Even the best have help: what Messi, Simone Biles, Nadal, Djokovic, Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alcaraz and so many elite athletes can teach you about your financial health.
Think about the names above or any elite athlete. They know perfectly well how to train, when and at what intensity. They know what diet to follow, what to eat and when they can “relax.” They know how to prepare for competition. And they know what not to do before a test or match. As top athletes, they know themselves better than anyone… but they don’t do it alone: they have a team of professionals helping them achieve their goals.
Do you know why? Because knowledge is one thing, but consistency and discipline to follow a plan is another.
If at that level they need support to stay competitive, why should you try to do everything on your own?
Discover why consistency is the real challenge and how to find the balance between doing it yourself and letting inbestMe help you with your financial planning.
We all know someone who says: “I don’t need a coach, I can organize myself,” “I don’t need to consult a dietitian, I already know what to eat and how much,” or “why pay management fees for a managed portfolio if I can invest on my own?” And they’re not wrong. Today we have access to free training videos, nutrition apps, investment platforms and all kinds of resources to manage our health and finances independently*. We can even follow advice from professionals who share valuable content in their blogs or podcasts.
But here’s the real point we want to highlight: will we be able to stay disciplined and consistent without professional support? Because if we’re not (and this happens to far more people than admit it), the supposed savings from doing it alone end up being very expensive.
* Disclaimer: the sheer amount of information and the ease with which we can access this kind of content does not mean it is valid for our personal case. Additionally, we risk putting our physical and financial health in the hands of unqualified and unauthorized people.
Managing your investments on your own: control or silent risk?
It’s an unquestionable reality that today you can open an account with a broker, choose your assets, read about index funds, active funds, cryptocurrencies or precious metals, and build your own portfolio. And that’s great… if you know yourself, if you’re disciplined, if you have a clear strategy and if you know how to stick to it in both good and bad times.
In the end, it’s a combination of three elements:
- Knowledge (of yourself and of the different investment vehicles);
- Time (to acquire knowledge and carry out the strategy over the years);
- Discipline and consistency (to avoid “derailing” and to reach the end of the journey).
Ultimately, you need to know yourself and the available investment vehicles, understand what goals you want to achieve and whether they are attainable given your personal situation, have a plan and define the strategy (and know how to review it frequently), and most importantly, be able to implement and maintain it over time.
But this is where many people fail.
Because when the market falls, when inflation gets out of control, when interest rates are very low, when the market is at highs or in a deep downturn, or simply when you are exposed to the constant daily noise from the news or social media, the temptation to change something and overact appears. It’s a behavioral bias: when faced with an alarm signal, our brain tells us to do something, not stay still.
In short, without a defined structure or strategy, or personal planning, decisions tend to be impulsive.
And there is nothing worse for your financial health than acting or making decisions based on impulses in uncertain moments, which, by the way, are inherent to economic activity, financial markets, and life in general.
This is why, even if you feel like you’re in control of your finances, there is a silent risk that can cost you dearly in the long run. Much more, of course, than a portfolio management fee.
This is where inbestMe makes the difference: we allow you to invest in managed, automated portfolios that are diversified and aligned with your personal goals, so you don’t have to make emotional decisions in a context of permanent uncertainty. We allow you to have more than one portfolio depending on your needs and we keep them within the appropriate risk profile. Our algorithms rebalance when needed, manage any additional contributions you make to your plan, and our Investment Committee constantly monitors portfolios to keep them optimized using low-cost funds from the best international asset managers.
In addition, you can schedule your periodic contributions to put your savings and investment plan on autopilot. And you won’t need to worry about distributing your monthly contribution across the different funds in your portfolio: we take care of purchasing the necessary shares or securities so that your plan stays on track.
Immediate savings and long-term cost
Most people who try to do it all themselves do it with good intentions: one of them is surely to save money. For example: saving the management fee of a portfolio.
But if you end up not being able to stick to the habit or make mistakes that set you back… that supposed saving becomes a hidden cost.
Sometimes the “saving” of not having help is paid with frustration, wasted time and mediocre results.
On the other hand, when you have professional support, the return is not only financial. It’s mental, it’s emotional: you reduce decision fatigue, rely on others’ experience, and increase your chances of staying the course.
