Investments and creating wealth

Key topic

Bad investment decisions contribute greatly to the financial problems of athletes.  Athletes have been and are an easy target for many shady financial predators, who promise them ‘sweet deals’ with huge returns in a short period of time.  With so many ‘get rich quick’ schemes out there which try to sell the improbable dream, athletes need to have the knowledge which will help them make educated and informed decisions for themselves and control their emotional responses to risks and the market.

Learning objectives

• The main reason why people invest is to see a return on their investment.
• In preparing to invest, athletes should devise a consistent plan, should control their emotional responses to risk and the market, they should always strive to see the big picture and they should be aware of the various types of fraudulent investment schemes.
• Every investment carries a certain amount of risk and reward. Risk can be managed only up to a certain extent, and it cannot be eliminated.
• Creating the right team of trustworthy, reputable, and established professionals is important to the athlete’s financial success.
• There are various investment options available which are suitable in different situations, depending on your long-term financial strategy and they include stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.
• Understand what diversification is and appreciate its importance when investing.
• Before investing make sure you are investment prepared. An investment preparation checklist gives you an indication as to whether you are ready to start investing.

Introduction

Investing is one of the key ways to achieve your financial goals.  Through investing you can make your money work for you and take charge of your financial security by growing your wealth and by generating additional income streams to support your desired lifestyle.

Investing means committing capital or funds to different types of assets with the expectation that you will generate a gain or profit in the future from these investments.  An investment is different from saving because an investment is a rather active way of using your money while saving is basically storing your money for future use.  Investing always carries risk with it therefore it is critical to do your research and analyze the risk before committing your money into an investment.

Every one of us, athletes or not, needs to be educated in the basics of investing.  Such knowledge will help us create successful investment strategies and plans, through which we can generate enough income to support the lifestyle we envision for ourselves.  Knowledge forms the foundation of any successful investment strategy.  Knowledge can give us the tools to invest wisely and make our money work for us.

Nonetheless, suitable advisors are important on this journey as well. They will be the ones who will be making recommendations. It is, therefore, paramount for athletes to learn to evaluate those options themselves instead of depending upon their advisors alone.

The reason many people invest is to achieve financial freedom. The term “financial freedom”, as we saw in previous lessons, means something different to each person.  Many define it as being able to have the lifestyle they want and knowing they can afford it financially, without worrying about paying bills and making ends meet. Financial freedom means that instead of having to work to generate income, you will have your assets working for you and these assets will be generating the income you need to support your desired lifestyle.  In order to attain this goal, it’s important to begin investing as early as possible so that you generate passive income streams instead of having to work for every penny.

By starting early, you take advantage of compound interest revenues, meaning your earnings generate additional earnings over time, significantly increasing your wealth.  In today’s digital economy, financial freedom is increasingly being achieved through alternative investment opportunities, such as digital assets (cryptocurrency, NFTs), peer-to-peer lending, and fractional real estate ownership. These modern investment options provide additional ways to generate passive income beyond traditional methods.

In addition to having your money work for you, there is more to be gained through investing:

• You can protect your money against the possibility of negative interest rates which can decrease instead of increasing the balance of your precious saving accounts.
• Investing helps you keep pace with inflation, by growing your money fast enough to keep up with rising prices.
• If you decide to invest money in a new or current business, you support the creation of new jobs and new products. In addition to enjoying the process of creating and establishing a new business, you can also get a good return on your investment.  With the rise of startups, crowdfunding platforms, and digital entrepreneurship, investors now have more opportunities to fund tech-based businesses, AI-driven innovations, and green energy projects, which can provide long-term returns.
• Investing can help you reduce your taxable income. There are certain investments such as retirement funds, which are exempt from taxation.

Whatever goals you may have set in your financial freedom plan, whether travelling the world or retiring on a yacht in the Greek Islands, investing is the key to getting you where you want to be.

Athletes and investment basics

The reward for athletes who reach a top level in their sport does not only come in the form of public recognition and a display case full of medals. Most athletes are privileged with earning what an average person earns in a lifetime, in just a few years. Many will squander this money away in a short time, but others will make the right decisions, including investments, that will allow them to retain their financial freedom and security after their retirement.

The core concept of investing is putting your money to work for you by buying assets that you believe will go up in value, such as stocks, precious metals, real estate and others, and use the income generated from them to support the lifestyle you want to follow. The truth is that these assets do not always increase in value, so there is a risk of losing some or all of the money you have invested.

And while high-earning athletes might have an abundance of capital available for investing in comparison to their lower-paid colleagues, that doesn’t mean that lower paid athletes don’t have to take the same steps to become prepared to dive into investments.

Everyone, no matter what their financial status, should have a financial plan in place that at least includes a budget and a savings plan. After building up an emergency savings fund that can cover your basic expenses for a few months, in case your income sources dry up, you can start putting aside risk capital. Risk capital is money that you can afford to lose without putting yourself in dangerous financial circumstances. If you already have debts, your focus should be to pay them off before starting to invest.

As an athlete you should already have a team of trusted advisors around you, people who have contributed to your success, such as your agent or a legal advisor. Before investing, you should consider adding a financial advisor to your team, if you don’t already have one. A financial advisor can advise you on how your emotions can lead to bad investment decisions or how a consistent plan will almost always beat a get rich quick scheme and can also protect you against various fraudulent investment schemes.

Building an overall investment plan with the help of your team doesn’t mean you don’t need to gain the required knowledge to make educated financial decisions for yourself and be able to conduct some basic due diligence research on every investment you’re considering.

Understanding the concept of risk is crucial for investing. Basically, each type of investment comes with a different level of risk and reward, the greater the risk you take of losing your money, the higher the potential return, and ideally, you want to earn the highest return with the least amount of risk.

The key to managing risk, which can’t be totally eliminated, is diversifying your investments with the help of your financial advisor by spreading your money into several different types of investments that are unlikely to all move in the same direction, so when the value of one goes down, one of the others might go up, so you either have better returns or reduce your overall losses.

And no matter how “safe” you believe an investment is, you always need to have an exit plan, in case the investment doesn’t perform as expected. Knowing the liquidity level of your assets beforehand will help you determine how your exit plan works.

Investing makes sense and it’s all about putting your money to work for you, instead of you working for money. The sooner you start investing in life, the sooner you will be able to taste the fruits of your investments. But in order for any investment plan to be successful, it needs to be aligned with your lifestyle goals and to match your risk tolerance.

 

 

Action Steps – Exercise 1 (10 minutes)

Complete the Net Worth Chart. To determine your net worth, you will subtract the total cost of liabilities from the total value of assets.

