Financial Planning Lessons Regular Folks Can Learn from Professional Athletes
The image we have of lucrative contracts and lavish lifestyles for baseball players and other pro athletes can be pretty far off base. In fact, these sports stars often face the same financial issues the rest of us do.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
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.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
Baseball season is in full swing now. While the finances of baseball players and other professional athletes are not quite the same as yours or mine, what can we learn from their financial challenges? A lot, according to a financial planner for players on three pro teams.
I interviewed Scott Morrison for his take on the financial curveballs he faces while working with his clients. He’s the President of Pennant Asset Management and a financial planner for professional athletes on teams including the New York Mets, the Chicago White Sox and the Oakland Athletics.
Hey, Big Spenders?
Matt Goren: What is the first impression people have when you say you work with professional athletes to help manage their finances?
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit 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.
Scott Morrison: Athletes often carry around the “dumb jock” stereotype that they want to blow all their money faster than they receive it. Does it happen from time to time? Unfortunately, yes. But what has surprised me most is that athletes are coming in more educated now than ever before – many are frugal and want to track every penny of where their paycheck goes.
Matt Goren: Frugal athletes is definitely not my stereotype. Is this a baseball thing?
Scott Morrison: I think the sport definitely has something to do with it. In baseball, it usually takes a while to get to the major leagues after draft day. Minor league salaries and lifestyles are, to be kind, not very luxurious, so there is a very real concern about how they will survive financially until they get called up to the big leagues. It forces players to be smart and to make their money last.
Matt Goren: We hear about some giant contracts, but they’re not very common. More often, an athlete gets a signing bonus to join the team and maybe a short contract. Professional athletes don’t normally see the big dollars until their second deal – if ever.
Scott Morrison: With athletes, we often plan as if they aren’t going to make another cent on top of their signing bonus. If and when they do make it to the big leagues and sign multiyear contracts for multimillions, then the fun can really begin. But from the start, we have to protect their initial lump sum with the correct budgets and strategies.
Their Biggest Challenge May Sound Familiar
Matt Goren: What is the biggest challenge you encounter?
Scott Morrison: Taxes! One of their biggest concerns is the amount of tax they have to pay on their signing bonuses and then again in the future on their major league contracts. Players often overlook that this large lump sum isn’t as large as it first appears.
Matt Goren: And that’s a lesson for the rest of us: Our take-home pay after taxes is much less than our gross pay. What other challenges do they have? Do you see problems with overspending?
Scott Morrison: Ultra-luxurious items are the No. 1 spending problem I run into. Aside from the designer items – the Louis backpack, the Gucci wallet, the Yeezy’s, etc. – many newly drafted athletes want to buy the Porsche and the million-dollar-plus home all with their signing bonus. I go through the taxation presentation and then, all of a sudden, they get a lot more realistic.
To be sure, not every penny needs to go into the bank – but we need a realistic approach that considers their uncertain longevity on the field. Is the boat, car and house out of the question? Absolutely not! All I’m saying is, depending on the signing bonus, maybe one or two of those items can be shelved until they are making big league salaries.
Matt Goren: Like retirement savings nest eggs, I’m sure that on-the-field money can be multiplied with sound investments. What sorts of challenges do you see there?
Scott Morrison: The biggest mistake I find that young players make is not all that different than young professionals with their retirement savings – they don’t understand the concept of putting their money to work for them, and they think it’s OK to leave their money on the sidelines. Once they see how important and beneficial it is to have their money appropriately invested, they all say the same thing: “I wish I had started earlier.”
Some Interesting Investment Choices
Matt Goren: Are there certain types of investments that athletes ask you about?
Scott Morrison: I have found an obsessiveness around real estate. So many young athletes want to dig into the cryptocurrency world as well – it’s crazy!
I also get a lot of requests from my clients asking about getting involved with childhood friends’ or distant family members’ businesses. There is always a long-lost friend or cousin who comes out of the woodwork asking for an influx of cash into their business, and it’s important for athletes to be prudent when considering those investments.
Matt Goren: Good that they found you, then. How do you usually meet your clients?
Scott Morrison: Being a former Division I baseball player, I understand many of the complexities they are dealing with. I’ve known some of my clients since before they became professional athletes. Ultimately, the reason clients choose an adviser is because of relatability and relationships. Players want to trust their money with someone who they feel comfortable with.
Matt Goren: If you need a “pitch” to your clients at all, what would that pitch be?
Scott Morrison: Utilize a professional financial adviser who understands your situation so we can put the right guardrails in place. By working with a professional, athletes can focus on their performance on the field and – to the extent it makes sense – enjoy their money now. They’ve worked hard for their money, and we want them to enjoy it! We also want to make sure that they don’t have to work another day once their career is over if they don’t want to!
The Bottom Line for Athletes and the Rest of Us
Matt Goren: And that, to me, sounds exactly like why so many everyday people work with a financial professional.
Scott Morrison: Sure, the numbers change, but the strategies for the most part don’t – depending on the risk tolerance and suitability. Ultimately, we want to preserve our clients’ wealth not just for years to come, but for generations to come. It doesn’t matter if it’s a professional athlete or a business owner, or families and individuals, I want our clients to enjoy their hard-earned assets. But no matter who it is, we want to encourage intentional, smart decisions.
Matt Goren: Agreed – thanks, Scott, for your insights! To everyone reading, you don’t have to be a big-league player to make great plays with your money. Focus on the long term, invest for your future, and avoid the temptation to buy that new yacht. If you need some coaching and guidance, make sure to reach out to a professional financial planner who can help you reach those goals.
-
Ask the Tax Editor: Federal Income Tax DeductionsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, Joy Taylor answers questions on federal income tax deductions
-
States With No-Fault Car Insurance Laws (and How No-Fault Car Insurance Works)A breakdown of the confusing rules around no-fault car insurance in every state where it exists.
-
7 Frugal Habits to Keep Even When You're RichSome frugal habits are worth it, no matter what tax bracket you're in.
-
For the 2% Club, the Guardrails Approach and the 4% Rule Do Not Work: Here's What Works InsteadFor retirees with a pension, traditional withdrawal rules could be too restrictive. You need a tailored income plan that is much more flexible and realistic.
-
Retiring Next Year? Now Is the Time to Start Designing What Your Retirement Will Look LikeThis is when you should be shifting your focus from growing your portfolio to designing an income and tax strategy that aligns your resources with your purpose.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: This Layered Approach for Your Retirement Money Can Help Lower Your StressTo be confident about retirement, consider building a safety net by dividing assets into distinct layers and establishing a regular review process. Here's how.
-
The 4 Estate Planning Documents Every High-Net-Worth Family Needs (Not Just a Will)The key to successful estate planning for HNW families isn't just drafting these four documents, but ensuring they're current and immediately accessible.
-
Love and Legacy: What Couples Rarely Talk About (But Should)Couples who talk openly about finances, including estate planning, are more likely to head into retirement joyfully. How can you get the conversation going?
-
How to Get the Fair Value for Your Shares When You Are in the Minority Vote on a Sale of Substantially All Corporate AssetsWhen a sale of substantially all corporate assets is approved by majority vote, shareholders on the losing side of the vote should understand their rights.
-
How to Add a Pet Trust to Your Estate Plan: Don't Leave Your Best Friend to ChanceAdding a pet trust to your estate plan can ensure your pets are properly looked after when you're no longer able to care for them. This is how to go about it.
-
Want to Avoid Leaving Chaos in Your Wake? Don't Leave Behind an Outdated Estate PlanAn outdated or incomplete estate plan could cause confusion for those handling your affairs at a difficult time. This guide highlights what to update and when.