Is it wrong to do it yourself?
Not at all. Doing it yourself is totally valid.
But it’s important to do it honestly: do you have a clear plan? Are you disciplined? Will you know how to stick to it over time? Do you know yourself well enough to know what risk profile is right for you when starting your investment and in the years ahead? Will you be able to keep up with updates or changes in investment funds in the future? Will you know how to choose the best option for your portfolio? Do you have clear rules for rebalancing? And for periodic or additional one-off contributions?
If the answer is yes, go ahead.
But if some of these questions don’t have a clear answer, or consistency and discipline are a challenge (as they are for most people), delegating part of the process is not a weakness. It’s a smart decision.
Because it’s not just about saving on fees. It’s about not losing control when it matters most. It’s about being able to stick to your plan and stack the odds in your favor to achieve your financial goals.
The value of support: even the best have it
Here’s where a powerful idea comes in. Think about this:
In addition to the names mentioned at the beginning of the article, thousands of elite athletes know perfectly well how to train, how to eat, how to take care of themselves. Many of them are the best in the world in their field (or were, and managed to stay there for a long time).
And yet, they don’t do it alone.
They have coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, data analysts. People who are by their side every day, adjusting, guiding, pushing and supporting.
Why? Because even when you have all the knowledge in the world, consistency and sustained improvement are not built alone. It’s not about knowing what to do, but about having a system and structure that help you do it, even when you’re not at your best.
The key is not to start, it’s to stick with it
What’s truly difficult is not going out for a run on a Monday morning in winter or summer at 7 am, investing €500 a month in a portfolio with four or five funds, or copying an initial distribution from some blog.
The difficult part is:
- Going out for a run every Monday in winter and summer for weeks and months.
- Contributing every month for years, maintaining your strategy and not touching the portfolio when turbulence hits.
- Knowing at all times if those funds are the most appropriate for your portfolio and keeping up with fund managers’ updates for years.
That’s what separates those who get results from those who fall short.
And that’s why you either need iron discipline, or external help that provides it for you.
Alone you go faster, but (with the right) company you go further
You’ve surely read a motivational phrase like the one above somewhere. And deep down, it’s very true. Especially if the company is good company.
In the case of inbestMe, we have three levels of support designed to match your wealth and needs:
- Level 1) If you invest less than €100,000 with our portfolios: you have access to different automated plans tailored to your goals, time horizon and personal situation, with low costs, diversification and simplicity, without having to dedicate daily time to your investments. You can delegate your investments into globally diversified portfolios that help you achieve your financial goals.
- Level 2) inbestMe Plus: if you have already surpassed €100,000 of investment (in one or across several portfolios), you access a personalized service. In addition to all the benefits of the first level, you gain a Personal Financial Manager who can guide you more closely, with whom you can schedule phone calls, video calls or in-person meetings (in Barcelona), for strategic reviews and individualized follow-up.
- Level 3) inbestMe Advanced: on top of all the above, you get an additional layer of customization. If you invest at least €100,000 in one of your portfolios, you can request an exclusive customization based on your needs or concerns as an investor. Starting from our model portfolios, you could request changes in exposure to different asset classes, sectors, or geographical areas.
All our service levels are designed for the same purpose: to help you stay on course when you might otherwise lose it, whether from impulsive decision-making or from being swayed by trends, news or general recommendations from financial “influencers” or “gurus.”
Conclusion: if the best don’t do it alone, why should you?
Your financial goals require a plan that works and that can be sustained over time. Doing it yourself is valid. But if you know consistency is your Achilles’ heel, delegating is a way to improve results.
All top athletes know what to do. But all of them have someone waiting for them on the court, the pitch or in the gym on a cold Monday morning at 9 am after playing an exhausting match the day before. Pushing them, guiding them and making sure they don’t deviate from the path.
If they, with their talent, experience and level, choose to surround themselves with professionals, why should you do it all alone?
For your financial health, a managed portfolio like inbestMe’s, the inbestMe Plus service or the customization of inbestMe Advanced, is that trusted partner that makes sure your money keeps working consistently, without needing you to monitor it daily.
- Do it yourself if you can.
- Seek help if you need it.
But above all:
- Do it with a plan that supports you when you falter.
