The Basics of NIL Valuation: How Collegiate Athletes Should Price Their NIL
Learn how collegiate athletes can calculate their NIL value, build a rate card, price different NIL assets and negotiate fair market value in 2026.
Money Smart Athlete Blog
Athlete Financial Literacy
NIL 101: What Every Student-Athlete Must Know in 2026
NIL in 2026 is about much more than social media. Discover what every student-athlete needs to know about NIL deals, revenue sharing, personal branding, contracts, taxes and financial responsibility in the new era of college sports.
September: NIL & Back to College Financial Playbook
September means more than back to classes for student-athletes. Discover our NIL Financial Playbook for 2026, with practical guidance on budgeting, contracts, taxes, revenue sharing, and managing irregular NIL income with confidence.
How Top Athletes Build Habits That Grow Wealth
Wealth is rarely built through one big financial decision. Like athletic success, it is built through repetition, discipline, review, and patience. Top athletes can apply the same mindset that drives elite performance to build long-term financial security and grow wealth beyond their playing careers.
What Athletes Can Learn About Money from World Cup Stars
What can athletes learn about money from World Cup stars? Discover practical financial lessons on budgeting, investing, wealth management, and building long-term financial success on and off the field.
Why Summer Is a Financial Turning Point for Student-Athletes
For many student athletes, summer is the first time life feels different. The structure of the academic year pauses. Training schedules change. There is more independence, more free time, and often, more responsibility.
The Pressure Athletes Face During Transfer and Contract Season
Transfer and contract season brings uncertainty, pressure, and life-changing decisions. Discover how athletes can navigate contracts, transfers, and financial choices while maintaining a long-term perspective on their careers.
The Athlete’s Off-Season Budget: Building Financial Discipline When Competition Pauses
When the season ends, structure fades quickly. Training schedules become lighter, routines loosen, and for the first time in months, athletes have time to breathe. It feels like a reward. And in many ways, it is.
June: The Summer Decisions that Shape an Athlete’s Financial Future
The season ends, and then something shifts. The structure disappears. The routine softens. For many athletes, summer is the first real pause after months of intensity. On the surface, it feels like freedom. Underneath, it is often uncertainty.