Assets			Liabilities
o Personal Residence			o Real Estate Mortgages
o Rental & Other Properties			o Credit Card Debt
o Physical Metals (i.e., gold, silver)			o Personal Loans
o Jewelry, Art, etc.			o Auto Loans
o Automobiles			o Life Insurance Loans
o Other			o Margin Account Loans
			o Other
o Government Bonds			o Other
o Corporate Bonds			o Other
o Municipal Bonds			o Other
o Bond-Based Mutual Funds
o Other
o Stocks
o Stock-Based Mutual Funds
o Variable Annuities
o Other Annuities
o Life Insurance with Cash Value
o Business Partnership Interest
o Other
o Savings Account
o Checking Account			TOTALS
o Money Market Account			Total Assets
o Certificate of Deposit			Total Liabilities
o Other			Net Worth (Assets minus Liabilities)

 

Real Life Examples (5-minute discussion) Serena Williams is not just a 23-time grand slam winner; she’s also a successful investor: In 2003, at the age of 21 she signed her first endorsement with Nike for around $60 million. Williams is estimated to have made throughout her career around $93 million yet her net worth is around $225 million because of her investment endeavors. She once invested $250,000 in a start-up which eventually went bust. That’s ok. There is no investment without risk. Moreover, you learn from your mistakes. She founded Serena Ventures, used to invest in companies led by women and minorities exclusively; thus, fusing her investment with a social message But she also spends in other businesses as well. As she said to Forbes: “I usually invest my funds. I am the most boring spender ever”. So, we can deduce that Serena is a mainstream spender which means she opts for low-risk investments Serena has invested in over 30 companies, including food, health and wellness, e-commerce, and fashion. Its portfolio includes female-centric companies such as the coworking start-up the Wing and the razor brand Billie, the online-course provider MasterClass, and the tampon subscription service LOLA.

Basic investment definitions and concepts

Investing is buying assets that you believe will go up in value. Assets do not always increase in value, so every time you invest, you risk losing some or all of your money. Before stepping into the world of investments there are some basic definitions that will help you better understand how investments work.

Risk capital refers to money that you can afford to lose without putting you in dangerous financial circumstances. In other words, you should only have a portion of your income designated as risk capital. It can, for instance, be used to invest in promising start-ups in a similar fashion to what Serena Williams does.

There are three types of income as we have already discussed. Active income is earned through work, while Passive income is earned without your work effort, like income from renting out properties or from interest on your savings. Portfolio income represents the returns from investing in financial markets.

Prices change according to the Law of Supply and Demand. Demand reflects how much quantity of a product or service is desired by buyers at a certain price. Supply is how much quantity of a certain good producers are willing to supply at a certain price. The more people want a product; the supply price of that product goes up. When fewer people want that product, prices go down. The reason behind that is that resources are finite and therefore once demand gets too high, prices must adjust to reestablish balance.

Return on investment (ROI) is a performance measure that helps investors compare the return offered by one investment to returns on other investments and is expressed as a percentage or ratio.  It measures the gain or loss generated on an investment, relative to the amount of money invested.

ROI= [Profit/ Investment) x100%]

The numerator is essentially the Profit you make from an investment, while the denominator is the cost of that investment (initial amount invested). For example, if you have invested $100 and in a year’s time you receive a dividend of $10, then your return on investment is 10%.

Compounding profits just like compounding interest applies to investments as well.  It is the process by which the value of an investment increases exponentially because both the principal amount and any profits thereon are reinvested. The beauty of compounding profits is that you make money both on the money you initially invest and on the profits your investments pay you, provided that you reinvest such profits. Using this principle, if you invested just €100 a month when you were 18 years old you could become a millionaire by retirement age.  New robo-advisors, high-yield DeFi protocols, and AI-driven investment strategies are helping investors maximize compounding interest with automated portfolio management. These tools allow users to reinvest profits instantly, increasing their overall returns.

The Rule of 72 says that if you divide 72 by the non-decimal interest or return rate (10, not 0.1) you are receiving from an investment, the answer tells you how many years it will take for that money to double. This principle helps illustrate that the earlier you start saving for retirement, the better the chances that your money will double. If for example you have €10,000 in savings and are earning at a 10% rate, your money will double in 7.2 years. (72 /10 = 7.2).  With cryptocurrency staking and decentralized finance (DeFi) yield farming, investors now apply the Rule of 72 to assets with highly variable interest rates. While some DeFi platforms offer high short-term APYs, the risk of volatility means investors should carefully assess how long these returns are sustainable.

Preparing to invest

Investing makes sense. It’s all about making your money work for you, instead of the other way around! Best of all, the sooner you begin investing, the more you can increase your original investment – at least in theory.  In addition to learning basic investment concepts and definitions when preparing to invest, you have to also become mentally ready for investing.

Be Consistent – The first step to achieving financial success is following a consistent, long-term investment plan. A regular savings plan can be the foundation of your investing career as it provides you with money to invest on a regular basis.  Financial success takes time, so you need to take a long view, and not focus on short- term gain.  If you start investing early and consistently, you will be able to take advantage of the power of compounding interest.

Have your emotions in check – Emotions make us do things we wouldn’t normally do. This is especially true with investing. The negative emotions most likely to affect people when they invest are greed and fear. Many people just concentrate on getting more and more money, but when they start to lose money, they become scared and freeze up.  Another mistake people make is getting emotionally attached to a stock, or a company, or a piece of real estate. Despite warning signs telling them to sell, they foolishly continue to hold on to it, even as it depreciates in value!  If you carry emotional baggage, you are more likely to make bad decisions than people who have a clear, relaxed business focus.  You should be aware that controlling your emotional responses to risk is an important part of your investment plan.

Action Steps – Exercise 2 (15 minutes):

Tell athletes that they each have $100,000 available to invest.  Ask them how they would invest their $100,000 and why.  Take 4 to 5 answers and continue with a discussion in connection with the athletes’ responses.  Make sure to discuss whether they take a long view towards investing as opposed to a short-term one.

Be careful of fraudulent investment schemes

During your career you are going to be surrounded by people offering you “Get rich quick” schemes. People will be calling you with a “hot” stock tip or urging you to invest in a sweet deal. These salespeople are trying to affect your emotions by selling you an unlikely dream. They have been trained to do their job and to tap into your feelings; they are experts at selling what they sell, unlike you, and have probably talked to hundreds before you, who reacted similarly. Some examples of fraudulent investment schemes include Ponzi schemes (like the infamous Bernie Madoff case), bank frauds, and accounting scandals such as the Enron collapse. In recent years, financial fraud has evolved to include cryptocurrency scams, rug pulls, and pump-and-dump schemes, which exploit new technologies to deceive investors.  People lost millions; don’t let that happen to you. Gain the knowledge you need to make informed and educated financial decisions for yourself.

It’s OK to listen to other people’s investment ideas but never go through with one before researching it yourself. You can research online—reputable and specialized websites, and research papers— read books and talk to advisors you trust. A clever way to filter people who approach you with an investment idea is to ask them if they would invest themselves in the particular project they propose.

In the past couple of decades, we have had several fraudulent investment schemes in which a lot of money was invested and lost.  Unfortunately, fraudulent schemes come in a lot of varieties and flavors, so we have to be extra careful.  Having knowledge about the fraudulent investment schemes of the past may help you in identifying similar characteristics in any investment proposals you may get in the future.

A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud where people invest and their return on the investment is paid from the money of new investors. So basically, a Ponzi scheme is a type of fraud in which belief in the success of a non-existent enterprise is fueled by the payment of (typically) quick returns to the first investors from money poured in by later investors. So, people who invested in 2023 were paid their return using the investment money from people who invested in 2024.  Therefore, beware of the promise of unrealistically high returns.

A rug pull is a cryptocurrency investment scam where the creators or developers of a cryptocurrency project suddenly abandon or exit the project, taking all the funds invested by users with them.  To avoid rug pulls, try to avoid projects where a small number of wallets hold the majority of the coins.

