In my last post, I outlined exactly why I believe a financial advisor acts more as an offensive coordinator of your financial plan as opposed to a quarterback, which is the more common (and overplayed) analogy.
My job is to make sure all players on your team are working together to achieve the same goal. That means establishing the overall direction and philosophy (strategy) and making minute-by-minute adjustments (tactics) as needed.
But there's another key piece to this puzzle, and that's the personnel-or the different positions on your team.
What Positions Make Up Your Financial Team?
On offense, there are three main units: quarterback, offensive line, and skill positions. As the offensive coordinator, I make sure these pieces are properly aligned and working together.
In fact, coordinating the offensive lineup is an even more critical component to a team's success than most people realize. Finding the best-suited position for each player impacts their ability to thrive on one team or struggle on another-it's a common problem we often see in the NFL.
With only 11 players on offense, every team member's role is critical. If one doesn't do their job, the whole play falls apart.
Consider the 2023 Packers' win as a perfect example.
During this play, 10 guys did their job right. They blocked the play well, the quarterback threw a perfect pass, but the receiver dropped it. If the ball had been caught, the Chargers would have easily tied the game. But when someone commits a penalty, misses a block, or runs the wrong route, the whole play can fall apart-and, ultimately, that one mishap can make or break the game.
Let's dive into the three main position groups and how they correlate to your financial life.
#1: Quarterback (You)
The quarterback is often considered one of the most valuable positions in professional football. In many cases, teams allocate a significant portion of their salary budget to this role—sometimes among the highest on the roster. With over 50 players on an active NFL roster, a single position can represent a substantial share of total compensation.
The QB is responsible for critical tasks like:
- Communicating the play on the field to his teammates
- Adjusting plays at the line based on what the defense is doing
- Executing the play once the ball is snapped
In my last article, I reiterated that at the end of the day, you're the quarterback-you execute the various pieces of your plan. Your advisor can't make changes to your 401(k) or set up your estate plan. We can't budget for you and make you eat in on a Friday night instead of spending money on another meal. You would be amazed at how many $30,000 and up purchases people don't run by us until after it's done.
#2: Offensive Line (Your Protection)
A football team includes five offensive linemen: two tackles, two guards, and a center. If you're not a football fan, the offensive linemen are generally the five biggest guys on the field, standing shoulder to shoulder. As an offensive lineman in my glory days, I can tell you it's like oxygen to a football team. When things are going well, you don't really notice that they're there. But when the going gets tough, those linemen are your lifeline.
Translated to your financial life, I'd consider the five offensive linemen to be:
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Property & casualty insurance
- Long-term care plan
- Estate planning
Historically, almost every team that has gone on to win a Super Bowl has a good offensive line, further proving my theory that they're the backbone of most successful teams. The O-Line is responsible for giving the quarterback time to throw and opening up holes in the defense for the skill positions to make plays.
As important as a line of protection is, it's the area we see most neglected in financial plans.
Many clients, for example, don't have estate plans completed, are underinsured in multiple areas, or have nothing prepared for long-term care scenarios. These aren't fun things to talk about, think about, or pay money for, but, like a bad offensive line, you'll notice when something happens.
In a good financial plan, you don't notice that those protections are there. No one ever says they got rich because they paid on their life insurance for 30 years and didn't need it. The vast majority of people who set up estate plans and buy life insurance in their 30s live to be grandparents and don't really need either.
But when a piece of the offensive line fails, it often results in a negative play-a sack, a tackle, or even forcing the quarterback to throw an interception. Financially speaking, a "sack" could look like your home lacking adequate coverage when a damaging storm hits, or not having disability insurance when you or your spouse faces a lengthy health issue-forcing you to dip into your investments to cover repairs or simply stay afloat.
On a bigger scale, a turnover like a fumble or an interception is the 35-year-old who injures their neck, can't work anymore, and can't cover their monthly expenses, or the 42-year-old who dies in a car accident without life insurance.
Having the proper protection in place allows you to absorb these tragedies financially and keep the offense running down the field to help you reach your ultimate goals.
Position #3: Skill Positions (Your Assets)
In football, the skill positions refer to the receivers, running backs, and tight ends. Financially speaking, these are your savings and investments.
When reviewing your financial plan, we need to consider if you have the right types of players on the field. Diversification is just as important on an offensive lineup as it is in your portfolio-we need multiple guys who can do different things. Some should be fast, while others have to be able to block.
Receivers
Receivers are like your stock market investments. They often line up away from the offensive line, closer to the boundary to spread the defense out, and they catch passes from the quarterback.
As the quarterback, you take money each month and "throw it" forward to reach future goals. Just as the QB throws a football downfield to score touchdowns, you put money in your retirement and investment accounts.
But throwing the ball is also risky. When the ball is in the air, the other team can take it away or intercept it, or the receiver can fumble when he's running after the catch. The further you throw the ball, the riskier it is. Similarly, the more aggressive you are with your stocks, the more risk you take.
Running Backs
Running backs are like your bond or income investments. They're generally considered less risky and more consistent.
Running the ball is less risky than throwing it since you're handing the ball to the skill player directly rather than throwing it through the air. Most of the time, this means the upside for the play isn't there because you're right in the center of the action.
The running game is important because it establishes consistency and keeps the offense moving. Most of the time (albeit less in today's football), players have three downs to try to get 10 yards and a new set of downs as they march down the field. If they can get three or four yards on a low-risk play, they can take more risk throwing the ball on other downs.
In our client portfolios, here's how the running game translates: Bond investments generate income without stock market risk, meaning they can provide consistency when your stock assets are down.
Tight Ends
A tight end is like a big receiver or a small lineman. They block in the run game, as well as catch passes. Since they live in both worlds, I think they best represent your emergency fund.
Tight ends are often referred to as "security blankets" for quarterbacks who need to complete a short pass in an important spot. As a protector, they help provide quick cash when the time is needed. As a receiver, your emergency fund assets can be held in an easily accessible high-yield savings account or as short-term bond funds to generate more returns than your bank is paying you.
Let's Build You a Winning Team
In football and finance, consistent wins come from preparation, discipline, and teamwork. Each position on your financial roster plays a critical role, and when those roles are clearly defined and coordinated, you're able to perform at your best in all kinds of conditions.
As your financial “offensive coordinator,” our job is to design the right strategy, make real-time adjustments, and help your entire team execute with precision. Together, we can help you manage what matters, pursue new opportunities, and keep working toward your goals.
Ready to start building your winning lineup? Schedule your complimentary consultation today.
Rob Clark, CFP®, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®professional at INT Wealth Planning, serving upper-income professionals in the Greater St. Louis area. Rob specializes in simplifying complex financial decisions and creating tailored strategies for wealth accumulation and retirement planning. INT Wealth Planning focuses on helping clients get organized, make informed financial decisions, plan for retirement, and pursue financial confidence. Rob can be reached at (636) 777-4207, via email at rob@intwealthplanning.com, or online atwww.intwealthplanning.com.
This material has been prepared in collaboration with Crystal Marketing Solutions, LLC, and has been edited with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools. The information presented is based on sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publication. This material is for educational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views of the author, presenter, or affiliated organizations. It should not be construed as investment, tax, legal, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation before making any decisions.
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and bonds are subject to availability and change in price
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