In an advertising campaign that appeared over the Easter long weekend, well-known football personalities can be seen spruiking an online sports betting agency.
The advertisement seems innocuous enough until one of the personalities ends with a throwaway line that gambling on sport can’t make a person’s superannuation savings any worse.
Yes, for many of you such a line would probably seem a bit cheeky, humorous or perhaps you didn’t even notice.
Though, if you think about it from a pure investor point of view, it becomes a little more concerning.
While the calamity of the markets has left no-one’s superannuation savings without a negative impact, it is more than probable that like the varying dwindling account balances, the emotional response of each investor would also vary.
Obviously, linking gambling and investing is too broad a comparison to even begin to make.
Now, while you and I know that, it may only take a throwaway comment from a publicly recognised figure to feed the urgency to replenish a seriously depleted super fund.
It would be silly to underestimate the emotional fragility of many investors. If you were in your post-retirement stage, had little knowledge of the investment landscape, except that the investments that a family friend suggested had garnered little returns in more than a year, would you have a flutter?
I mean, what else could you lose?
Yes, I’m taking things a little far in explaining my point, and there is no doubt the advertisement’s throwaway line was meant to offer a tongue-in-cheek dig in the face of financial misery.
Though, right or wrong, the image of joy and surprise of an investor if they were to make more back than what their super savings made them in 18 months continues to stick in my mind.
If this was the case, it would surely be a little more than tempting to try again, wouldn’t it?
In making reference to the advertisement I’m by no means suggesting that anyone rush the gate, rifles ready. It is merely an observation as to how investors may think.
In an industry that has fought tooth and nail to begin the process of regaining a portion of investor interest, this perhaps may offer the simplest of suggestions to always make sure your client/investor is aware of the importance of your duty – to have their best interests as top priority.
For who knows, with one click of an online button, and they might be gone.
