Consider yourself an athlete in the sport of investing. Physical endurance is important when it comes to sprinting, however mental balance will see you through in the long run. An investor may have the most reliable information available, but in the absence of emotional control, he may fall short.

You should strive to be the Tiger Woods of investing, and when you get to the 18th hole, your score will be based on the value of your portfolio. When he retires, he will know his classification. Right now, the most desirable position would be team owner, not peanut shooter.

It is in the world of sports that you can find relevant ideas for retirement planning. There are no guarantees when it comes to investing in stocks, however you may want to consider the following attributes shared by champions.

The first step in building your portfolio is to assemble an all-star team. Forget minor leaguers, you need Sammy Sosa and Randy Johnson to round out your roster. Take over the players with weak relative strength against the index and keep the ones with strong relative strength. If you are unaware of these changing numbers, contact an investment professional knowledgeable in this area.

Then limit yourself to the number of players allowed on the field. In soccer, for example, your team can only have eleven players on the field while the play is live. Your team is penalized for having too many players. This seems to be a difficult rule for many investors. As a coach, you may have selected a college superstar who turns out to be a professional failure.

Don’t let your self-esteem keep you in the game. Analyze your backup players and be aware of the time remaining on your retirement clock.

Although it can be emotionally difficult to pull the action, keeping it can limit your overall score. You should always focus on long-term fundamentals without neglecting short-term reviews (ie annual updates). This does not mean that you become a stock speculator; you simply position yourself as the number one draft pick.

If resources don’t allow for adequate diversification, or if you’re new to investing, consider hiring a manager. In other words, find mutual funds that are right for your investment risks, time horizons, and goals. Your batting average is no better when you hit a home run compared to a single. It may be more exciting to post a high slugging percentage, but even Babe Ruth struck out from time to time.

Another point worth noting is keeping your winners. Unless you can find a better player for that position, let your winners take you to a championship. John Elway did it for the Denver Broncos in 1999 at the age of thirty-eight. Remember, we choose our headlines because we believe in their abilities to excel. Still, it is vitally important to monitor your holdings. One day you might decide to retire a player who doesn’t fit into your overall game plan. Until then, stay focused on the goal line and block out the market noise.

In the game of rugby, players advance the ball forward while returning it to another player. The idea here is to look forward, but never forget what the past teaches us. Players may come and go, but victory never loses its allure. We all look for success in our investment portfolios and the moment to take home the gold. Stay positive and dedicate your resources to winning the retirement game.