Winter is Coming: Investing Insights from an Epic TV Show

Written by The Content Team

Caution: May contain (slight) spoilers!

Every Monday morning at office water coolers across the country these days, keen viewers of the HBO show Game of Thrones gather to discuss the OMG-worthy moments of the series: Is you-know-who really dead? Can you ever trust a Lannister? How about that Arya?

But if the boss meanders over to order you back to work, you can justify your lively conversations by bringing up the fact that there are tons of life and money lessons in between all the battle scenes and dragon flights. To prove it, we asked our own office's GOT superfans for investment lessons from Westeros.

GOT Investment Lesson #1: Knowledge is Power

For one of our colleagues, the starkest line (see what we did there?) between GOT and investing comes down to research. Here's how he positioned it for us.

Who's the richest figure and family of the Seven Kingdoms? Besides being an excellent topic of lively discussion over ale, the answer is not so simple. Superficially, it's of course House Lannister (starring Cersei currently atop the Iron Throne — or is she still?!), whose gold mines across the continent fund their lavish and opulent lifestyles. Look past Cersei's very impressive jewellery collection and Joffrey's 77-course wedding feast, however, and you'll see that the Lannisters are deeply indebted to the Iron Bank of Braavos, the real richest player in this game. Since the Iron Bank doesn't have the flashy marketing of House Lannister, the little people of King's Landing don't know the bleaker reality of the Lannister's financial health; they're worth only about 1/20th of what they appear, notes Master of Coin Mace Tyrell.

The lesson no matter what realm you're in? Don't buy the hype; look beneath the surface when researching your next investment.

GOT Investment Lesson #2: Strategy is Everything

The keeper of the popular Death Pool in our office had a different take. (Although, truth be told, it was hard for her to narrow it down to just one!) For this fan, strategy is where the worlds of GOT and investing intersect perfectly.

Two very different queens have two very different expansion strategies: Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains, in a different era might have the slightly-less dramatic title of Diversifier of Investments. Originally in exile and with nothing material to her name, Dany is tied to neither place nor thing (not even the dragons, who happily come with). On her way to fighting the throne, she made alliances with diverse regions and armies so that she'd have support. Her strategy to entering a hostile market was to gather as much information and support as possible to help protect her.

A different plan, though we don't know yet if it's better or worse (especially after the latest episode!), is Queen Cersei's — sitting alone and vulnerable behind the big walls of King's Landing. She has (or at least had) the safety of her armies and castles, but refused to gamble in the Great War. Instead, she doubled down on the assets she had to avoid future loss — a strategy that cost her nearly every allegiance she had.

Investing takeaway? Your winning strategy depends on you — what you're aiming for, what you need to get there and what you're comfortable with.

GOT Investment Lesson #3: Winter is Coming

Our next office GOT follower went right to one of the biggest themes of the show that even non-fans have likely heard about: winter. In fact, we're pretty sure he'd be the one to nickname one of his investing accounts "Winter Fund" if he could. Here's how he aligned investing with one of the hottest topics of the soon-to-end hit series.

For eight long seasons, we've been reminded over and over that Winter is Coming. This wasn't an idle threat; winter indeed came, bringing along with it the White Walkers. Anyone who didn't prepare didn't survive. Replace the word "winter" with "recession" and you've got an investment lesson that even the savviest financial brains have to learn the hard way.

Market crashes and unforeseen events can sidetrack your investments at any time, so preparation is the only way to survive the storm. While a monthly contribution to an RRSP or emergency savings fund isn't quite as cool as stockpiling dragonglass, the sentiment is the same: Even (and especially) when the going's good, wise up and prepare for winter. It can be long and full of unknowns, and you won't be sad to have a little extra gold tucked in your pocket when it's over.

For you GOT fans out there, what are your investing takeaways from the smash hit? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.