Why Do So Many Poker Pros Die Broke? Part Three

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Parts one and two of this series explained that arrogance was the primary cause dying broke, and discussed nine mistakes poker players make along the way. This column will recommend the steps you can take to avoid that grim fate.

Start A Retirement Savings Program Now

Don’t think, “I’ll save money someday.” Regard retirement saving as an expense, just like your rent or car payment. If you start now, relatively small, regular contributions plus compound interest will build the funds you need.

For more than 80 years the federal government has forced and encouraged people to save for retirement. Social Security forces people to save, and many programs encourage saving. Because these programs let you deduct your contributions from your taxable income, the government essentially adds money to your account.

The government increases its subsidy by not taxing your interest, dividends, and other profits until you retire. Since your income tax rate will be much lower then, you’ll pay less tax. You’ll also get the money when you need it much more than you need it now.

These programs usually include severe penalties for early withdrawal. These penalties will discourage you from raiding your program when you run short of cash.

The government wants to give you money. Take it!

Get Professional Financial Planning Advice

Good retirement planning is like good poker planning. “It depends on the situation.” There are many retirement savings programs, and the government constantly modifies them. The right program depends upon your income, net worth, age, family situation, and other factors that only a professional can apply skillfully.

You also need professional advice to select investments. You couldn’t succeed as a pro if you weren’t very smart. But poker is your game, not investing. Stick to the game you play well.

Don’t Play Other Casino Games

The principle of sticking to the right game applies even more forcefully inside casinos. Even if you make some investment mistakes, saving regularly should build an adequate retirement fund. If you play the wrong casino games, you’ll probably go broke, and you may do it again and again.

Many poker pros lose heavily at craps, sports betting, and other games. They know these games are negative EV, but can’t accept that reality They arrogantly believe they can beat unbeatable games, and their pathological need for action overwhelms their logical brains.

The same craving for action causes some great tournament players to be huge cash game losers. Instead of waiting for the right tournament, they need action now, and it costs them dearly.

Keep good records. Whenever you feel an intense need to play a game you haven’t beaten, don’t lie to yourself and pretend you’ll beat it now. Leave the casino IMMEDIATELY.

Don’t Cheat On Your Taxes

Cheating is tempting, but extremely stupid. You think, “The IRS can’t know how much I win in cash games.”

Wrong!

The IRS knows immeasurably more about how to how to catch cheaters than you can ever know about how to cheat. You can probably get away with cheating, but the risks are so huge that it’s extremely -EV. You may pay massive penalties and fines, and you could spend years in prison.

I don’t like paying taxes any more than you do, and I take every legitimate deduction. But, if I hadn’t paid taxes and Social Security and contributed to tax-sheltered retirement programs, I wouldn’t have a comfortable income from my Social Security and IRA, nor would I be eligible for Medicare.

If you don’t pay Social Security for ten years, you don’t get Medicare. As you get older, your medical costs normally increase enormously. Without Medicare you’re not just risking going broke. You’re gambling with your health and life.

You may believe you won’t get Social Security or Medicare because the programs will go broke. That fear is correct actuarially, but naive politically. If current trends continue the system will go broke, but the politicians won’t let it happen.

Why?

It would be political suicide. Old people are a large and ever-increasing percentage of the population. They and their children would vote against any politician who didn’t protect their pensions and Medicare.

Buy Health Insurance

Medical costs have destroyed the bankrolls of many pros, and these costs aren’t the only reason to buy insurance. Insurance companies and Medicare will help you to stay healthy because it’s much cheaper than treatment.

They will pay for checkups and other actions that you wouldn’t take if you had to pay for them. If you have health insurance, you’ll be healthier, play better, and live longer.

Switch To A Healthier Lifestyle

Many pros neglect their health. They eat too much of the wrong kinds of food and don’t exercise enough. So they have higher medical costs and don’t feel well enough to play their A-game. They win less money and die too soon.

You have absolutely no excuse for an unhealthy lifestyle. There are hundreds of books and articles, and you don’t even need them. You already know what you should do. You just won’t do it.

Stop denying reality about your health. Commit yourself to eating wisely, exercising regularly, and seeing your doctor twice a year, even if you feel great. Routine health screenings have saved countless lives, and they could save yours.

Get A Straight Job

Every well-trained financial planner recommends diversification. And you don’t need that advice. You’ve repeatedly been told, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

That principle applies to any basket, but it’s especially true for poker. Swings and losing streaks are inevitable. If you depend too much on your poker profits, several bad things will happen:

1. All of your income and assets will always be at risk.
2. You’ll increase your psychological vulnerability. When you’re running bad, you’ll feel much worse than pros with more balanced lives. The worse you feel, the worse you’ll play. You can easily go on tilt and lose everything.
3. You can’t be as selective about where and when you play. If you need money for your expenses, you’ll play when the games too tough or you don’t feel well enough to play your A-game.
4. Your effective bankroll will be smaller. You’ll have to take the risks of playing above your bankroll or reduce your profits by playing in smaller games.

When I suggest taking a straight job, many pros are horrified. They think it’s admitting they don’t play well enough to make it.

Nonsense!

Some very successful players have straight jobs, including Bobby Baldwin, Dan Harrington, and three of my friends: Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Roy Cooke. Despite being excellent players, they all recognized the danger of being totally dependent upon poker. They continue to play winning poker, but have solid incomes from other sources.

Conclusion

Stop pretending that you’re so special that you’re not in danger. Too many pros have died broke. Don’t become one of them. Start preparing for a comfortable retirement NOW.

Visit Alan Schoonmaker’s website for access to his 14 books, 200+ articles, videos and podcasts.