A long time ago in a studio not so far away, a young director with a penchant for Flash Gordon and Kurosawa films produced a science fiction space opera that would redefine the genre and grow into a multibillion-dollar franchise — 1977’s Star Wars.
The film — and the subsequent library of prequels, sequels, and related content — is probably not the first place you’d think to look when seeking out reassuring financial lessons. However, Star Wars just might be an engaging and fun way to help you stay on the right path and avoid falling to the “dark side”.
As May the 4th — Star Wars Day — approaches, read on to discover four simple ways George Lucas’s spacefaring cinematic universe can teach you about the benefits of financial planning and working alongside a planner you trust.
1. The Obi-Wan Kenobi to your Luke Skywalker — working with a financial planner can help guide you towards your goals and dreams
At Delaunay Wealth, our core goal is to understand our clients as people. We don’t just consider ourselves to be financial planners, but rather life coaches.
Once we have got to know our clients — their hopes and dreams — then we can start developing a plan to guide them towards achieving their goals.
A young Luke Skywalker found himself working at his uncle’s moisture farm, but knowing he wanted more in life. But it wasn’t until he crossed paths with Obi-Wan Kenobi that he started to understand what he wanted and how he might go about getting it. In the words of Old Ben “You’ve taken your first step into a larger world”.
It can be incredibly reassuring to know someone you trust is looking out for you. A study by Royal London found that individuals who received financial advice reported a range of wellbeing benefits, such as feeling:
- More in control of their finances
- Less worried about their retirement plans
- More financially stable and secure
- Better prepared for life’s shocks
- Confident about the future.
Your financial planner will help guide you along the right path, offer advice in moments of trouble, and watch over your plans ensuring you navigate your personal journey towards your long-term goals.
2. A financial plan like the hero’s journey is long with many obstacles to overcome, but designed to get you there stronger than when you started
Star Wars resonates with so many people partially because it follows Joseph Campbell’s storytelling roadmap for a hero’s journey — the various stages a hero must progress through during their story to emerge stronger and wiser than when they started.
Working with a financial planner can help you develop your own personal roadmap designed to navigate any potential challenges in life and achieve the growth needed to reach your long-term goals.
Luke didn’t start out a Jedi Master. When we meet Han, he isn’t a hero or a leader in a galactic rebellion. But their journeys helped shape them, become stronger, and gain the things they wanted in life.
You might find yourself faced with:
- Short-term financial issues, stemming from market instability or rising inflation
- Exposure to rising interest due to increasing mortgage rates
- Unexpected healthcare or employment challenges
- Having to find ways to help financially support your grown-up children or grandchildren.
Your financial plan will likely account for these potential issues and have solutions in place, leaving you well placed to overcome them and continue onwards towards your long-term goals.
3. Your emotions can lead you astray, but financial guidance can help keep you on the right path
Emotions and their power to sway people from the right path is at the crux of the Star Wars story. After all, fear, anger, and hate are all steps on the journey to the dark side.
People naturally perceive the world and react to stressful situations emotionally. This can prompt a range of psychological biases that can be especially harmful for investors. But staying calm and working with a financial planner can help you identify and avoid these biases.
“I have a bad feeling about this” — don’t let fear influence your investing decisions
You might find yourself having to navigate a particularly tricky period for markets and the fear of making a loss can prompt a response known as “loss aversion”. The theory posits that people feel the pain of loss twice as strongly as the joys of gains.
In a market downturn, this can push you to sell your stocks — converting a paper loss into an actual one — and removing any possibility of your investment rebounding in the future when markets likely recover.
“Great, kid, don’t get cocky” — don’t let overconfidence push you to take on unnecessary risks
The “overconfidence effect” is a psychological bias that can influence your perception and imbue you with a belief that your judgement is greater than its actual objective accuracy.
If you have a rush of short-term investments that produce sizeable returns, you may succumb to overconfidence, and begin to think you can predict the market.
This very rarely happens, can be an incredibly harmful way of thinking, and might lead to potential losses.
4. A Jedi, a smuggler, a princess, a Wookiee, and some droids — it can take various skills to overcome an Empire, or help you reach your financial planning goals
Just as it took a motley band of rebels to defeat Vader and the Emperor, it can take a wide range of financial tools to help you accomplish your financial planning goals.
In order to generate the growth needed to unlock your dream lifestyle and protect your wealth along the way from any obstacles, your financial planner might utilise:
- Cashflow modelling
- Pension schemes
- Protection
- Mortgages and credit options
- Saving vehicles
- A diversified range of investments.
To paraphrase a certain diminutive green Jedi, potential outcomes can be difficult to see as the future is always in motion. But a smart financial plan can help you navigate any challenges, progress towards your goals, and give you hope for the future.
Get in touch
If you’re interested in finding out how financial planning can help you grow more confident and prepare you to face your own set of challenges, you should reach out to us at mail@delaunaywealth.com or call 0345 505 3500.
Please note
This article is no substitute for financial advice and should not be treated as such. To determine the best course of action for your individual circumstances, please contact us.
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