Pump and dump is a form of securities fraud that involves artificially inflating the price of an owned stock through false and misleading positive statements (pump), in order to sell the cheaply purchased stock at a higher price (dump).  Once the operators of the scheme dump (sell) their overvalued shares, the prices falls and investors lose money.  This is most common with small-cap cryptocurrencies and very small corporations (micro-caps)

Modern Cyber Investment Scams. Fraudulent investment schemes are not limited to traditional scams. Criminals also use fake investment websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent NFT marketplaces to trick victims into losing money. Always verify the legitimacy of any platform or offer through trusted advisors, and be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those that pressure you to act quickly.

With the help of a financial advisor or a trusted person with investments knowledge, always check out the history of companies that you intend to invest in.  Do not look at companies just from the outset.  It is important to understand the value of the underlying assets of a company.  For example, if you invest in a company that owns and rents out a real estate complex, you need to understand what gives this complex its value.  Is it its location?  Is it its architecture? Or is it just that currently real estate prices are overestimated?  Recent market fluctuations, driven by AI-driven property valuations and speculative real estate investments, have caused housing bubbles that investors must be cautious of.

Real Life Examples (5 minute-discussion) Heather Mitts a soccer star and her husband A.J. Feeley, free agent quarterback, were among several professional athletes who fell victim to crooked financial advisor William Crafton Jr. They were among his many victims and among the first to file a lawsuit in court against him. According to court documents Crafton was accused of, “fraudulent misrepresentation and bad-faith breaches of fiduciary duties.” The couple’s attorney stated his client’s losses were amounted to $8 million. What do you think about this case? Are you aware of similar cases?

Look at the Bigger Picture

You should not just focus on the ups and downs of each individual investment; always step back and look at the big picture:

One of the biggest things to watch is trends. A trend is the direction toward which a market tends to move. By looking at trends and building your knowledge of trends, you will be able over time to assess the quality of the investment options presented to you.  New tools like AI-driven market analysis, sentiment tracking, and predictive algorithms can help investors identify emerging trends faster than ever.

To invest in companies or markets, you need to know whether they have any problems. General research can help you find out if there are problems and you will get a better understanding of why this stock is tumbling, or that the housing market is rising.  Since the final decision will always be made by you when investing, you need to keep an open perspective and keep educating yourself on the surrounding facts of the investment markets.

Investing with Purpose:

The most successful investors emphasize ‘investing with purpose’ — aligning financial decisions with personal values, passions, and long-term visions for the future. Whether it’s supporting causes you care about, backing businesses that reflect your beliefs, or building a legacy for your family and community, purpose-driven investing can provide deeper fulfilment alongside financial returns.

Investment advice by NFL running back Arian Foster: Start with the end in mind Look at each contract like it is the last one you will ever sign, because you never know when your run in sports will be over. Invest in companies that align with your beliefs Every investment is rooted in my personal conquest to help people live better lives. You can do good by doing good. Invest in great human spirits The world is full of great ideas; the execution is where the brilliance is and that takes a great leader and great team. Be part of companies where you can learn too If you can make sure that with each company you work with, you can get your hands dirty and learn the business, that wisdom alone will always be a great rate of return on your investment. Know who to trust… and trust them Find mentors, you can’t go it alone; surround yourself with people you trust who are experts in areas you are weak in . . . and then, listen to them when they give you advice.

Risk and potential:  The relationship of risk and earning capacity

An investment’s potential to generate revenue is usually directly correlated with risk.  Risk, as already discussed, is the chance that an investment you make will lose money. There are ways you can manage risk, but a certain amount of risk will remain present in every financial decision you make.  There are different kinds of investment risks.  Common investment risks include:

Inflation risk – When the value of an asset or income decreases due to the reduced value of the currency.  Inflation causes the purchasing power of the investment return to decline.

Liquidity risk – This risk is commonly associated with real estate and refers to the inability to convert an asset to cash. With stocks that have a high trading volume, typically your liquidity risk is low except for when there is a significant market correction.

Interest rate risk – When interest rates rise, the value of a fixed-rate investment will decline in value.

Business risk – The potential for a company in which you have invested (in a stock or bond) to go out of business, become bankrupt, or be unable to pay back their bond obligations. Recent high-profile bankruptcies like Wirecard (2020), and FTX (2022) show how business risk can severely impact investors.

Opportunity risk (cost) – When you are presented with a better investment option than the one to which you have committed your money, it is called opportunity risk. For example, locking funds in a low-interest savings account may prevent you from investing in high-growth stocks or emerging markets. Because you are already tied up in a project, you cannot act on a new opportunity, and you potentially lose profits.

Credit risk – Credit risk is a specific risk for bondholders where the bond issuer cannot make interest or principal payments.

Market risk or Systematic Risk – The uncertainty and movement of financial markets is called market risk. This type of risk affects all securities in the same asset class in a similar manner. Changes in interest rates, tax bases, and other factors all affect the potential return on investment. Some events that can increase market risk include natural disasters, major policy changes, and events that can impact on the overall market, like the COVID 19 pandemic that has affected the overall markets worldwide.

Idiosyncratic risk – The risk that an individual investment holds by itself (e.g. the risk of holding a single stock of a company).  This type of risk can be eliminated by diversifying your investments.  The more diversified your investments are, the closer the idiosyncratic risk goes to zero.

Reinvestment risk – This risk mainly applies to those bondholders whose bonds are coming due and who are seeking a bond investment with equal or greater interest and with the same amount of risk. If they are unsuccessful, their income can be reduced, or they may have to invest in more riskier bonds.  With interest rates fluctuating, investors now consider alternative reinvestment options, such as dividend-paying stocks, structured products, or inflation-linked bonds.

Political risk – Government action (policies, announcements, statements etc.) that might change the value of the investment is a risk that must be considered.  Recent examples include Brexit (which impacted European trade and financial markets), U.S.-China trade tensions, and new regulatory policies on cryptocurrencies, which have influenced global investment strategies.

Before you start investing, it is critical to understand the relationship between risk and return. There are different types of investments, each associated with a level of risk and return. Risk is the chance that the return from an investment will be different than the one expected. Low risk is usually associated with low potential returns while high risk is associated with high potential returns. You can choose the level of risk you feel comfortable with, which will come with a comparatively similar return on investment.

Risk and return have a correlative relationship, or at least they should if you are getting a good deal. If you are investing in something that carries a low level of risk, then you probably cannot expect to earn very high returns.  The opposite is true of high-risk ventures. In that case you would expect higher returns in exchange for risking your money.

For instance, if you invest your money in a brand-new company that has no proven track record, that investment is high-risk. The company could easily go out of business, and you would lose everything. On the other hand, it could be highly successful, in which case you would make a lot of money.  Today, high-risk investments also include venture capital, early-stage technology startups, and cryptocurrency projects, where investors take on significant risk in hopes of major returns. The rise of crowdfunding platforms has also made it easier to invest in small businesses and innovative projects, but due diligence is crucial

There are a lot of different investments out there, so when presented with different investment opportunities you should make a list of possibilities and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each one, together with a financial advisor or knowledgeable person you trust. Weed out any investments with overwhelming “cons,” and zero in on the best investments for your budget and goals.

Action Steps – Exercise 3 (15 minutes):

Ask athletes to discuss any examples they know which demonstrate the relationship of risk and earning capacity, for example if they know of any startups which ended up giving a high return to their investors or which have gone bust and their investors lost all their money.  Have a discussion on the given examples with the whole class.

