This Week’s Blog Is Written By Scott D. Heins, CFP®, IAG Chief Investment Officer
May 6, 2026

Behinds

I will be the first to admit I am not a horse-racing aficionado. I did not don a dapper hat, sip a mint julep, or even watch the Kentucky Derby live last Saturday. I may have even forgotten it was being run.

To me, it seems like a tremendous amount of hype for a mere two minutes of competition.

However, I was captivated by the replay of those two minutes. Golden Tempo was dead last at one point in the race and came from behind to win.

Imagine you are the jockey for Golden Tempo. This is one of the more prestigious horse races in the country. The horse owner selected you months ago as the best jockey for their horse. They have high expectations for your ability to maximize their horse’s inclination for speed and to cross the finish line first.

The race begins. You look up. All you see are seventeen horses’ behinds staring back at you. Not a pretty sight.

Sometimes life brings challenges that seem devoid of hope. Despite all of your preparations, your planning, your training, and your motivation, you feel like you have fallen behind and will never get ahead.

It is really easy to throw your hands in the air, let out a sigh of exasperation, and quit. By my unscientific observation, the population of people with persistence, resiliency, and the will to overcome challenges is rapidly diminishing. Fewer and fewer people see temporary setbacks as the foundation of future successes. Unfortunately, they are viewed as insurmountable failures.

Instead of taking the easy way of despair, Golden Tempo’s jockey marshaled the horse’s natural abilities and competitive spirit to keep running. One by one, they put each of the horses’ behinds behind them and crossed the finish line a head ahead of the pack.

If you find yourself behind where you want to be financially, you will need to identify your resources, prioritize your cash flow, and persist through numerous challenges. You will not jump from 17th place to 1st place in under two minutes. You will need to put one obstacle at a time behind you over years and decades.

Like horses, most people would benefit from someone riding with them and coaching them on their next steps. Someone who knows their unique tendencies, listens to their aspirations, and coordinates their next steps toward success.

Thankfully, none of our financial advisors are jockeys who will try to get you to run 1.25 miles in 2 minutes. However, we consider it our calling to help you or the people you care about efficiently find their way to their self-described financial finish line.

Whether you are in second place striving for first or tenth place striving to do better, it is worth a conversation with one of our caring, not-jockey advisors.

ART: 1103370
Photo Credit: iStock 2187768975