Why Fitness and Finances Go Hand in Hand

Last year, I had my annual medical check-up. I received rather bad news. My family is genetically prone to diabetes 2 and my blood test showed I was close to being diabetic. I wanted to know if there were any other solutions than taking drugs. ‘Sure, lose 10% of your body weight,’ my doctor told me. ‘You might not develop diabetes until you’re one hundred years old.’ I thought that was a pretty good deal, and I vowed to lose the weight.

But how?

I certainly wasn’t interested in trying any of the numerous fad diets prevalent online. I have for many years been a keen runner and gym bunny: so where was I going wrong? I hired gym coaches before, but since coming to China, decided to go it alone. However, the threat of serious disease created urgency. I decided to find a UK-qualified personal trainer. As soon as I took this decision, I took action. I was recommended to a UK-qualified physiotherapist and coach working in Shanghai. When I went to the gym by myself, I followed a repetitive regime. My trainer informed me that if I didn’t regularly change exercise and the timing of my workouts, I would fail to shock my body. Such shocks lead to weight loss.

I followed his regime of high intensity training (HIIT) and a healthy eating plan. Over the past year, I have lost 12 kg. I am no longer pre-diabetic. 

Thinking over what occurred, I noted some similarities between my experience with fitness and my chosen profession in finance. Here are a few parallels to consider: 

Many people do-it-themselves. I watch others in the gym who have decided not to pay for a trainer. Many of them can be seen staring at their mobile phones, wandering aimlessly from one machine to another, and carrying out exercises at a slow pace. In the same period of time, I work many times harder. I follow the advice of a professional to get the job done.

Similarly, many people manage their own finances. They might read online that ETFs are a low-fee solution to their financial woes. They might not trust or be willing to pay for a trainer. All too often, they are investing without much strategy in the financial gym of life.

My trainer gives me clear goals and makes me accountable, while also being accountable to me. Similarly, a great financial adviser helps to define or refine goals, and accountability is both theirs and yours.

I used a simple method to assess my fitness adviser: did I feel better, fitter, and did I lose weight? Similarly, to assess a financial adviser: do I have clearer goals, am I financially fitter, have I gained knowledge or grown my money in a manner that’s aligned with these goals? Answer yes in either case, and the result: peace and happiness.