Like elite World Cup teams, profitable portfolios require consistent work

As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on July 5, 2026.

“The dream of every footballer and why we train and work is to reach the top, and a World Cup is the top.” -Giovani Dos Santos

With times still tense in Israel, people are looking for any small escape to take their minds off the “situation” for a short period of time. For many, that diversion has come in the form of the World Cup. For me it’s a compelling event because it combines elite sport with emotion, national identity, and extreme scarcity in a way that almost no other event does. It also comes around every 4 years, so there’s the buildup as well. Once you get to the knockout round, anything can happen. Watching Paraguay upset Germany was classic. Watching Senegal blow a 2-goal lead in the final minutes and eventually lose was heartbreaking. I’ve always been fascinated by how each team and individual deals with the immense pressure of the big game after dedicating their whole life for the moment. It’s not that the players wake up one morning to find out that they are on the national squad. They have dedicated their whole life, training on a daily basis, to reach this level and get picked to represent their country.

This day-in-and-day-out approach is mentioned in this week’s Torah reading and may very well be the reason that Joshua was revealed to succeed Moses as the leader of the Jewish people and bring them into the land of Israel. Up to that revelation I would’ve expected that either one of the sons of Moses or Pinchas would be picked. One of the sons because often leadership is passed from father to son and Pinchas as it says, “Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aharon the Kohen, turned back my wrath from upon the Children of Israel, when he zealously avenged Me among them, so I did not consume the Children of Israel in My vengeance. Therefore say: Behold! I give him my covenant of peace.”(Bamidbar, 25:11-12)

Such a bold and heroic action would certainly put him in the running for leadership, and the nation would get behind him as they were saved from death by his zealousness. As I have quoted here numerous times, Rabbi Shalom Gold z”l asked what quality Joshua possessed that merited his being chosen to lead. He answered that if you look at the juxtaposition of verses, immediately after his being chosen, we have the section that deals with the daily offering in the Temple, the Tamid. One lamb was offered in the morning and the second was offered in the afternoon. He said it’s the day in day out commitment, which is important in leadership, not a one-time heroic event.

I think the lessons we can learn from these athletes can be applied to our personal lives and especially our finances. These athletes earned their spot, no one gave them anything. They didn’t sit back and wait for the government to take care of them. The financial sacrifice made by many families so that their children can dedicate their childhood to training, in a world that in many ways lacks that concept of sacrifice is heartening. We learn that hard work, dedication, the fortitude to overcome injury and other setbacks along with strong will is the recipe for athletic success.

We live in a world that celebrates instant gratification. Buy now, pay later. Upgrade today. Experience everything immediately. Yet almost every worthwhile achievement in life demands the opposite. Whether it’s building a successful career, raising a family, or improving your health, meaningful accomplishments require a willingness to sacrifice something today for something better tomorrow.

Financial security is no different. Many people mistakenly believe that wealth is the product of a high salary, a lucky investment, or perfect timing in the markets. While those factors can certainly help, they are rarely the determining factor. More often than not, lasting financial security is built through a simple process repeated consistently over many years. That process requires sacrifice. It may mean driving the same car for a few extra years instead of financing a new one. It may mean eating at home more often, postponing a dream vacation, or investing a portion of every paycheck before spending it on discretionary purchases. None of these decisions are particularly glamorous. In fact, they often feel uncomfortable in the moment. But each small sacrifice becomes another brick in the foundation of future financial independence.

As I wrote a few weeks ago the Israelites did not enter the Land of Israel and immediately enjoy its bounty. They had to plant, cultivate, wait, and trust that the harvest would eventually come.

The beauty of investing is that it rewards patience. Thanks to the power of compounding, today’s seemingly insignificant sacrifices can produce extraordinary results over decades. Every dollar saved today can grow, and compound and over time, what once appeared to be modest decisions can transform into meaningful wealth.

Financial freedom is not about depriving yourself forever. It is about making intentional choices today so that tomorrow offers more options, less stress, and greater peace of mind. Temporary sacrifice creates permanent flexibility.

The process is not always exciting, and it certainly isn’t quick. But like so many of life’s greatest blessings, those who faithfully follow the process often discover that the destination was worth every step.

The information contained in this article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.

Aaron Katsman is the author of Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill), and is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. (www.prginc.net). Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA, FSI. For more information, call (02) 624-0995 visit www.aaronkatsman.com or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.