Are You Playing Offense with Your Wealth or Stuck on Defense?

As hockey season kicks off in October, I couldn’t be more excited. As a former player and Washington Capitals season ticket holder, I know the game well. What does hockey have to do with wealth? Everything. In hockey, you can be shorthanded in the penalty box or on the power play with an advantage. No team wins by keeping the puck in its own zone all game. Success requires offense, defense, and timely line changes.

The Problem We See Too Often

Some people play life as if it’s only defense: protecting, building, and chasing more wealth. They forget to move up the ice and score goals: experiences, health, family time, and fulfillment.

Think of your financial life as two parts of the game:

• Extrinsic goals (defense): saving, investing, protecting, increasing net worth
• Lifestyle goals (offense): travel, enjoying time with loved ones, pursuing passions, living healthier

Too many people load up on defense. The best teams—and the best lives—win by playing both sides of the ice.

The Hidden Costs of Playing Only Defense

• Endless Penalty Kills: Always reacting to demands instead of controlling the play.
• Fatigue: Even the best players burn out without line changes; wealth builders burn out without rest and enjoyment.
• Too Much Passing, Not Enough Shooting: Deferring experiences until “someday” means you never celebrate or enjoy life; instead, you put it off until someday in the future. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky said it, but Alexander Ovechkin perfected it.

3 Ways to Play a Complete Financial Game

1. Run a Shift Audit: Track how you spend your hours. If all your shifts are defensive—work, grind, accumulation—it’s time to change lines.

2. Take More Shots on Goal: Build joy into your financial plan. Allocate money and time for experiences: family vacations, passion projects, or health improvements. Goals don’t get scored if you never shoot.

3. Use Line Changes: Protect your energy the way coaches protect players. Take breaks, unplug, and rotate in activities that recharge you. Even stars can’t stay on the ice every shift.

WealthConfidence Scorecard

Discover eight money mindsets to help you stop worrying about your wealth and start living. Use our interactive worksheets designed to help improve your WealthConfidence score.

>

Get the eBook

Advisor’s Perspective

The Stanley Cup isn’t won by the team with the most blocked shots. It takes offense to score goals. Balancing defense with offense—and knowing when to shoot—creates the best chance to win.

Your wealth works the same way. A strong defense—savings, investments, protections—is critical. But without offense (enjoying life) and regular line changes (rest and health), you’ll never hoist the cup. When life offers opportunities to score, shoot. Don’t pass.

A well-rounded financial plan considers both security and lifestyle goals, helping you pursue opportunities for fulfillment while maintaining a strong foundation.

Do You Have a Game Plan?

If you’d like to check your financial strategy for both offense and defense, consider setting up a lifestyle planning session. Together, we can explore strategies to help balance wealth protection with your personal lifestyle goals.

Chase A. Hutter Financial Advisor CFP®

Chase has been involved in the financial services industry since 2014. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in pre-law and history from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.