Your investment advisor

Your financial/investment advisor plays a vital role in the success of your investment plans.  We stress, one more time, that you need to exercise great care when choosing your financial/investment advisor since this is the person who will be guiding you on how to achieve the financial results you need to attain financial freedom.  With the rise of fee-based advisors, robo-advisors, and fiduciary financial planners, it’s essential to understand different advisory models and choose one that aligns with your needs.

The best advice that we can give you, at the risk of becoming repetitive, is to educate yourself on basic financial and investment concepts so that you are in a position to evaluate the advice given to you and make financially sound decisions. Resources such as online courses, financial podcasts, investment newsletters, and AI-powered financial tools can help deepen your understanding.  We reiterate that basic financial knowledge can really save the day when it comes to financial decisions with a lifelong impact!  By being aware of the basic principle that the riskier the investment, the higher the potential return will enable you to make basic financial decisions.

4 Tips to help you choose your financial advisor: You want to find one who will give you the best possible advice – not someone just looking after their own interests, so make sure that they offer full disclosure as to the commission they will be getting if they do work on commission. You should be aware that certain financial professionals are experts in a particular service, but not in An accountant for example cannot also do your financial planning; you need a certified financial planner to do that. You should not rely entirely on one financial advisor; you need to build a collaborating team comprising of different types of expertise. Ensure that your financial experts’ welcome input from the other professionals in your financial team.

Types of investments

When you start investing, as part of your financial freedom plan, you may need to educate yourself on the different investment options available.  To be able to choose amongst different investment opportunities you need to have some knowledge about the different options and their characteristics. The most common types of investments are grouped into several general categories: ownership, lending and cash equivalents and we set below some basic information on all three groups of investments.

Ownership Investments

Ownership investments are considered the most volatile and profitable class of investment.  When you purchase an ownership investment or equity as it is alternatively called, you own an asset or part of it. You expect the value of this asset to increase, thus giving you a return on your investment. The value of the asset is determined by fluctuations in its relevant market. Some examples of ownership investments are:

1. Stocks

When you own stock in a company, you partially own the company and have a right to a portion of the company’s value. For example, if you owned 10,000 shares of a company that has 1,000,000 outstanding shares, you would own 1% of that company.  You can profit by how the market values the asset you own. If the company achieves a big profit, investors will want to own its shares in order to benefit from future profits, driving up demand for them and thus increasing their price. You can profit by selling your shares at a higher price than the price you bought them or by receiving dividends on the shares included in your investment portfolio.

1. Business ventures

Putting money into a new or running business is an ownership investment with high potential returns. People such as Bill Gates of Microsoft and Elon Musk of Tesla have made huge personal fortunes by creating products and services and selling them to the market through their own businesses.

1. Real Estate

Buildings that you buy to rent out or repair and resell are considered ownership investments.  The 2022–2023 housing market correction, driven by rising interest rates and declining property values is a good illustration of the risks associated with investing in real estate. The house you purchase to live in is not considered an investment, as it is not purchased with an expectation of profit.  Investors who want exposure to real estate but prefer not to manage physical properties often choose Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or tokenized real estate, which allows fractional ownership of properties via blockchain technology.

1. Precious objects and collectibles

Precious metals and stones, art and collectibles, if bought with the intention to resell for profit, can all be considered ownership investments. There are risks associated with owning these investments since if you don’t take good care of them, they might be damaged and depreciate in value.

Lending Investments

Lending investments usually bear a lower risk than ownership investments and have lower returns as a result. If you choose to invest in a bond issued by a company, you will receive a set amount over a certain period, while if you choose to invest in the stock of the same company, you might get double or triple the money or lose all of it, if it goes bankrupt.  In case of bankruptcy, bondholders usually still get their money, and the stockholder often gets nothing.

1. Your savings account

The money you deposit in your savings accounts is essentially being lent to the bank, which loans it out to other people. The low return you get is associated with the minimum risk you have since deposits are protected up to a certain amount by authorities such as the FDIC in the USA.  In recent years, high-yield savings accounts and online-only banks have offered better interest rates compared to traditional banks.

1. Bonds

Bonds are basically debt obligations, a form of borrowing money. The issuer of the bonds receives money which has to repay over time, including periodic interest that has to be paid to the lender. The risks and returns will depend on the financial status of the issuer of the bond and type of bond, but overall, lending investments are considered lower risk and thus have a lower return than ownership investments.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are investments that can be readily converted into cash and are characterized as low-risk, low-return investments. There are different types of cash equivalents: Treasury bills, commercial paper, marketable securities, money market funds and short-term government bonds.

Funds

Mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs can help investors diversify their portfolios.

1. Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are funds operated and actively managed by an investment company. The money is pooled together from various shareholders and then invested in different stocks, bonds, options, commodities, or money market securities. Mutual fund managers buy and sell stocks on a regular basis and try to deliver returns that beat the overall market performance.  Today, some mutual funds are managed using AI-driven algorithms or robo-advisors, optimizing asset allocation based on market conditions.

1. Index Funds

An index fund is a type of mutual fund whose portfolio is designed to track the components of a market index and can give investors increased diversification, broad market exposure, and low operating expense. Examples of indices that index funds mimic are the S&P 500, the NASDAQ 100, the Wilshire 5000, and the Dow Jones. Index funds are not actively managed, they just mimic a particular market index and as a result they have lower costs.

1. ETFs

An ETF (exchange traded fund) is a security that tracks a basket of assets like a commodity, sector, index, or other area. It acts similarly to an index fund, but trades like a stock. Examples include S&P 500 ETFs — called “spiders” — and Wilshire 5000 ETFs — called “vipers”.

Crypto-assets and Blockchain

Crypto assets are digital assets using public ledgers such as blockchain, which record, verify and secure transactions in code, establishing ownership.  There is a wide range of crypto assets which vary as per their characteristics and can therefore be utilized for different purposes. Crypto assets tend to operate independently, without the interference of a central bank or government authority. They can be considered autonomous in that sense. The most common form of crypto assets are cryptocurrencies, with currently more than 8,000 different cryptocurrencies in the market. You must all be familiar with their most widespread version, known as Bitcoin, which was the first cryptocurrency created. A cryptocurrency is a digital, encrypted and decentralized medium of exchange, used for the purchase of goods and services as well as a form of investment.

AI-Driven Tokenization Trends. New trends in 2024–2025 include AI-driven tokenization, where athletes and brands create personalized digital assets, such as customized NFTs, AI-generated memorabilia, or even tokenized shares of future earnings. These innovations offer exciting new opportunities for branding and investment but also increase complexity and legal risk. It’s essential to seek expert advice before participating in AI-enhanced digital asset projects to ensure your rights and interests are fully protected.

The stock market

The stock market is a market for trading the stock of companies and other financial securities and offers investors the opportunity to reap rewards, but there is also an associated risk. Although any investment carries risk, education, experience, and a trusted team can help you achieve successful returns on your investments.

The stocks of public companies are listed and traded on stock exchanges. The stock of U.S. companies can be listed on several different exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, AMEX, etc.

During trading, stocks are bought and sold by bidding. When the bid price (price at which a buyer is willing to buy) and ask price (price at which a seller is willing to sell) match, a sale takes place. This means that prices can fluctuate day-to-day and the worth of the stock you own can change, depending on the demand for the company’s stock. The stock market moves based on prices at which people are offering to purchase a stock.

