KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

TODAY’S BLOG

KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

It’s the final weekend of Wimbledon. Our local global sporting event comes to an end on Sunday. The winners are those that “see the ball big” and like most sports’ folk, keep their eye on the ball. A tournament that creates legends of the game. Anyone that makes it through to the second week has played incredibly well, perhaps to the finest edge of their personal best. We can all list off some of the great tennis stars, and perhaps each victory acts as a landmark in time of our own lives.

However great you are in your field of expertise, does not necessarily translate into other areas of life. Indeed, success in your field of expertise, can bring its own problems. Fame, fortune and expectations. One of the Wimbledon legends announced his arrival winning the men’s singles final at just 17 years old. Boris Becker. I had just finished my O’Levels and was watching someone in the year above me win Wimbledon.

A great Champion

Becker was hugely successful in his professional tennis career. He went on to win Wimbledon 3 times, the Australian twice, the US once and a Davis cup winner twice. A man that was so powerful, determined, focussed and successful on court had his problems off court. I have no wish at all to criticise Becker, he’s human, he made plenty of bad decisions in his personal and commercial life.

Selling the Silverware

This week Becker was forced to sell his trophy memorabilia to repay some of the debt that stands against his name. The auction raised £680,000. Declared bankrupt in 2017 his financial mismanagement caught up with him. The Court registrar at Christine Derrett said of Becker “One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand”. Which is probably a very polite way of reducing the facts of the case which included claiming diplomatic immunity. The debt was north of £5m. This against a career ending in summer 1999 – which saw his last grand slam win in 1996. His career prize money was $25m but that excludes all the sponsorship. His own advocate at the London hearing (John Briggs) in 2017 described him “he is not a sophisticated individual when it comes to finances”.

Game, set and match

There were many business ventures, some costly personal divorce and children, but a lot of money melted away, like an embarrassing 6-0 set full of double faults. There will be reasons, fame, character and pressure all combining against him perhaps, but the apparent lack of anyone that might be termed a decent financial planner would be my logical concern. Irrespective of fame, skill or wealth, the lack of a plan and someone to properly facilitate this can be disastrous. Becker is now having to sell his silverware to pay his bills. In tennis, most amateur players beat themselves rather than being beaten by a better opponent, the same is true for investors (amateur and professional). Keeping your eye on the ball – the financial one, is game, set and match.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email info@solomonsifa.co.uk

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The Old Bakery, 2D Edna Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 8BT

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7 QUESTIONS, NO WAFFLE

Are we a good fit for you?

Take Survey

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Life is brief

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Life is brief

As I wrote on Monday, life is short and we need to make the most of the one we have. As yet another celebrity’s death is announced, I’m reminded of the first play that I saw Alan Rickman perform in. I was still at school, studying for my A’Levels. It was 1985 or perhaps 1986 – I’m not sure which, he was playing Jaques in “As You Like It” at the RSC in Stratford.

I had the impression that my English teacher was rather taken with one of his speeches…. one that is perhaps one of the most famous Shakespeare quotes. It was apparent to anyone in the audience that Rickman (and Juliet Stevenson with whom the stage was shared and they later collaborated in Truly Madly Deeply) was a great actor with a bright future and this was shortly followed up with a Tony award nomination performance in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which I was also lucky to see, I think in London.

Shakespeare’s words were brought to life for me on that day, by some great actors, Alan Rickman being one of the very best. I last saw him at the London BFI Film Festival, where he was presenting his film “A Little Chaos” which is good little film.

All the world’s a stage..

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.

The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA