Fee-only advisors for professional athletes and Olympic competitors.
Professional athletes face a compressed financial lifecycle: career spans 3-12 years of extreme earning followed by 40+ years of reduced income. Contract structure (salary + bonuses + endorsements), multi-state tax (jock tax), agent/manager structure, endorsement planning, real-estate temptations, and post-career transition make this a distinct spe
What our matched specialists handle
- Contract signed: how do I not blow $20M in 5 years?
- Jock tax — I play in 15 states a year, what's my tax filing?
- Endorsement income — how structured, what entity?
- Agent/manager structure — who's doing what and getting paid what?
- NIL → pro transition — new rules, same mistakes?
- Career-ending injury insurance — too expensive or essential?
Tools & guides
Athlete Career Earnings & Post-Career Projection
Model compressed career earnings + post-career income needed for a 40-year post-playing retirement.
NBA Free Agency State Tax Calculator 2026
Free agency negotiations open June 30. Compare after-tax take-home for any two NBA team cities — same contract, different teams, different after-tax results. See exactly how much more the Spurs, Heat, or Rockets would put in your pocket vs. the Lakers, Knicks, or Celtics, and how much more a high-tax team would need to offer to break even.
Jock Tax Calculator 2026
Estimate your multi-state tax burden by league and home state. See what residency optimization saves — often $500K+/year.
NIL Income Tax Calculator 2026
Enter your NIL income, filing status, and state. See your SE tax, federal income tax by bracket, quarterly estimated payment, and S-corp savings comparison — built specifically for college athletes.
Pro Athlete Contract Take-Home Calculator 2026
Enter your contract value, signing bonus, league, home state, and agent fee. See exactly what you net after federal income tax, state tax, FICA or SE tax, and agent fees — year 1 (with bonus) and years 2+. Covers NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and self-employed athletes.
Athlete S-Corp Tax Savings Calculator 2026
Enter your net endorsement or SE income and a reasonable salary percentage. See exactly how much an S-corp election saves on self-employment tax versus sole proprietorship — and whether the savings justify the admin costs at your income level.
Professional Athlete Financial Planning Guide
Detailed framework — rules, tradeoffs, and common mistakes.
Post-Career Financial Planning
How to fund 40+ years after playing: portfolio targets, health insurance gap, Roth strategy, and the mistakes that drive the bankruptcy rate.
NIL Financial Planning Guide 2026
NIL income is self-employment income. The tax math, entity structure, quarterly estimated payments, and habits to build before you go pro.
House v. NCAA Revenue Sharing: Tax & Financial Planning Guide 2026
$20.5M per school, starting July 2025. Revenue sharing is taxed differently from NIL — 1099-MISC royalties, no SE tax (usually), and different Roth IRA rules. What college athletes need to know before they file.
Transfer Portal Financial Planning Guide 2026
The January 2–16 window is the only one you get — 15 days to evaluate packages that could vary by $100,000+ in after-tax value. How to compare NIL vs. revenue sharing vs. scholarship correctly, why the same gross offer nets less at a California school than a Texas school, and the 5 financial mistakes that cost transferring athletes thousands.
Endorsement Income: Tax & Entity Structure
LLC vs S-corp vs image-rights licensing — how to structure endorsement deals to minimize SE tax and build post-career passive income.
Career-Ending Injury Insurance
What CEII covers, how it differs from your league's T&P plan, when to buy it, and how to model the coverage gap for your specific career.
Just Got Drafted: The 96-Hour Financial Checklist (2026)
NBA Draft is June 23–24. MLB Draft is July 11–12. The domicile decision worth up to $5M on the signing bonus must happen before you sign — here's what to do in the 96 hours after your name is called.
NBA Free Agency 2026: Financial Planning Guide
Negotiations open June 30. Before you pick a team, run the state tax math. Same max deal in Texas vs. California or New York = $35–39M difference in state taxes over 5 years. Bird rights value (~$77M more staying home), contract structure, pre-signing checklist, and first-90-days playbook.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Prize Money, Tax & What Players Actually Take Home
$871M prize pool, $50M to the champion — but US 30% NRA withholding, state jock tax across 11 host cities, and federation allocation mean individual players see far less. Round-by-round breakdown, USMNT equal-pay bonus math, host city tax map, the California training camp trap, and 5 common World Cup financial mistakes.
Tour de France 2026: Prize Money, Tax & What Riders Actually Take Home
Starts July 4 in Barcelona. €2.3M total purse, €500K to the GC winner — but French 15% withholding, Spanish stage taxes, team pooling across 8–9 riders, and US federal obligations mean the yellow jersey winner's personal take-home is roughly €100K–€160K. Full prize breakdown, worked examples, and FEIE vs. FTC analysis for US cyclists.
Wimbledon 2026: Prize Money, UK Tax & What Players Actually Take Home
Starts June 30. £64.2M total fund, £3.6M to the singles champion — but HMRC's 20% withholding is just a down payment. The full round-by-round breakdown, how UK non-resident tax works at up to 45%, the Foreign Tax Credit for US players, and the 5 financial mistakes that cost players money every year.
The Open Championship 2026: Prize Money, UK Tax & What Golfers Actually Take Home
Royal Birkdale, July 16–19. ~$17M prize fund, $3.1M to the champion — but HMRC's 45% additional rate means the winner keeps only ~$1.72M after UK income tax. Round-by-round breakdown, caddie cost deductions, endorsement income apportionment (the missed-cut tax trap), Foreign Tax Credit for US players, and the 5 financial mistakes at The Open.
2026 NBA Draft Salaries: What Each Pick Actually Takes Home
The #1 pick in Washington (DC, 10.75%) nets almost the same as the #3 pick in Memphis (TN, 0%) — despite earning $2.1M more gross. Pick-by-pick estimated year 1 salaries, team city state tax comparison, and the gross-to-net breakdown for tonight's first-round picks.
NBA Second-Round Draft Picks: The Financial Playbook 2026
Exhibit 10 vs. two-way vs. guaranteed overseas — the decision every second-round pick faces tonight. Contract math, guaranteed amounts, jock tax reality, G League economics, and the five financial moves to make before training camp starts.
2026 MLB Draft: Signing Bonus & Financial Planning Guide
The MLB Draft is July 11–13 in Philadelphia. Slot values for every first-round pick (#1 overall: $11,350,600), the domicile decision worth up to $1.51M on the signing bonus, federal withholding math, and the 5 financial mistakes that haunt MLB draft picks — in the 4-week window between the draft call and the signing deadline.
What to Do With Your Signing Bonus: The 90-Day Financial Playbook
The signing bonus lands. Half of it belongs to taxes. The other half belongs to decisions you'll spend the next 90 days making. The withholding gap, where to park the money, family pressure structure, retirement sequencing, and what not to do — in the exact order it matters.
Athlete Social Media Income: YouTube, Twitch & Instagram Tax Planning
Creator income is self-employment income with no withholding and quarterly estimated tax obligations. Platform-by-platform breakdown (YouTube 55% split, Twitch 50/50 default), S-corp election threshold, deductible expenses, league content restrictions, and 6 common mistakes.
First Professional Contract: Financial Checklist
Just signed? What to do with the signing bonus, how to structure your advisory team, residency before opening day, and the mistakes that end careers financially.
Real Estate & Professional Athletes
Why real estate is uniquely risky during a 3-10 year career: carrying costs, illiquidity math, opportunity cost vs. a liquid portfolio, and when it actually makes sense.
Jock Tax Guide: How Multi-State Income Tax Works
The duty-days formula explained, state-by-state tax rates, city taxes, and why residency in the right state saves $300K–$1M+ per year.
Athlete State Domicile & Residency Planning
FL, TX, or NV domicile can save a $10M athlete $1–2M per year in state taxes. What domicile means legally, how to establish it, and the CA and NY traps that catch athletes off guard.
Professional Athlete Estate Planning Guide 2026
Wills, revocable trusts, beneficiary designations, dynasty trusts, and the permanent $15M estate tax exemption — the complete estate planning framework for athletes at every career stage and income level.
Contract Year & Free Agency Financial Planning
Extension vs. free agency NPV, domicile timing before signing, building a negotiation liquidity buffer, CEII coverage gaps, retirement front-loading, and signing bonus tax structure — the full financial checklist for your contract year.
Why Pro Athletes Go Broke: 7 Mistakes That Cost Them Everything
78% of NFL players face financial distress within 2 years of retirement. The specific mistakes behind that number — and what actually prevents it.
How to Choose a Financial Advisor for Athletes (2026)
Fee-only vs. fee-based vs. commission, credentials to look for, red flags that end careers, and 10 diagnostic questions to ask before you hire anyone.
Managing Family Financial Pressure as a Professional Athlete
The "family bank" destroys more careers financially than bad investments. How to structure family support using gift tax rules, set limits before the asks arrive, and protect your compressed earning window.
Athlete Prenuptial Agreement & Marriage Financial Planning
Community property states, QDRO pension division, signing bonus timing, and the full marriage financial checklist for professional athletes — before you sign and after.
Professional Athlete Investment Strategy 2026
How to invest when 90% of your lifetime earnings arrive before age 35: account stacking, tax-efficient taxable portfolio (LTCG + NIIT + muni bonds), asset allocation by career stage, the alternatives trap, and a 7-point red-flag checklist for investment pitches.
Professional Athlete Spending Plan: How Not to Blow $20M in 5 Years
Gross-to-net reality check, the career fund target, the 50% savings rule for compressed careers, housing budget limits, family support ceiling, and the 5 specific mistakes that drive the 78% post-career bankruptcy rate.
Your Athlete Advisory Team: Agents, CPAs, and Fee-Only Advisors
The four roles, verified fee caps by league, how to spot predatory business manager arrangements, the independent custodian requirement, and a full cost comparison between a properly structured team and common predatory alternatives.
Athlete Retirement Savings: Solo 401(k), Cash Balance, and the Roth Conversion Window
How to stack retirement accounts on a compressed career window — Solo 401(k) $72K limit, cash balance plan, IRA — and the post-career Roth conversion strategy that cuts the tax bill for decades.
Professional Athlete Tax Deductions 2026
OBBBA permanently eliminated W-2 misc. itemized deductions. What athletes can still deduct (Solo 401(k), health insurance, SE tax, HSA), the S-corp structure math, and the deductible expense checklist for self-employed athletes.
Professional Athlete Charitable Giving Guide 2026
DAF vs. private foundation vs. CRT, the OBBBA charitable deduction rules, why appreciated securities beat cash for donations, and how to front-load giving during the high-income earning window.
Health Insurance for Professional Athletes 2026
League coverage during career, COBRA election window, ACA special enrollment, minor league and independent league gaps, and the post-career coverage cliff math — $1,500–$2,500/month for 30+ years if you don't plan for it.
Professional Athlete Mortgage & Home Buying Guide
Jumbo vs. conforming loan limits, portfolio lenders for irregular athlete income, down payment strategy, buy vs. rent framework by career stage, and the endorsement S-corp income documentation trap.
Life Insurance for Professional Athletes
NFL group life limits, coverage formula for athletes (income replacement + family bank + education), term vs. permanent analysis, sport-specific underwriting, and the ILIT structure for estates above the $15M OBBBA exemption.
Athlete Salary Deferral & Deferred Compensation Guide 2026
The Ohtani playbook explained: §409A mechanics, why clubs offer deferrals (CBT luxury-tax math), an NPV calculator showing whether deferring beats taking the money now, and the California sourcing trap that makes the state-tax arbitrage much riskier than it looks.
International Athlete US Tax Guide 2026
Foreign-born players in US leagues: how US residency rules make your worldwide income taxable, FBAR and FATCA reporting requirements, the estate tax trap that hits non-resident aliens ($60K exemption vs. $15M for citizens), and the 10 mistakes that cost international athletes the most.
Sport-specific guides
NFL Training Camp: Rookies, UDFAs & Bubble Players (2026)
Camps open July 17–28. The 53-man cutdown is August 30 at 6 PM ET. What you earn at each stage — training camp $2,000/week, practice squad $13,750/week, 53-man minimum $885K — and the financial moves every bubble player and UDFA must make before the roster decisions come down.
NFL Player Financial Planning Guide
Rookie minimums, signing bonus tax treatment, jock tax, the NFL pension, T&P disability, and NFLPA advisory-team rules.
NBA Player Financial Planning Guide
Salary cap tiers, max contracts, jock tax in 20+ states, the NBA pension, and post-career Roth conversion strategy.
MLB Player Financial Planning Guide
Pre-arb, arbitration, free agency arc, signing bonus domicile, jock tax for a 162-game season, and MLB pension math.
NHL Player Financial Planning Guide
Entry-level contracts, escrow mechanics, cross-border jock tax in Canadian cities, NHL pension ($280K/yr max), and the advisory team.
