The Comrades Marathon of Financial Planning: A Journey to Financial Success

Feel free to reach out to PSG Wealth Manager  Dawie Klopper  directly.

Before a Comrades race begins, every runner has one goal: to cross the finish line. The distance – around 88 km – defines this goal unmistakably. Similarly, the financial planning process starts with setting clear financial goals. You need to know where you’re headed.

You can’t just wake up one morning and decide to line up for the Comrades. I remember, before my first Comrades, I decided on a whim that I wanted to run it. I registered and casually ran a few kilometres here and there without a plan and then, at the last minute, completed a qualifying marathon. Although I qualified easily, I was so sore afterwards that I couldn’t participate in that year’s Comrades. I hadn’t planned the process properly. Preparation involves months, even years, of following a structured plan, gradually building endurance and stamina. Similarly, financial success requires a detailed plan to take you from where you are to where you want to be.

Your financial plan is like a training schedule. You might start small by contributing to savings or paying off debt. Over time, as you become more disciplined, you can increase contributions to investments, retirement funds or other long-term savings plans. A well-structured financial plan breaks the journey down into manageable steps, much like marathon training is broken down into daily or weekly running routines.

Training for Comrades requires consistency. A runner can’t skip weeks of training and still expect to perform well in the race. Similarly, financial planning depends on consistent actions over time. Contributions to retirement funds, paying off debt or building an emergency fund – all of these are part of the ‘kilometres’ you put in.

And then there’s race day. The emotions at the starting line can overwhelm you, the excitement of the day ahead almost too much to bear. But then the rooster crows, signalling the start, and everyone begins moving. This can be compared to entering retirement on a good day.

Along the way, however, there will be tough times when you feel like you’re hitting the proverbial wall. This is the moment when the body starts protesting, and every step feels like a battle. Similarly, during your financial journey, you may encounter obstacles – market downturns, unexpected expenses, or sudden health setbacks – that make it feel as if you’re not making progress.

When these financial setbacks occur, it’s important to stay on course. Just as a runner pushes through fatigue, financial success often comes from resilience. Reassess your plan, adjust your budget and remain flexible, but don’t abandon your goals. The ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned can make the difference between success and failure, both in a Comrades and in financial planning.

Many Comrades runners use coaches to guide them through the process, provide expertise and offer encouragement. In financial planning, a good financial adviser can be your coach, giving advice on strategies, helping you avoid mistakes, and holding you accountable for your goals.

And then, you finally reach the finish line, tired but happy – something to celebrate. For me, this celebration meant enjoying a delicious steak and a glass of fine red wine with my wife to mark the completion of another Comrades.

Similarly, you should celebrate achieving your financial goals.

Your financial journey is a Comrades marathon, not a sprint – so put on your running shoes and start jogging!