Episode 103: What Pickleball Can Teach Us About Investing

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Balanced Wealth Podcast. My name is Jarrett Topel.

Pickleball has become one of the most popular sports in America, and for good reason. I t is accessible, social, competitive, and fun for players of all ages and skill levels. What many people may not realize is that the game also offers valuable lessons about investing. The qualities that make someone a strong pickleball player such as patience, positioning, teamwork, and consistency are also qualities that can make someone a strong investor.

Anyone who has played even one game of pickleball knows that patience wins points. New players often try to smash the ball as soon as they see it, only to hit it out of bounds or into the net. More experienced players understand that rallies are usually won by waiting for the right opportunity. They use softer shots, keep the ball in play, and stay calm until the perfect moment arrives.

And investing works in much the same way. Trying to chase the latest hot stock or pulling all your money out of the market during a dip is like swinging wildly at every ball. You might get lucky once, but more often, it leads to mistakes. The investors who succeed are the ones who stay steady, keep contributing to their accounts year in and year out, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.

In Pickleball, positioning on the court is just as important as patience. A player who lingers too far back gives up control of the net, while one who crowds the kitchen line risks getting passed.

The key is balance.

In financial terms, this balance is called, asset allocation.

An investor who puts everything into growth stocks may enjoy a strong run when markets are booming but risks losing heavily when conditions change. On the other hand, an investor who stays entirely in cash and bonds may feel safe in the short term but sacrifices long term growth potential.

The best outcomes, both on the court and in the markets, come from balance and readiness.

Rules matter a lot in pickleball, and the kitchen is the best example. It is a quirky rule that frustrates beginners because it limits how close you can be when volleying, but it creates fairness and adds a lot of strategy to the game. Ignore the rule and you lose the point and quite possible the game.

And, investing has its own version of the kitchen, in the form of a financial plan. Without guidelines, or a plan, it is easy to get emotional, take unnecessary risks, or spend too much.

A plan sets boundaries and keeps you accountable. It can spell out how much you should keep in stocks versus bonds, when to rebalance your portfolio, and how much you can safely withdraw from your accounts in retirement. Just as the kitchen keeps pickleball from turning into a reckless hitting contest, your financial plan keeps your investing disciplined an unemotional.

Now, most pickleball games are played as doubles, which means teamwork is central. Success in a double match depends on communication, trust, and a willingness to cover for each other. Two players who coordinate well often beat a pair of stronger individual players who do work as well together.

The same idea holds true in financial planning. If you are married or in a partnership, money is a team effort. One partner may be more of a saver while the other enjoys spending. But when they talk openly, and respect each other’s styles, the whole household is stronger.

Beyond the family, teamwork can also include a financial advisor, tax professional, or estate planning attorney. Even the best athletes rely on coaches, and even the most confident investors can benefit from another perspective and professional guidance.

A final financial lesson we can learn through Pickleball comes from how points are scored.

A pickleball game is played to 11, and those 11 points are usually won through steady play rather than one spectacular shot. Consistency wins matches. Wealth is built the same way. Small actions add up to meaningful results. Regular contributions to a retirement account, reinvesting dividends, or increasing savings by just a small percentage each year might not feel exciting in the moment, but over decades the impact is dramatic.

Pickleball may seem like nothing more than a lighthearted pastime, but the game is full of lessons about how to manage money wisely. Patience, balance, rules, teamwork, and consistency are as important on the court as they are in financial planning and investing. The next time you pick up a paddle, notice how the strategies you use in a rally mirror the strategies that build long term wealth. Every shot and every point is a reminder that success is rarely about a single moment.

It is about playing with purpose and winning the long game.