Posts

Lets Talk About NIL: Invest In Women’s Sports

Invest in Women SportsWomen athletes are leading the way in NIL.Brands want to work with them. Audiences engage with them. Social media amplifies them.And the data is undeniable, women athletes consistently outperform in authenticity, influence, and conversion....

Lets Talk about Tax Baby! And A Little Bit Of NIL

1099 vs. W‑2Athletes listen up!! Both earn $100,000 in 2025. The tax outcomes are very different.A lot of people assume $100k is $100k.But how you earn it, completely changes your tax bill, especially in California.1099A 1099 worker pays both the employer and employee...

Lets Talk About NIL: Families Are Part Of The NIL Ecosystem

Families have been navigating value, leverage, and risk in college sports long before NIL was ever legalized. They were doing the work quietly, strategically, and often without any institutional support because the system left them no alternative. Where I think the...

A Third Party NIL Deal Checklist – Helping Student Athletes Navigate NIL Deals

A quick branding checklist for athletes navigating 3rd‑party NIL deals. 1. Understand the contract - know what you’re agreeing to: usage rights, exclusivity, deliverables, timelines, payment terms, and content restrictions. If you don’t understand it, ask. 2....

What To Look For – 3rd Party NIL Deals

I had a recent conversation with a talent manager and they believe creators/athletes leave money on the table because they don’t know what they’re allowed to negotiate in 3rd party NIL deals. You’re not just negotiating for your name, image, and likeness. You’re...

Does NIL Apply to Everyone?

Too many athletes still believe NIL “doesn’t apply to them.” They’re not a 4-5 star recruit. They’re not the face of the program. They’re not the one with thousands of followers. So they quietly step back from opportunities they already qualify for. Here’s what...

Two part series (2/2) – “ 10 NIL Mistakes Athletes Keep Making”

I wanted to do a two part series on the easy mistakes students athletes tend to make and what to look out for. This is part 2!Mistake #6: Choosing the Wrong Business Structure - LLCs aren’t magic. S‑Corps aren’t for everyone. Sole proprietorships offer zero...

Two part series (1/2) – “ 10 NIL Mistakes Athletes Keep Making”

I wanted to do a two part series on the easy mistakes students athletes tend to make and what to look out for.Mistake #1: Thinking NIL Is Only About Money - Too many athletes chase the check and ignore the contract, the taxes, the deliverables, and the long‑term...

Mandatory Withholding Tax For Athletes

So I was reading an article by Thad Madden, EA and he brings up the idea of mandatory withholding being included in any federal legislation.Instead of the athlete receiving the full amount and dealing with taxes later, a portion is automatically pulled out at the...