And just like an underdog can shake up the tournament, unexpected changes can throw off your financial future. You don’t want market volatility, economic downturns, or tax changes throwing your future off course. The best game plan is one that holds up no matter what – no matter what the economy is doing, no matter what the housing market looks like, no matter where life takes you.
At Secured Retirement, our playbook is designed to keep you winning. Our approach has always focused on balancing the pillars of wealth management – income and investment strategy, taxes and charitable planning, healthcare and legacy – to protect you from vulnerabilities and keep you on track.
Because when it comes to your retirement, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. A solid financial strategy ensures you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.
So while your bracket may be busted by the Sweet 16, your retirement plan shouldn’t be. Let’s make sure you have a winning strategy. Call us: 952-460-3290
CUP OF JOE
From Joe Lucey, Founder of Secured Retirement
There’s something about sitting down with a steaming cup of coffee that always kicks my day into high gear. And it’s not just because of the caffeine it sends coursing through my veins.
Throughout my career, some of my biggest revelations have come to me in conversation with my mentor over a cup of joe. Good conversation and personal connection can pick you up in a special way. It’s that feeling that I’m hoping to bring to you with my series, your Cup of Joe.
