We often say that investing isn’t meant to be exciting. It’s not about chasing quick wins, acting on gut instinct, or reacting to daily headlines. It’s about staying the course with a thoughtful plan and sticking to it, especially when it’s tempting not to.
But recently, a client of ours, John, reminded me that there’s a fun and unexpected parallel to investing that is exciting: Fantasy Premier League.
For anyone unfamiliar, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is a game where millions of football fans pick and manage a team of real-life Premier League players. You score points each week based on how your players perform on the pitch. To mix things up, you also get special one-off tools, called “chips”, that let you do things like play a bench boost (score from your substitutes), triple your captain’s points, or make unlimited transfers for a week. Strategy, patience, and a bit of luck all come into play.
John was kind enough to share an analysis of this year’s Emery Little FPL mini-league. Not content with just celebrating his win (though I do hope he’s still enjoying that), he decided to look deeper. He wanted to understand what separated the top-performing teams from the rest. His findings were fascinating, and surprisingly relevant to investing.
Engagement leads to better outcomes
To measure how involved each manager was, John created an “engagement score” out of 100. It combined the number of chips used and the total transfers made across the season.
The results? The most engaged players did best. Around 40% of the league scored 90+ for engagement and dominated the top of the table. Another 20% were moderately involved and performed solidly. The rest? Some dipped in and out. Others picked a team in August and never touched it again.
Sound familiar?
We see the same thing in financial planning. Clients who stay engaged with their plan – checking in regularly, talking with us about what’s changed in their lives, reflecting on what really matters – tend to make better decisions and get better outcomes.
Not because they react to every market move or tweak their portfolio constantly. Because they remain intentional and consistent.
FPL strategy = smart investing strategy
John reflected on what helped him succeed this year, and the overlap with our investment philosophy was striking:
- Be invested. Stay invested. Most of the points (and the returns) come from showing up consistently.
- Don’t panic over short-term setbacks. Bad game weeks – and market dips – are normal.
- Stick to a long-term plan. Chips and market opportunities are best used with a clear strategy.
- Diversify. Don’t overload on any one team – or asset class.
- Avoid emotional decisions. Just because you love a player (or a company) doesn’t mean they belong in your team.
- Trust the experts. There’s a reason data-driven, process-led thinking tends to outperform spur-of-the-moment moves.
And yes, John did point out that the top three finishers in our league were all Spurs fans. Out of respect for him and my professionalism, I will not comment further. Especially as a Chelsea fan. Let’s just move on…
The game is won through consistency
What I loved most about John’s analysis is how it reframed success. The top teams didn’t do anything magical. They paid attention, stuck to a plan, didn’t panic, and let the strategy work over time.
In investing, it’s the same. Success doesn’t come from reacting faster than others or analysing stock market news every day. It comes from building a financial plan rooted in your values and life goals, and staying engaged with that.
The most important thing you can do is stay connected to what really matters: the people you love, the life you want to live, and the freedom you’re building towards. If you stay focused there, the rest tends to follow.
At Emery Little, we help people stay engaged with what matters most – their financial future and the life they want to live. If you’d like to understand more about how we approach financial planning or discuss how staying engaged with your plan could benefit you, please get in touch.
