Dykstra: Do You Have a Game Plan?

Many people write to me to ask about my options calls and my playing days in the big leagues. In the past, I have addressed a number of different topics in my columns; many of my loyal readers are familiar with "The Game of Life," a regular column featured last season.

Recently I have been focusing mainly on my picks and the market's outlook. I believe its time to address a topic I have been getting a lot of inquiries about: the Players Club magazine. While this column is a little different than a number of my recent columns, I thought I would share a little bit of information about the magazine and why I believe it is important.

First off, the magazine is for players, by players and only available to players, agents, coaches, and the teams' front-office staff. I believe it's the best magazine in the world, and will make a real difference in educating athletes about their own finances. However, as I sat down to write today's column, I realized that many of the same lessons and principles apply to investors who aren't athletes as well. Hopefully this column will address many of the questions, you -- the readers -- have sent in concerning the Players Club as well as provide you with some insight into my way of thinking.

So let's get right to it. I can speak to you as very few people can because I know what it's like to be both a player and someone who manages several aspects of my own finances. I know what it's like to win the World Series as a member of the 1986 New York Mets. I know what it's like to retire and have an investment banker tell me that he'd lost most of my savings in the stock market, something that unfortunately happens to a lot of people who trust others to manage their retirement.