PGA Tour Player Financial Planning Guide
Independent contractor taxes, SE tax on prize money, tournament state taxes, caddie costs, FedEx Cup retirement plan, and LIV Golf comparison.
MLS Player Financial Planning Guide
Salary cap tiers, designated player contracts, jock tax across 28+ states and Canada, the 401(k) as your only retirement plan, agent fee caps, and post-career transition.
Professional Tennis Player Financial Planning Guide
Multi-country prize money taxation, SE tax for independent contractors, the ATP pension plan, Solo 401(k) on endorsement income, the earnings cliff below rank 100, and the post-career Roth conversion window.
UFC & MMA Fighter Financial Planning Guide
The true advisory team cost (manager + trainer = 25–35% off the top), SE tax on fight purses, training camp deductions, health insurance exposure with no employer plan, and the compressed career savings strategy with no pension.
Olympic Athlete Financial Planning Guide
IRC §74(d) medal tax exemption, the new $200K USOPC post-games benefit, World Athletics prize money, endorsement SE tax math, the training cost gap, and how to build a 40-year retirement portfolio on a compressed Olympic earning window.
NASCAR & Motorsports Financial Planning Guide
No union, no pension, no CBA safety net. How NASCAR drivers get paid across three income buckets, jock tax across 20 race states, endorsement SE tax, and how to build a retirement plan from scratch.
WNBA Player Financial Planning Guide 2026
The historic 2026 CBA raised the salary cap 366% and crossed $1M for the first time. How the new salary scale, overseas play math, jock tax across WNBA cities, and endorsement income structuring work in the new era.
Professional Boxing Financial Planning Guide
Manager 33% + trainer 10% + sanctioning 3% cost stack explained, camp expense deductions, state tax by venue, promoter contract structure, and Solo 401(k) + cash balance stacking for fighters with no union and no pension.
Esports Player Financial Planning Guide 2026
Peak performance window of 18–24, no union, no pension, income across team salary + streaming + tournament prizes. How SE tax on streaming income, S-corp election, Solo 401(k) strategy, and the post-career Roth conversion window work for professional esports players.
LPGA Tour Player Financial Planning Guide 2026
$132M in 2026 prize money across 13 countries and 13 US states — yet the average LPGA player nets ~$233K after expenses before tax. How independent contractor SE tax, multi-state tournament taxes, the minimal LPGA retirement plan, and S-corp endorsement structuring work for professional women golfers.
Formula 1 Driver Financial Planning Guide 2026
22 races, 21 countries, no union, no pension — and the biggest salary spread in motorsport ($750K to $70M+). Monaco vs. UAE residency tax strategy, cross-country racing taxation, personal service company structure, and how F1 drivers fund 50 years of post-career life on a 5–10 year career window.
NWSL Player Financial Planning Guide 2026
The new CBA, the High Impact Player "Rodman rule," and 16-team expansion change NWSL financial planning. Jock tax across all 16 cities (3 California teams every season), endorsement income S-corp strategy, overseas play math, and retirement savings with no pension.
Track & Field and Road Racing Financial Planning Guide 2026
Diamond League across 14 countries, Boston/NYC marathon prize money, no union and no pension — every dollar is self-employment income. Multi-country taxation, shoe contract S-corp strategy, training cost deductions under IRC §162, and Solo 401(k) retirement savings for athletes competing without a team safety net.
Professional Swimming & Aquatics Financial Planning Guide 2026
No league salary, no union, no pension — and prize money paid across 10+ countries every season. World Aquatics Championships prize structure ($20K per individual gold), S-corp strategy for Speedo/Nike endorsement income, multi-country competition taxation, Solo 401(k) retirement savings, and the 5 mistakes that leave elite swimmers broke after retirement.
Professional Volleyball Financial Planning Guide 2026
PVF indoor vs. beach volleyball: two different tax treatments on one career. SE tax mechanics for beach players (AVP/FIVB), international league complexity (Italy, Turkey), Foreign Tax Credit for US players abroad, Solo 401(k) with no pension, health insurance gap between seasons, and the S-corp election for endorsement income above $100K.
Pro Pickleball Player Financial Planning Guide 2026
$31M in 2026 prize money, no union, no pension, no withholding — all of it lands as 1099 self-employment income. SE tax math on prize money and endorsements, the S-corp structure that saves top players $20K–$27K/yr, multi-state tournament taxes across CA/NY/NJ, Solo 401(k) strategy, and the 5 mistakes that drain pickleball careers before they're over.
