What we actually go over
Stuff you'd want to know before a check clears. We skip the jargon and focus on what's practical.
Taxes on NIL income
NIL money is 1099 income. You owe federal taxes, state taxes, and self-employment tax on it. Most kids don't find that out until they've already spent the full amount.
Reading a contract
Exclusivity clauses, image usage rights, payment timelines. We go through the parts of a deal that trip people up and what to push back on.
Budgeting irregular income
You might get paid $500 one month and nothing the next three. We talk about how to handle that without blowing through everything in week one.
Knowing your value
Some brands will offer you $100 for something worth $2,000. We go over how to figure out what a deal is actually worth and when to say no.
Protecting your name
Your name and image are yours. Some contracts try to change that. We look at what to watch for in licensing and usage terms so you don't give away more than you meant to.
Picking the right deals
Not every offer is a good fit. Some pay well but hurt your reputation. Some look small but open better doors later. We talk through how to think about that.
Common questions
Right now it's a one-time workshop, usually 45 minutes to an hour. We can come back for follow-ups if there's interest, but the goal is to cover the essentials in one session.
We cover the financial principles that apply everywhere. For state-specific eligibility rules and restrictions, we point athletes to the right resources since those details change frequently.
That's actually the best time to learn this. It's way easier to understand taxes and contracts before you're staring at one with a deadline. We'd rather athletes know this stuff before they need it.