A stockbroker is usually the middleman in any transaction, who sells or buys stock on your behalf. In addition, stockbrokers may also offer advice to their clients on which stocks to buy.  However, with the rise of commission-free trading apps (such as Robinhood, ETRADE, and Interactive Brokers), many investors now trade stocks independently. Robo-advisors also offer algorithm-based investment recommendations, reducing the need for human stockbrokers in certain cases.

Street talk

Wall Street has its own ‘language’ and it is good to be aware of it so we set below a few of the most common terms:

• Share — A share is an ownership unit of a company issued to shareholders.
• IPO —Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the first sale of a corporation’s common shares to public investors. The main purpose of an IPO is to raise capital for the corporation.
• P/E Ratio —The price/earnings (P/E) ratio represents a stock’s present price in relation to its per share earnings from the past year.
• Moving Averages —Institutional investors look at charts and evaluate the stock price in relation to the average of a stock’s closing price for a specified number of previous closing prices. This can indicate whether the stock is moving up or down – which is important for analysis because once a stock starts moving in a particular direction, it tends to gain strength and continue moving in that direction.
• Volume — equals the daily number of traded shares of a particular security. This is another indicator since increased volume on increasing prices shows accumulation; Increased volume on lower prices shows distribution. Price/volume relations can determine which way a stock will move.
• Consolidation —occurs when a stock pulls back after a move up or down and temporarily trades in a narrower range on lower volume.
• Odd Lot — order to buy or sell less than 100 shares of a stock.
• Stop Loss —This is a sell order placed under the current stock price to limit losses in case the stock price goes down. For example, your stock is currently at US$20. You want to sell it if it drops to US$18, so you would simply put a Stop Loss order in at US$18. The stock is sold automatically once it reaches that level. Investors also use trailing stop orders, which automatically adjust as stock prices rise, locking in profits while protecting against sudden downturns. For example, if you set a trailing stop at 5% below the stock’s highest price, and the stock rises to $25, the stop-loss moves up to $23.75 (5% below the new high). This strategy helps maximize gains while limiting losses.
• Bull Market – A period of generally rising share prices which encourages buying. The start of a bull market is marked by doubt which changes to hope, optimism, and eventually euphoria, as the bull runs its course.
• Bear Market – A period where share prices are falling and where selling is encouraged. A bear market is typically shrouded in pessimism and the economy typically slows down.
• Market Correction – Corrections are generally temporary price declines interrupting an uptrend in the stock market. A correction has a much shorter duration than a bear market.

The real estate market

Home ownership provides a number of benefits, but like all major purchases, buying property takes planning.  Before buying property, you should assess your credit score, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, mortgage pre-approval options, and interest rates to determine how much you can truly afford. With rising property prices and evolving lending standards, understanding modern financing options such as adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), FHA loans, and down payment assistance programs is crucial.  Financially successful people are the ones who make sure they can really afford a purchase before they buy. You must consider all the costs associated with buying property such as taxes, repairs, maintenance, unexpected damages and so on.

The benefits of property ownership.

• Leverage — As a property owner, you have the enviable ability to control a property of greater value than the cash you originally invested in. You gain leverage by borrowing money, typically from a financial institution. For instance, say you purchase a property for €100,000. Most people get a loan for the majority of that amount. They may have €20,000 for a down payment and then borrow the remaining 80% from a mortgage company. The €80,000 represents the loan amount and is referred to as the principal balance. Thus, you control a much larger asset as you pay down the 80% loan over time (mortgage payments).
• Equity Growth — Paying down the principal balance in regular increments gives you predictable, steady equity growth over time. Each time you make a mortgage payment you pay down a portion of the balance you owe.
• Tax Benefits — Real estate owners have many tax benefits available to them.
• Appreciation is a real estate term for the increase in value of land and buildings. If you purchase a house for €200,000, for example, and the property appreciates 10%, the value of the house is now €220,000. If it appreciates 10% again the next year, the value grows to €242,000.
• Higher Return on Investment Potential — Given the leverage real estate investment offers, and the fact that your investment appreciates on the total property value, your ROI could be much higher than that of other investments.
• Cash Flow — Rental property owners generate cash flow via monthly income collected from

The risks of real estate investment

• Liquidity — Selling a property can take years, depending on market conditions. When the market is strong, the average time to sell in most communities is two to six months. In bad market conditions, the property can be listed for years before it This means that if a need for cash arises, despite owning let’s say a $500,000 villa it will not do you any good because you aren’t able to “access” that money: to convert them into cash.
• Change in Loan Market — Lenders can change their rules at any time. Changes in loan terms affect future buyers and your ability to sell the property. For example, rising interest rates or stricter lending policies can reduce affordability and slow down property sales. Understanding mortgage rate trends and credit availability is crucial for long-term investment planning.
• Market Conditions — Fluctuations in market conditions can quickly change your situation. It’s important for property owners to view the long-term market outlook, both nationally and in the local
• Maintenance— Repairs can be quite costly. Be sure to have enough money saved and the right insurance so that you’re adequately prepared for This is the same logic as buying a car; it’s not enough to have the money to buy a Maserati, you also need the money to meet the costs that come with it. Many investors also consider hiring property managers for rental properties to handle maintenance and tenant issues. Additionally, landlord insurance and home warranties can help mitigate unexpected repair costs.

Are real estate investments a good idea for athletes?

Investing in real estate is simple and can be financially rewarding. An athlete may buy and own real estate properties which can generate rental income and appreciate in value through time. Alternatively, athletes can invest in real estate without having to own, rent out or operate any property by investing in a real estate investment trust (REITs).

One of the main reasons which make investing in real estate a good fit for athletes, and their profession, is that it allows them to receive a passive income without having to be involved with the management of the property. Further to that, the long term and low risk nature of real estate investment can fit an athlete’s plan to have a stable income after the end of their career. If an athlete has a different plan for her career after sports, the real estate in their possession can also act as leverage to raise funds to help turn any other of their goals into reality.

To truly appreciate the associated risks and benefits of real estate, one needs to be familiar with the pros and cons of the market. On the plus side, the real estate market, while not as profitable as other investment options, tends to be less volatile and risky compared to the stock market. Property owners are more likely to benefit from tax deductions and other government- related benefits. Moreover, people with the ability to purchase multiple assets can count on a lucrative flow of cash upon which they can count for their main source of income – an ideal situation for athletes. Finally, in the long-run, real estate assets are very likely to increase.

For instance, from 1994 to 2024, an investment of $153,600 in the S&P 500 would have grown to over $3 million, whereas the same amount invested in real estate would have been appreciated to approximately $501,700. Moreover, real estate assets are highly illiquid. That means that in the case of emergencies, the owner is unlikely to be able to raise funds swiftly by liquidating their assets. Also, something that investors tend to overlook are the associated costs of owning real estate assets. Whether you choose to live in your property, rent it out or try to resell, you will most likely face high maintenance costs; not to mention the daunting task of dealing with tenants. You will have to deal with leaks, repairs and overdue rent, to name a few. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, real estate markets have been influenced by new factors such as the rise of remote work, demographic shifts (like urban-to-suburban migration), and evolving tax policies. These changes have made some real estate markets more volatile and unpredictable.

How athletes can benefit from the real estate market

Former US president (1933-1945) Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) said ‘real estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world’. This statement is frequently recast and repackaged by people familiar with real estate.

