Like life, cards are part chance and part choice. You don’t control the hand you’re dealt — but how you play it makes all the difference.
My 10-year-old daughter loves playing cards. My wife always carries a deck — perfect for a quick game of Whist or Golf in a pub garden or during a picnic in Greenwich Park. As for me, I enjoy the occasional low-stakes poker game to unwind.
And it’s got me thinking: maybe we like cards so much because they feel familiar. Like life, they’re part chance and part choice. You don’t control the hand you’re dealt — but how you play it makes all the difference.
Understanding your hand
Most of us are holding a mixture of cards — some strong, some uncertain, and some we’re not quite sure what to do with.
Kings might stand for big responsibilities: your home, your work, the people who rely on you. Queens could represent care — for your children, your parents, or yourself in the years ahead. Jacks often represent change. A shift in income. A health scare. A new opportunity. They can unsettle the game — or open up new ways to play.
Then there are the Jokers — the wild cards no one sees coming. Some good, some not. A windfall. A redundancy. A diagnosis.
A good financial plan doesn’t eliminate the Jokers — but it gives you the confidence to adapt when they appear.
When to hold — and when to ask for help
Some decisions are obvious: pay down debt, top up your pension, set something aside for the future.
Others are trickier. Is it time to downsize? Could you afford to work less? What’s the best way to help your children — or protect your own later life?
That’s where planning makes a real difference. And while I’m writing this from my perspective, I’m never working alone. I’m part of a small, experienced team at Ginkgo — three advisers, lots of behind-the-scenes support — all helping people make sense of what they’ve got, and what they want to do next.
Playing your own game
You don’t need to play perfectly. No one does. But it helps to understand the shape of your hand — and to know what options you have.
Maybe you’ve been meaning to sort out your pension, or check if you can retire early. Maybe you’re helping elderly parents or navigating divorce. Maybe things are ticking along nicely — and you just want to be sure you’re not missing a trick.
Whatever stage you’re at, it starts with a conversation. Not about products or portfolios — just about you, your priorities, and what’s on your mind.
We’d love to hear from you. And if you happen to bring a pack of cards along, we won’t say no to a quick game.
By Daren Wallbank
Approver Quilter Financial Services Limited & Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited 11/07/25
