This Week’s Blog Is Written By Matt Totsky, CFA®, IAG Wealth Platform Manager
September 28, 2026
Setting the Pace
For the last few years, our son has run cross country at school. He’s never won a race outright, but he has shown steady improvement since he first joined the team and recently cracked the top 20 for his division.
I’ve enjoyed watching him develop and grow in the sport not only physically, but also mentally, as he learns the thought process that goes into distance running. Unlike short sprints where the race is over in a matter of seconds, cross country involves considerably more strategy.
For our son and many other distance runners, the goal isn’t always to be the first to cross the finish line, but to run a race that builds on past performances and continues to improve personal results.
There’s a host of variables that can come into play from one race to the next. What’s the length of the course? Is it wide open from start to finish or are there stretches where the path tightens significantly? Is it flat or hilly?
That can lead to even more questions about your individual strategy: Do you come flying out of the gate to separate yourself from the field? If you do, will you have enough endurance to maintain that pace for the entire race? If you ease into it, will you put yourself so far behind the pack that a burst of speed at the end won’t make much of a difference? When do you pass? When do you simply maintain position? And how do you mentally push through when you’ve got a stitch in your side and your legs feel like Jell-O?
Your investment journey bears a lot of similarities to those cross-country races. The biggest difference is that no two people are running the same course. So rather than focusing on “winning,” the more important question is whether you are on a pace that gives you a reasonable chance of reaching your own finish line.
That could mean a steady, consistent pace from start to finish. Maybe you started aggressively and now need to ease up to avoid taking on more risk than necessary. Or perhaps you started slowly and now realize you need to pick up the pace to stay on track toward your goals.
Just as every cross-country course presents different challenges, your financial circumstances can change along the way. The right pace for you may not be the right pace for someone else. And sometimes, staying on course means trusting the plan you’ve put in place even when there’s a little discomfort along the way.
The goal isn’t to win someone else’s race. It’s to know your course, set your pace, and keep moving toward the finish line you’ve chosen for yourself and your family.
If you could use a little coaching on your next steps—or simply want to make sure you haven’t veered off course—one of our advisors can help you evaluate where you are today and whether your financial plan is still moving you toward the goals you’ve set.
Quote of the week: Robert Collier: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.’”
Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through IAG Wealth Partners, LLC, (IAG) a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Jason Ganiere is solely an investment advisor representative of IAG Wealth Partners LLC, and not affiliated with LPL Financial.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results.
Any opinions are those of IAG and not necessarily those of LPL Financial. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Investing involves risk including loss of principle.
ART: 1183725
Photo Credit: iStock 2265601426