How does it work?

FDR is probably right. Historically, real estate investments have proven to be the safest asset class, and the reason is simple to understand. Regardless of how technology advances and how much certain industries, products and services become obsolete, less centralized or oversaturated, human beings will always require land to live in, work on, farm and so on. It is, in other words, a safe bet – to the extent that safe bets exist.

When it comes to how the market operates, there are essentially two routes: you either go solo or you become part of some sort of investment company; for example, real estate investment groups (REIGs) or real estate investment trusts (REITs).

So how do you make money from real estate? Firstly, the prospective investor needs to decide what it is they want to do with their property. Are they going to rent it out for cash? Or are they going to sell when the price rises to a specific level (by looking at the Return on Investment)? In their extreme form, these investors are called “flippers”. Or maybe, the said athlete is thinking about life after sport as a real estate agent in which case she can make money (through commissions) by being the buffer between buyer and seller. There are therefore many ways in which someone can engage and profit from the real estate market both in the short and the long run.

Factors driving the market

The next thing we ought to look at are the factors that influence the real estate market as a whole – which is why location, location, location is not among them. First, we have interest rates; when they are low, borrowing is easier, and repayments are milder which means that conditions to take out a loan are favorable. Nonetheless, when interest rates are low then real estate prices are likely to go up due to the imminent rise in demand. People with sizable cash flow streams, such as athletes, might want to take advantage of the market when prices are low (and interest rates high) in order to cash in when prices rise. Of course, that also depends on the type of investor you are – selling versus renting out.

The real estate market tends to align with broader economic conditions; therefore, a second factor is the economy. By looking at standard economic indicators such as GDP and employment levels, an investor can relatively accurately assess the real estate market as well. The market is likely to follow both a sluggish and a booming economy. Demographics are also important. Population growth, migration levels and whether the population is ageing or not, are likely to influence the demand, supply and prices of the real estate market.

An often-overlooked major factor is state practices and government policies. This is highly contingent upon location. For example, following the Great Recession, the US federal government gave several incentives to buyers and investors in an attempt to ignite the market. Other countries in the European Union have similar policies in place for first-time homebuyers for instance. Prospective investors need to be familiar with local legislation, incentives and subsidies, when considering purchases in the said area/ city/ country.

In short, in order to get familiar with the real estate market you need to understand all the factors and ingredients that we described above. That is the first step to being able to participate in one of the planet’s oldest markets. That will equip you with the ability to do your own due diligence and research, should you decide that the world of real estate is for you.

Blockchain and crypto-assets

With numerous sports teams now accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment as well as professional athletes accepting it as part of their salary or sponsorship, crypto investment interest has increased significantly among the sports industry. The first team to accept Bitcoin were the Sacramento Kings, whilst the Dallas Mavericks accept Bitcoin as game tickets payment. In February 2025, Aston Martin’s Formula One team secured a multi-year partnership with Coinbase, marking a milestone as the first F1 team to receive sponsorship payments entirely in cryptocurrency (USDC). Between 2021 and 2024, cryptocurrency firms signed approximately 92 sports sponsorship deals, though new agreements declined by 38% in 2024, partly due to market volatility and the collapse of FTX. Despite this, crypto sponsorships remain prevalent, with nearly 64% of teams in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season partnering with crypto-related brands. On the athlete side, NFL players Russell Okung and Sean Culkin paved the way in 2021 by opting to receive their salaries in Bitcoin.

Cryptocurrency investment can bring about various benefits to investors, including potential for high returns in addition to portfolio diversification, with some supporting that cryptocurrency can be an alternative to gold. For example, according to Bloomberg in 2021, the S&P 500 declined in 17 out of the 60 months until the end of December 2020, during which time the price of bitcoin rallied in seven, generating higher returns. Furthermore, advocates of cryptocurrency support that due to the lack of government interference, they offer protection from debased currencies and the threat of rising inflation since they are not subject to political and economic pressures, the same way other currencies are. Finally, there is ever-growing acceptance of cryptos with an increasing number of crypto payment platforms, making their use more convenient over time.

Nonetheless, cryptocurrency investments come with certain risks as well. Their high volatility can create a large loss potential, counteracting the possibility of large gains– the timing of an investment in cryptocurrencies can have an important influence on the returns achieved. This volatility also makes them a poor store of value due to lack of stability. Also, keep in mind that not all cryptocurrencies are the same and therefore their performance may vary, with some doing better than others. Therefore, you need to make sure that you select the cryptocurrency you want to invest in wisely; reading the fine print, looking for an identifiable owner as well as looking into which other investors are investing in it, and whether the currency is already developed, among other things. Additionally, as a potential investor, you should consider the fact that cryptocurrencies are not subject to official oversight or regulation, allowing for the potential of illegal activity taking place.

Based on the above, one could argue that high paid sports-stars with contracts worth hundreds of millions can risk losing a few million dollars in risky investments without having to change their lifestyle, but not everyone can take this risk; especially in such a fast-moving space. Therefore, athletes experimenting should do so cautiously. It is also worth mentioning, that FC Barcelona and Manchester City, have had to cancel crypto-related sponsorship deals after the legitimacy of those companies was questioned.

Another form of crypto assets available for investment, are utility tokens which provide access rights to future products or services, through financing of projects for start-ups, companies, or project developments. For example, an Uber token, could be used to pay for an Uber ride, but not for anything else, otherwise it would have to be exchanged against fiat (regular) money or a crypto coin. Therefore, the utility token’s investment value is linked to the actual demand for the utility token. On the other hand, security tokens represent ownership shares in a company whose business operates with blockchain technology. Their value correlates to an external, tradable asset. They come with a stake in the project as well as benefits, such as voting rights, profit sharing or dividends. It should be highlighted, that security tokens are highly influenced by the price of the underlying asset. For example, if the valuation of the company increases, it is likely that the price of the related security token will increase as well.

A relatively new, rapidly evolving type of crypto asset which has experienced a surge in popularity, are Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs). NFTs are one-of-a-kind non-interchangeable units of data stored on a blockchain, with the purpose of ownership of a unique tangible or intangible digital file, which usually includes songs, digital images, videos, designer clothing, etc. In 2021, an NFT in the form of art work, an electronic record equivalent to an image, called Everydays: The First 5000 Days, was sold for almost $70 million at Christie’s Auction House. Since then, NFTs have gained a lot of attention by numerous celebrities, including NBA superstar Stephen Curry. NFTs have seen weekly sales of hundreds of millions of dollars being recorded, through public marketplaces, as well as custom-built applications like NBA Top Shot. NFTs can also be considered as a form of membership, in addition to being an investment, providing access to events, as well as allowing the holder to engage and interact with other NFT holders, forming part of an exclusive group.

However, one should bear in mind that with crypto market volatility which can significantly affect NFT demand, and incomplete regulatory framework, investment in NFTs should be done carefully, as with all other forms of crypto assets. As a rule of thumb, a new investor is advised to exercise caution and invest small sums that they can afford to lose, if things go wrong.

Investment diversification- Do not put all your eggs in one basket!

What would happen if you had all.  The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 stock market downturn demonstrated how unexpected global events can cause major asset declines. This is why diversification is essential—it protects against market shocks by balancing risk across different investments.

