I’ve always been a huge fan of Ted Lasso (the hit show on Apple TV). It recently returned for its Fourth Season and throughout 2026, I decided to rewatch the first three seasons to refresh my memory as it had been a few years. The show was even better the second time around as I was able to pay much closer attention to the underlying messages subtle lessons woven throughout the story line.

There are countless snippets that relate to life in general – but I also realized that many could tie in directly to investing. After weeks of writing about markets, inflation, interest rates, and labor markets, I thought it would be fun to take a break and write about three quotes from the show that serve as good reminders for investors as well!

Be Curious, Not Judgmental

This quote is from the famous dart scene in the pub between Ted (an expert dart player) and his opponent (who didn’t think to be curious about Ted’s background before placing a big wager on the game). This certainly is a valuable lesson for use in our relationships. However, it also translates well into the investing world.

In today’s fast paced 24/7 news cycle, talk of investing is everywhere. It is very easy to get swept away by what the headlines (or even people in our social circles) are telling us as investors to do.

Be afraid. Buy this. Sell that. Never do this. How have you not done that? Here comes the crash. Act now!

It’s impossible to not absorb at least some of this chaotic narrative. You are human after all. Let me suggest that when you do, be curious and not judgmental. It’s always possible there is good advice for you within the “noise” so there is no need to dismiss it off hand (or accept it off hand either).

Evaluate what you’ve heard. Consider all sides. Do your research. Talk to your advisors. Add context to what you have learned. Evaluate the probabilities. And then act (or take no action). There is no need to be reactive or judgmental or dismissive. It’s all just information. You know your goals and you know your plan. Remain curious and open to new ideas.

Being curious also encourages you to seek advice and second opinions on your financial life. There is simply too much to handle on your own at times. If you remain curious and don’t judge yourself too harshly, you may just find opportunities and a path forward you didn’t know existed.

Be a Goldfish

When talking to his team after a loss, Ted tells them to be a goldfish. “You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It’s a goldfish. You know why? It’s got a 10-second memory.” Being a “goldfish” can help investors as well as soccer players!

Without a doubt, investing is a challenging path to follow. And most of us need to stay on that path for 50+ years! We all have encountered hard times – and sadly, will undoubtedly encounter some more. Market downturns, losses on stocks you didn’t research, losses on stocks you did, failure to properly insure risk, pursuit of a career that didn’t pan out, over use of leverage, unprofitable real estate deal, etc., etc, etc.. There will be no shortage of hard times on this path. And yet, there will also be times of euphoria – when you reach your goals, retire, invest in a runaway winner, achieve wealth you never dreamed of, etc.

I’m not suggesting you don’t learn from hard times or celebrate successes. However, I am suggesting that you not get stuck in either place. Above all else, investing requires an incredible amount of belief in the future and the fortitude to keep coming. If you dwell on times when things didn’t go your way or get too overconfident when they do, you may not allow yourself to stay invested for the long run. And in the end, this is one of the most important requirements. Stay in.

What have I got to learn here?

This is perhaps a lesser known quote that comes from when Ted is trying to figure out why a former coach is so angry with him. I thought this was such a wonderful way to seek information and be curious (see above). This question can serve investors very well too.

Things are going to go wrong in your financial journey – multiple times – as discussed above. Of course, you need to first feel the hurt, anger, fear, etc. But when time allows, it is helpful to evaluate what you can learn from that situation. Perhaps you learned that you don’t want to handle all of your financial decisions on your own. Perhaps you realized that your risk tolerance is actually far lower than imagined. You might have decided that you care more how you spend your time than how many material possessions you can accumulate. You might have learned how important risk management is to your overall financial security. There is so much to learn from our mistakes. And there is also so much to learn from things that go well along our path. Constantly asking “what have I got to learn here” can ensure you remain focused on and grateful for the journey.

Let me know if you’re watching Season 4! Can’t wait to see what lessons come our way this season.

Onward we go,