Professional Wrestling Financial Planning Guide (WWE, AEW & Indie Circuit)
Independent contractors with no union, no pension, and no employer health insurance — but with one asset no other athletes have: merchandise royalties and character IP that can pay for decades after retirement. SE tax math on downside guarantees, the character IP negotiation you must get right before you sign, advisory team cost structure, and the Solo 401(k) + cash balance strategy for compressed wrestling careers.
Professional Gymnastics Financial Planning Guide 2026
One of the shortest career windows in sport — women peak 16–22, men slightly longer — yet no union, no pension, and no prize money from FIG World Championships. Endorsement income (Simone Biles, Olivia Dunne's $9.5M NIL) is the real income source. S-corp election on endorsements, Solo 401(k) + cash balance stacking, NIL college income structuring, and the 5 mistakes that drain gymnastics careers before they're over.
Professional Lacrosse Player Financial Planning Guide 2026 (PLL & NLL)
PLL players are W-2 employees who tour 12+ states every summer — creating a 14-state nonresident filing problem on a $40,000 salary where CPA fees alone can run 10% of income. NLL players earn $9,200–$42,000 for a winter season, most keep day jobs, and seven teams are in Canada. How dual-career income, multi-state jock tax, PLL stock options, NLL cross-border tax, and retirement savings with no pension work for professional lacrosse players.
Professional Rugby Player Financial Planning Guide 2026 (MLR & International)
MLR pays $10,000–$45,000 per season — a dual-career is essential. International rugby pays serious money (English Premiership up to £1M+, Top 14 up to €2M+) but comes with 47% UK combined tax, French cross-border complexity, and no union, no pension, and no agent fee cap anywhere in the global game. How MLR multi-state jock tax, cross-border taxation, Solo 401(k) on endorsement income, and career-ending injury insurance work for rugby players at every level.
NBA G League Player Financial Planning Guide 2026
Standard salary $45,000 · two-way contract $636,435 · Exhibit-10 bonus up to $85,300. Three contract types, completely different economics. How jock tax, Roth IRA strategy, Solo 401(k) on overseas summer income, and the two-way windfall work — whether your career leads to the NBA or not.
Action Sports Financial Planning Guide 2026 (Skateboarding, Surfing, Snowboarding, BMX)
No union, no CBA, no pension — and prize money that arrives as a 1099 with no withholding. How SE tax works on endorsement income and competition winnings, why the S-corp election saves action sports athletes $12,000–$30,000/year, the XGL 2026 team structure that changes the math for top skaters and riders, WSL prize money taxation across 10 countries, manager fee traps (10–20%, no caps), and how to build retirement savings with no league infrastructure behind you.
Professional Cyclist Financial Planning Guide 2026
WorldTour median salary €350,000 — yet the Tour de France winner's €500,000 prize gets split eight ways. How team salary tiers, prize money pooling, and European racing taxation across 15–20 countries work; Monaco and Swiss residency optimization; FEIE vs. Foreign Tax Credit for US citizens abroad; FBAR and FATCA; Solo 401(k) on endorsement income; and retirement planning with no UCI pension and no league infrastructure.
Professional Rodeo & PBR Bull Rider Financial Planning Guide 2026
No union, no pension, no withholding — and you have to pay $20,000+ in entry fees just to compete. PRCA vs. PBR income structures, SE tax on prize money, how to deduct entry fees and travel under IRC §162, the hobby-loss trap that catches unprepared competitors, domicile strategy (NFR is in Nevada, Houston is in Texas — most big purses are in no-tax states), Solo 401(k) + cash balance stacking, career-ending injury insurance, and the 5 mistakes that drain rodeo careers.
Minor League Baseball Financial Planning Guide 2026
~6,000 players on MiLB rosters, most earning $26,840–$37,975 per year — only during the season. How signing bonus domicile timing saves $300K–$600K+ in state taxes, the 43-day rule that unlocks MLB pension vesting and lifetime health insurance, Solo 401(k) strategy for winter ball income, and the two-track financial plan for prospects who may or may not reach the majors.
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Athlete Advisor Match is a matching service. We connect you with vetted fee-only financial advisors in our network — we don't manage money or provide advice ourselves. Advisors in our network are fiduciaries who charge transparent fees (not product commissions), and we match you based on your specific situation.