Harnessing the Power of Compounding in Fitness and Finance
Compounding is often hailed as one of the most powerful forces in the world. Legend has it Albert Einstein referred to it as the “eighth wonder.” While it might sound complex, the concept is elegantly simple: the seemingly small decisions we make everyday gain power over time. This is especially true when it comes to both fitness and finance.
Most of us understand that little things add up. No one expects to get stronger by lifting weights just one day per month, or to be able to run a marathon by jogging a few days a year. When it comes to investing, though, there are people who believe that a big win is their ticket to financial success. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Winning the lottery or finding the next hot stock is the exception, not the rule. Just as your muscles and cardiovascular system benefit from the incremental increases that come from consistent training, so too do your investments benefit from a long-term time horizon. This is why it’s important to start as early as possible, take a long-term view, and spend time creating a plan. By understanding and applying these principles, it’s possible to optimize efforts in both areas.
In addition to prioritizing a consistent fitness routine, when it comes to our health, most of us would prefer to partner with an accomplished health professional rather than take on the full responsibility ourselves. After all, health care providers have highly specialized training, real-world experience, and access to tools outside the reach of the general public. Moreover, they’ve taken an oath to prioritize the patient’s health over their own interests. Similarly, Certified Financial Planners® (CFP) are fiduciaries committed to placing clients’ interests above their own. They are educated in key areas of financial planning and are trained to adapt insights to each client’s individual situation. They examine financial health holistically and have experience creating long-term plans that aim to accomplish an individual’s unique goals. Personal finance is meant to be personalized. Perhaps most importantly, a CFP ® is a partner who can be a steady guide when times are tough.
Developing and adhering to both fitness and finance routines can be challenging. As humans, we are all susceptible to bad days (and sometimes bad years in the case of stocks). It’s hard to exercise daily when you can’t see progress right away. It can be equally challenging financially to sacrifice today’s spending to invest in your future self, which often includes staying invested during market downturns. Hence the adage, no pain no gain. We believe creating a long-term plan with the help of a trusted partner can provide the prescription of reassurance and willpower to tolerate uncomfortable feelings in the present.
Knowing what to do is only half the battle – you must actually do it to see results. In one of the year’s best-selling books, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, physician Peter Attia writes that “Sometimes doing nothing is the riskiest choice of all.” He’s talking about being proactive about your health, but the same is true in investing; every minute your money isn’t invested is one in which it can’t compound, because a little can become a lot over time.
The media love to promote the next big thing, but we know that both diet fads and get rich quick schemes come and go. Whether it is the Atkins diet, Keto, or the “FAANG” stocks, history is littered with examples of ideas that were usurped by the next big thing. 15 years ago, you would have been reading this on a Blackberry, the biggest and most valued device in mobile business communication at the time. Then, along came iPhones and Androids and suddenly Blackberry’s foothold was eroded. Sears was a top-10 sized stock in the US, and the most popular social media network starting with the letter F was Friendster. Even the biggest companies have uncertain futures, highlighting the need for broadly diversified long-term investments. Experienced professionals understand that headlines change far more often than investors’ objectives.
The parallels between compounding in fitness and finance are striking. What we do today greatly matters in the future. The tools empowering individuals to make informed choices so that they can lead healthier, wealthier lives are simple, yet effective: consistency, planning, and partnering with a trusted professional along the way. Thanks to advances in medical science, many of us are living longer, making it more important than ever before to harness the power of compounding.
Ryan Bladen is a Certified Financial Planner® and Vice President with Physician Wealth Advisors (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Utah Medical Association). For over 30 years, the salaried advisors at Physician Wealth Advisors have been working with physician members of the UMA. Their expertise in creating customized retirement plans as well as tailored investment strategies specifically to fit the needs of the medical community has led them to manage over $1.5 Billion of investment assets.
If you would like to see what Physician Wealth Advisors can offer you in the pursuit of financial independence, call 801-747-0800 and schedule your free financial consultation today.
EndNotes
- FAANG Stocks include Facebook (Meta), Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google (Alphabet)
- Wes Crill, “The Next BlackBerry,” (February 2024)
- David Booth, “The Power of Compounding—in Health and Wealth,” (October 2023)
- Katerina S. Stylianou, Victor L. Fulgoni III, and Olivier Jolliet, “Small Targeted Dietary Changes Can Yield Substantial Gains for Human Health and the Environment,” Nature Food (August 2021)
- Maciej Banach, Joanna Lewek, et al. “The Association Between Daily Step Count and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Meta-Analysis,” European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (August 2023).
- David Booth, “Practicing Healthy Habits, Pursuing Wealthy Outcomes,” (August 2023)