This is my favourite class at the gym I belong to – it’s a tabata style class, which is a type of high intensity interval training – i.e. non stop sweat for an hour. The classes are generally small and in a room enclosed by mirrors, so you can’t help but become competitive and do things outside of your comfort zone to keep up with the group.

 

Generally, I leave the class feeling like a superstar – stronger and healthier. Monday, I left the class in pain (and not the good kind). You see, I was overconfident and too eager with my weight selections … I went too far out of my comfort zone and ended up pulling something in my lower back. The pain crippled me for two days as I braced myself to walk, sit and even sleep through the knot. I regretted doing that to myself and longed for the days of feeling “normal” again.

 

Thankfully, I have since recovered and in reflecting on my decision to increase my weights too quickly, it made me think of the similarities it draws to the conversation I have with clients regarding their investor profile and asset allocation.

 

Each and every one of you has a different investor profile – you each define risk differently and have your own short term, mid-term and long-term goals for your money. It’s important to keep these vital details in mind when building your portfolio because the composition of your holdings plays a large part in your results. Just because “everyone” is buying a certain stock or product, doesn’t mean that it’s the right one for you. For example, if you’re a ‘conservative’ investor and you’re given a ‘tip’ to buy a hot stock, going outside of your comfort zone (i.e. investor profile) could easily leave you feeling like a superstar if it multiplies in value or just as easily leave you in the same type of back pain I experienced – once again emphasizing the importance of having a disciplined financial plan to put you and keep you on track.

 

Enjoy the long weekend - my very good friends Jeff & Kristin are getting married this weekend and I have the privilege of (hopefully) making everyone laugh as their MC - congrats guys!