Are You Really as Strong as You Think You Are? (A Guy Weekend, a Wrestling Match, and a Wake-Up Call)
The house was quiet. Too quiet. Chelsea and the rest of the crew were away, and that meant only one thing: guys weekend. Just me and my four-year-old little warrior, Brooks. I looked him square in the eyes and said, “Alright, dude. This weekend’s got three rules—have fun, have fun… and have fun.” His blue eyes lit up. I gave him full command. “Whatever you want to do, we’ll do it.” With a big grin, he shouted, “Let’s go!”
And we did it all—pickleball under the big Texas sky, baseball and basketball at the park, cannonballs in the pool, and a cookie-and-cream feast that left us grinning like champs. Worn out and happy, we curled up, cuddled, and crashed for a much-needed nap. But when Brooks woke up—eyes bright, smile wide—he looked at me and said,
“Dad, I want to wrestle.”
When the Living Room Becomes the WWE
With the seriousness of a championship fight, we moved all the furniture, covered the floor with blankets and pillows, and turned our living room into a full-blown wrestling ring. Brooks was flying off the “ropes” (aka couch cushions), yelling “Hulk Smash!” and jumping into my arms like a human cannonball. Laughter echoed through the walls. For over an hour, we battled. It was fun. But then… Dad got tired. I said, “Dad needs to rest.” And then, without skipping a beat, Brooks said, “That’s why I’m Batman… and you’re Robin.” As my little boy flexed his muscles at me. I laughed so hard. And you know what? He was right.
That Wrestling Match Was a Financial Metaphor
Lying there, out of breath, I realized something important—and maybe you need to hear it too:
We’re not always as strong as we think we are.
And that definitely can go for our finances as well.
💥 Enter: The Financial Plan Stress Test
Just like a wrestling match reveals who’s really in shape, a financial plan stress test exposes the truth about your financial strength.
It’s not designed to scare you—it’s designed to prepare you.
A stress test simulates extreme conditions—economic storms, health shocks, and even windfalls—to see how your financial strategy holds up. It helps you answer questions most people avoid until it’s too late.
🛡️ Planning for the Punches: Catastrophe-Proofing Your Life
Here’s what a real financial stress test looks at:
- Job Loss – What if you or your spouse couldn’t work for 6 months? Would your lifestyle survive?
- Market Volatility – How would your investments and retirement savings withstand a market downturn or recession?
- Health Crisis – Could your savings absorb a sudden medical emergency or long-term care need?
- Inflation Spike – Can your portfolio keep pace if the cost-of-living doubles over 15 years?
- Tax Risk – Are you protected from a future where tax laws look very different than today?
- Wealth Protection: This refers to the strategies and measures used to safeguard your assets and financial resources from potential risks, such as lawsuits, taxes, inflation, or economic downturns. The goal is to enhance and protect your wealth over time.
- Wealth Transfer Readiness – Is your legacy plan in place? Will your family be taken care of—or left in chaos?
- Sequence of Return Risk – Sequence of return risk is the danger of receiving poor investment returns early in retirement, when you’re starting to withdraw income. Even if the average return is good over time, early losses can significantly reduce the longevity of your portfolio.
- Arithmetic of Loss Strategy – The arithmetic of loss refers to how much more you need to earn to recover from a loss.
For example, if your portfolio drops 50%, you need a 100% gain just to break even.
This concept is used to emphasize downside protection in your financial plan.
This isn’t about doom and gloom. It’s about… facing reality before reality forces you to. The goal is to ensure you have adequate protection to withstand unexpected shocks without disrupting your long-term goals.
💡 But There’s a Beautiful Flip Side Too: Maximizing Opportunities.
A financial stress test isn’t just about preparing for the worst—it’s also about positioning yourself to take full advantage of the best.
Because let’s be honest: opportunity doesn’t wait. And when it shows up, you don’t want to be caught flat-footed.
- Investment Opportunities: What could happen if your investment portfolio exceeds expectations? How will you rebalance?
- Proactive Tax Strategies: Are you positioned to minimize taxes in the future through strategies like tax-loss harvesting, asset location, or Roth conversions?
- Growth Scenarios: How can you capitalize on market upswings, real estate booms, or advancements in your career?
By stress-testing both the downside risks and potential upsides, you ensure your financial plan is resilient and flexible, designed to protect you in bad times while allowing you to seize opportunities in good times.
💬 So Let Me Ask You…
Are you really as strong as you think you are? Maybe it’s time to step into the ring and find out.
Because here’s the truth:
The strongest financial plans aren’t the ones that just look good on paper.
They’re the ones that have been tested, bruised, and refined—ready for whatever life throws their way. Just like Batman, we don’t win because we never get hit. We win because we’re prepared for every punch.
*** If you have sat down with us, you have no need to worry, we have already done this for you!! But have those you care most about? If not, we have created a complimentary second opinion service. We’re pleased to offer your friends, family members and associates the same expertise and guidance that you have come to expect as a valued client of Michels Family Financial. You can find more information regarding our second opinion offering at the link below:
https://michelsfamilycorporation.com/second-opinion/
🔍 Want to Know How Strong Your Financial Plan Really Is?
We offer complete financial stress tests—real, personalized, and comprehensive. No fluff. No pressure. Just truth. And that truth could make all the difference. Because in the end, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being prepared. And having a little fun along the way. Especially when you’re wrestling your four-year-old on a mountain of pillows, laughing so hard your stomach hurts, realizing…
This is what wealth is really for.