Most top investment advisors will recommend that you diversify your investments to protect yourself from losing everything. Diversification means that you put your money into several different types of investments that are unlikely to all move in the same direction.  In today’s market, investors not only diversify across stocks, bonds, and real estate but also consider alternative assets such as commodities (gold, silver), cryptocurrencies, REITs, and hedge funds to further balance risk and return.  For example, you might spread your money across stocks, bonds, and real estate. When the value of one investment goes down, one of the others might go up, so you either have better returns or reduce your overall losses.  Furthermore, by diversifying your portfolio, you remove any form of idiosyncratic risk which is the risk associated with a single stock.  For example, if you hold a single stock of let’s say Tesla, you bear the risk of the Tesla stock price falling.  When, on the other hand, you own 100 different stocks, including Tesla, the risk that you bear when the Tesla stock price falls is negligible given that you have 99 more stocks in your portfolio of investments.  Even diversification within a single sector (e.g., only tech stocks) is risky, as entire sectors can experience downturns. A common approach is investing in sector-diverse ETFs (exchange-traded funds), which provide broad exposure while reducing individual company risk.

Diversification can be an important step towards developing a successful investment formula and a winning portfolio. Your team of investment advisors can help you make qualified diversification decisions. You should consult with them about how best to spread your money around to reach your long-term goals.  Let’s look at four different types of diversification:

• Diversification BETWEEN different asset classes, i.e. real estate and shares. When you allocate assets into different asset classes such as shares, real estate, cash, bonds, etc. you balance risk and potential rewards.
• Diversification WITHIN an asset. For example, real estate can be diversified between owning residential and business properties or investments in shares can be diversified between large established companies and small start-ups, etc.
• Diversification ACROSS industries, countries and currencies around the world. When you allocate your shares portfolio across different industry sectors you will be able to monitor and balance the impact of each industry sector on your portfolio.  Also, spreading your equities across different countries and currencies, contributes to risk balancing and potential maximization of returns.  However, global diversification comes with risks such as currency fluctuations and geopolitical instability (e.g., trade wars, sanctions). Investors can use currency-hedged funds or forex strategies to manage these risks.
• Diversification ACROSS time; just keep adding to your investments systematically over the years and you will increase your returns while reducing your risk. This is called Dollar Cost Averaging, and it is an investment technique through which you buy a fixed dollar amount of a particular share on a regular basis, regardless of the share price.  Many investors use automated investing apps (such as M1 Finance or Wealthfront) to implement DCA strategies effortlessly. In the cryptocurrency market, DCA is also commonly used to accumulate Bitcoin and other digital assets while reducing the impact of volatility.

There is no generic diversification model which can be a perfect fit for every investor.  Each investor has different characteristics which should be considered when forming a diversification strategy.  These characteristics include the investor’s financial goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, investment expertise, need for liquidity, etc. For example, a retired athlete’s investment horizon may be 5 or 10 years whereas a rookie athlete’s time horizon may be 20 or 30 years.  Also, a mature athlete is naturally less of a risk taker given that their investment time horizon is limited.  So, diversification is not a one-fit-for-all strategy, nor a one-time task.  A proper diversification strategy should always align with your particular circumstances and characteristics; it should be continuously monitored and periodically adapted to make sure that it continues to make sense.

When investing you always need to remember that a proper and flexible diversification strategy, periodically adapted to your changing needs, is the key to building a successful investment portfolio and ultimately achieving your financial goals.

Real Life Examples (5-minute discussion) Simone Biles is one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time. She has also successfully built a diversified investment portfolio that includes: Athleta – Partnership with the women’s activewear brand focused on fitness and empowerment Simone Biles Foundation – A foundation aimed at supporting young athletes, particularly in gymnastics Real Estate – Investment in a luxurious waterfront mansion with her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, in Texas Brand Collaborations – Endorsements with major companies such as Nike, Kellogg’s, and United Airlines Mental Health Advocacy – Involvement in various initiatives promoting mental health awareness for athletes Media Appearances – Engaging in public speaking and media appearances to share her journey and advocacy efforts. Result: In 2021, she was included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, recognizing her influence and success across multiple sectors. Her achievements also earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, making her the youngest recipient of the honor, in recognition of her contributions to sports and society. In addition, she was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2021, further solidifying her role as a powerful leader. What do you think about Simone’s investment choices?

Becoming investment-prepared: Go through the investment checklist

Through investing, you are getting your money to generate more money and over the long term, you benefit from potentially higher returns than you get from a savings account.  Today, automated investing platforms, robo-advisors, and AI-driven financial planning tools make it easier than ever to create a customized investment strategy.  With a proper investment strategy, you can use your money to build up your assets and use them toward the major financial goals you have set, such as buying your dream home, buying your dream car, starting your own business, or having a financially comfortable retirement.

Investing is not simple and requires investors to be constantly educated and informed on the variety and complexity of investment vehicles available. If you choose for example to invest your savings in the financial markets, you can benefit when companies perform well or if you choose to buy and sell real estate you can benefit from their increase in value.  Additionally, alternative investments such as REITs, cryptocurrencies, and peer-to-peer lending platforms provide further diversification opportunities.  The investment opportunities are almost endless.

To figure out if you are ‘investment ready’ we suggest you go through the following checklist which will give you an indication regarding your readiness to become a first-time investor!

• Before you consider investing, be sure to have 12 months’ worth of expenses put away in your emergency
• Be free of credit card debt and have a working budget in place that allows you to save money each Use budgeting apps like Mint, YNAB, or automated savings tools to track spending and optimize cash flow. A strong credit score also improves access to better investment financing options.
• Only use risk capital for investments. Risk capital refers to money that you can afford to lose without putting you in dangerous financial
• Have a team of trusted advisors and mentors at your
• Gain knowledge of the types of investments you are considering by conducting due diligence
• Determine the risk and potential reward. All investments have a certain amount of risk and reward. Ideally, you want to earn the highest return with the least amount of
• Have an exit plan in place in case the investment doesn’t go as

How should your income affect your investment choices

The incomes of athletes come in different shapes and sizes depending on their sport, location and the said athlete’s talent and skills. As a result, not everyone can afford to buy shares of Liverpool F.C like LeBron James or set up their own whisky distillery. Most people have conjured up this image of how investing will instantaneously and effortlessly make you a millionaire; in most cases this is an illusion. There are those moments that being in the right place at the right time – such as investing in Apple in the early 1990s – will change your fortunes for good, but these instances are the exception, not the rule.

Investing is more about making an informed guess about where to place your money in order to try and set up for yourself a steady flow of income and guard your money against inflation. Some choices are safer than others, but there is no such thing as a completely safe and secure investment. For anyone trying to achieve financial freedom, their income is the most important weapon they have in their arsenal.

If your income is not properly utilized or is entangled in debt repayments, then your hands are basically tied. Assuming that you start with a salary and no assets, you first need to organize your salary appropriately. For example, apart from your primary bank account you can open additional accounts, the first being an investment fund where a fixed percentage of your income is transferred to. Second, an emergency fund since you never know what twist of fate is lurking around the corner.

Then, you need to decide what proportion of your income you wish to set aside for investments – usually something like 15% at first should suffice. As far as options are concerned, there are numerous out there: index funds, mutual funds, single stocks, fixed annuities, real estate, real estate investment trusts, bonds, and so on. You have to do your own research and/or consult a professional and it would be better to focus on what you understand and believe in the most; after all it’s your money. However, make sure you never put all your eggs in one basket. Spread your investments in order to spread the risk as well.

