I'm a Wealth Adviser Obsessed With Mahjong: Here Are 8 Ways It Can Teach Us How to Manage Our Money

This increasingly popular Chinese game can teach us not only how to help manage our money but also how important it is to connect with other people. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirementInsights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose. Back in 2024, I took a mahjong lesson with a friend and was instantly hooked. I joined a league soon after and now play weekly. And I'm not the only one to be bitten by the bug.This Chinese game is having a big moment — Eventbrite reports that between 2023 and 2024, searches for mahjong events jumped by 365%.In my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, Axios recently reported that people are creating mahjong rooms inside their homes.Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special IssuesProfit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.True confession: A dedicated space for mahjong play was the first thing on my wish list when we moved into our new home last year. It's my favorite room in our new house.Lately, my love of the game has had me pondering what mahjong and money have in common. A lot, surprisingly.In fact, here are eight takeaways from mahjong that can be used to cultivate the right mindset and skills for investing and managing money. There are probably more, but I chose eight because it's a very lucky number in Chinese culture — a number that's linked to wealth and good fortune.In mahjong, you don't know which tiles you'll draw next, just as you can't predict stock market movements. Success in both areas comes from your ability to understand probabilities, manage risk and make decisions with incomplete or evolving information.About Adviser IntelThe author of this article is a participant in Kiplinger's Adviser Intel program, a curated network of trusted financial professionals who share expert insights on wealth building and preservation. Contributors, including fiduciary financial planners, wealth managers, CEOs and attorneys, provide actionable advice about retirement planning, estate planning, tax strategies and more. Experts are invited to contribute and do not pay to be included, so you can trust their advice is honest and valuable.In mahjong, you can play aggressively for a win, or defensively to avoid helping opponents, by discarding certain tiles. Financial planning has the same tension — sometimes you have to pursue higher returns (perhaps when the time horizon is extended) and other times you must focus on protecting the downside and limit your losses.Tiles are limited, and once discarded, they're gone. Money is similar. Income is finite and once spent, it can't be reused. Both require thoughtful budgeting and allocation of limited resources.A promising mahjong hand with a line nearly in place can suddenly become impossible to win as the game evolves and tiles are played. Likewise, life events, economic changes or market shifts require adjustments to your financial plan. You must adapt and pivot while striving to "win" in the long run.Winning at mahjong often means waiting for the right tile rather than forcing a bad move. Financial success also can reward the patience that comes from sticking to a plan, avoiding emotional decisions and letting time work in your favor.Each mahjong round teaches you patterns, timing and mistakes. Financial planning offers opportunities as you review outcomes, refine strategies and apply lessons learned.Every year, the National Mah Jongg League, which oversees the American version of the game, releases a new card with different hands and rules to add more excitement to the game.Looking for expert tips to grow and preserve your wealth? Sign up for Adviser Intel, our free, twice-weekly newsletter.Every year, the IRS makes changes to the tax code that require tax planners and taxpayers to adjust their approach. Knowing this and being ready to follow the map set by others may help you win in both spaces.And now for my favorite …It's possible to play mahjong alone, competing with robots online, but it's nothing like the experience of gathering with three other players to play in person. Even if you're playing with strangers, the experience is much more enjoyable. Often, there's casual conversation and laughter.Similarly, it's more fun to set financial goals with friends. For years, I've seen friends share budgeting hacks and serve as accountability partners in financial goal setting.Friends make everything more fun — and the really good ones keep us honest with ourselves.Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.Content in this article is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. This article is intended to assist in educating you about insurance generally and not to provide personal service. If you need more information or would like personal advice you should consult an insurance professional. You may also visit your state's insurance department for more information.​This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.Mary Ware is an experienced senior wealth advisor and managing partner of Carnegie Private Wealth in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's her dream job because she gets to help individuals and families pursue their financial dreams. After 20 years in the business, she's enjoying seeing some of those long-term visions — graduations, once-in-a-lifetime vacations and retirements — become reality. Mary sees her role as helping her clients discover what's important to them, creating a plan for pursuing their goals and walking beside them as they do the work. She's upbeat and positive. She believes it's never too late to get started working toward financial goals. "Wealth Your Way" by Cosmo DeStefano offers a highly accessible guide for young adults and their parents on building wealth through simple, consistent habits. How can advisers reassure clients nervous about their plans in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world? This conversational framework provides the key. The Nation's 40th President's wit and wisdom can help retirees navigate their financial and personal journey with confidence. "Wealth Your Way" by Cosmo DeStefano offers a highly accessible guide for young adults and their parents on building wealth through simple, consistent habits. How can advisers reassure clients nervous about their plans in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world? This conversational framework provides the key. The Nation's 40th President's wit and wisdom can help retirees navigate their financial and personal journey with confidence. Small rental properties can be excellent investments, but you can use 1031 exchanges to transition to commercial real estate for bigger wealth-building. Learn how timing matters when it comes to choosing the right account. An extended family vacation can be a fun and bonding experience if planned well. Here are tips from travel experts. Roth conversions are all the rage, but what works well for one household can cause financial strain for another. This is what you should consider before moving ahead. Retirement planning is less about hitting a "magic number" and more about an intentional journey — from understanding your relationship with money to preparing for your final legacy.