Golf legend, broadcaster provides words of wisdom to local financial advisors

Posted

According to Johnny Miller, life is less about your achievements and more about your perseverance amid adversity.

The Hall of Fame golfer and NBC broadcaster shared his life’s learnings, journey and observations on and off the golf course with a group of about 50 local financial advisors earlier this week at an event sponsored by EQIS Capital. Held at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse, the event also featured a golf demonstration conducted by Miller.

Among several topics, Miller discussed extensively the slump he experienced following his victory at the 1976 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. After gaining significant muscle mass after buying and renovating an old ranch in Napa Valley, California, Miller said, he suddenly lost his form and “couldn’t play a lick.”

Miller failed to win for the next three years and considered quitting golf for good. Instead, he ultimately decided to turn his game around so he could set a good example for his children, and he started what he refers to as his second playing career, in which he won seven tournaments in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“It’s not so much what you’ve accomplished in life that matters,” said Miller at the June 12 event. “It’s what you overcome that proves who you are.”

The golf legend recalled several other anecdotes and memories, including his come-from-behind victory at the 1973 U.S. Open, the beginning of his friendship with Jack Nicklaus at the 1966 U.S. Open – when Miller was a freshman in college – and his father’s influence in pushing him to become a golfer. All the while, Miller continued to share insightful nuggets of wisdom, especially pertaining to the importance of family.

“No amount of success can compensate for failure in the home,” he said. “That’s the most important work of your life.”

EQIS Capital, a turnkey asset management technology platform that financial services companies can use to access institutional money managers, hosted the event to introduce its offerings to the advisors and also provide them the opportunity to engage with Miller, who has been associated with EQIS since 2016. Event attendees said they enjoyed the experience.

“His candid personality translates into the way he’s willing to tell stories both on and off the golf course,” said Todd Woodard of Mosaic Wealth Management in Orlando. “It was just very cool.”