Another important aspect of the equation is to set goals. If you just invest in cryptocurrency because everyone is without a specific goal such as: ‘I will cash out once my return reaches $15,000’, then it is likely that you will never cash out because you will always go for more and in the end, you might even lose your initial capital. The best strategy is to set specific goals and even define them as short-term, medium-term and long-term. This way you pinpoint the exact moment that you will cash out (provided your investment proves profitable).

In short, your income (salary plus any other source of revenue) defines your options. You should start by investing safely in order to build up your wealth, which will most likely take some time. The relationship between your income and investment choices is a vital one and therefore, you need to work out how to allocate your income by understanding that a) it is not infinite b) money for investment comes after savings c) you need to set goals with a timeframe. Today, many athletes use AI-powered financial planning tools, such as robo-advisors and budgeting apps, to automate their savings, organize their investment portfolios, and stay disciplined with their financial goals. These tools can make it easier to maintain consistency, reduce emotional decision-making, and help you stick to your investment strategy over time.

Structuring wealth in view of retirement from sport

 

Financial planning and wealth management should be at the core of an athlete’s mind throughout their career. The average athlete has a career of about 10 years, depending on the sport they play, and assuming they’re not forced to involuntarily retire. Therefore, you need to plan your wealth in a way that you’ll be able to continue living a comfortable lifestyle for the next 30-40 years. It’s not as hard as it may sound, assuming you have a plan that will enable you to take the right actions, at the right time, in order to be financially covered for the rest of your life.

Establishing the Plan

At the very early stages of your career, it’s important that you sit down with a competent financial advisor and set the parameters that will shape your sports retirement fund.  Many athletes also turn to specialized wealth management firms that focus on sports professionals, offering tailored financial planning, tax strategies, and investment guidance. The most important information that you need to form such a plan, is the number of years you expect to be earning the income of an athlete. Once you estimate that, you will essentially know that for the next ten years; for example, you will need to generate income or invest your money so as to grant you financial freedom for the rest of your life. Together with your advisor, you will set up a retirement fund which will consist of both savings for retirement, as well as long-term investments that will be generating constant income for the rest of your life. It would be wrong to say that there is a fixed percentage that needs to go towards savings or investments because every athlete’s career is very different.

Nevertheless, when you sit down with your financial advisor and share all the information regarding the expected timespan of your career, the value of your initial contract and your future plans, they can help you tailor a plan towards achieving a financially successful retirement.

Executing the Plan

Once you’ve established your plan of action together with your financial advisor, it’s up to you, the athlete, to faithfully follow that plan. When you are young and at the peak of your career, you tend to believe that money will never be a problem just because it’s easy to get at that point in life. Good news is professional athletes tend to make more money than the average worker throughout their career, but the money is more concentrated and it’s up to the athlete to spread them out throughout their lives. This is what makes the execution of your plan highly important. Every time athletes ignore the plan and spend extensively without accounting for retirement, they are essentially stealing from their future self and family.

Plan B and involuntary retirement

As mentioned above, athletes, based on the sport they practice, have a certain number of years during which they will generate income and that income should be able to sustain them for the rest of their lives. What happens though when you find yourself forced to retire earlier than planned due to the circumstances? Put simply, what if you have a serious injury half-way into your career that prevents you from playing? What happens to your retirement plan? Indeed, things can get more complicated in the case of involuntary retirement but yet again, with the right precautions, an athlete can survive and still have enough money to restructure their lives and switch to other career paths.

A simple precaution that an athlete could take is to create a ‘Plan B Fund’ where the athlete will save the required amount to pursue a specific college degree or start a business idea. By having the capital to invest in your education or in the opening of any other business, you already have an exit strategy for another career. Of course, this is by no means an ideal path but as an athlete, given the nature of your professional career, you should always have a plan B to cater for the case of involuntary retirement.

The circumstances and characteristics of your life as an athlete necessitate that you start structuring your wealth during the early days of your sports career.  Ongoing financial education, adapting to new investment opportunities, and continuously reassessing your wealth strategy will help ensure financial security long after your sports days are over.

Action Steps – Exercise 4 (20 minutes):

Complete the following quiz to test what you took away from today’s lesson and we will go through all the answers together and discuss them.

• Although financial freedom can have different meanings, a standard definition would be:

1. A millionaire who has invested in multiple industries
2. You have readily available cash. In other words, you have highly liquid assets
3. You are able to have the lifestyle you want, knowing you can afford it financially, without worrying about making ends meet
4. You are free from financial obligations altogether

• A positive indirect effect of investing is:

1. You are protected by a rise in interest rates
2. You will definitely earn high returns on your investment
3. You are protected by a drop in interest rates
4. You don’t have to worry about taxes

• Passive Income is earned through work, while Active Income is earned without your work effort

1. True
2. False

• Which of the following statements is false in relation to investing?

1. Important to financial success is following a consistent, long-term investment plan
2. You should have your emotions in check
3. You should always invest in the stock market

• In short, a Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud where people invest and the return on the investment is paid from the money of new investors

1. True
2. False

• Which of the following is NOT a risk associated with investing?

1. Interest rate risk
2. Credit risk
3. Roaming risk
4. Liquidity risk

• Which of the following should NOT be among your primary concerns when evaluating an investment?

1. The pros and cons associated with the investment
2. Your budget
3. Your goals (short-term and long-term)
4. Your friends’ recommendations

• If you manage to get a good financial advisor, then you should delegate everything to them.

1. True
2. False

• If the company that you have invested in, increases its profit then that means that your stocks will increase in value because their demand will rise (as a result of rising profits)

1. True
2. False

• What are mutual funds?

1. Type of prenuptial agreement
2. Business fraternities
3. Funds operated and actively managed by an investment company
4. Type of stock

• The stock market could be defined as a market for trading the stock of companies and other financial securities

1. True
2. False

• Which of the following is a benefit associated with property ownership?

1. Liquidity
2. Maintenance
3. Tax benefits
4. Changes in loan market

• Diversification can take different forms. Choose all that apply

1. Diversification between different asset classes
2. Diversification within an asset
3. Diversification across cities
4. Diversification across time

• Adaptability is key to diversification

1. True
2. False

• Choose all that are part of the Investment Checklist:

1. Have an exit plan in place
2. Only use risk capital for investment
3. Have an emergency fund of at least 36-months worth of expenses available
4. You should always have your lucky charm with you

Answer sheet:

1.       c	6.  c	11.a
2.       c	7.  d	12. c
3.       b	8.  b	13. a,b,d
4.       c	9.  a	14. a
5.       a	10.c	15. a,b

Lesson wrap – up

In this lesson we have covered the basics of investing so as to give athletes the necessary knowledge to make sound investment decisions.  We have explained concepts such as diversification of investments and the relationship between risk and investment potential, and we have also presented various investment options along with their pros and cons.  We believe that this lesson has given athletes a comprehensive overview of how investments work and how they can get prepared to start investing.

At this point, we will wrap-up today’s lesson.  First, we will go over the learning objectives of this lesson and we want your feedback as to whether they have been achieved, and then we will address any questions you may have.  Please feel free to ask anything you’d like in relation to today’s lecture, and we would love to hear how the concepts we discussed today relate to you and your greater life plan.