College Athletes & NIL

You’re earning real money.
Nobody told you what to do with it.

NIL income is a real opportunity — but it comes with real tax obligations, no withholding, and a window that closes faster than most athletes realize. We help you handle it right from day one.

12 NIL INCOME DASHBOARD Brand Deals $82,000 Appearances $38,000 Social Media $22,000 Licensing & IP $8,000 TAX ALERT No withholding on NIL income. Estimated tax due: $45,000 NET AFTER TAX + SAVINGS PLAN $97,500 after taxes & $18K saved Nike NIL Deal $22,000 deal received Q2 Est. Tax Due $11,250 — June 15 Roth IRA $583/mo — maxing $7K/yr Emergency Fund Goal: 100% $12K ✓ NIL Financial Hub NIL AGREEMENT Brand: Powerade Compensation: $4,200 Term: 6 months SEASON EARNINGS $50,400   no tax held ROTH IRA STARTED Age 20 40 yrs compounding TAX SAVED $12,400 via deductions & structure PLAN IN PLACE Year 1 before most think about it
The Problem We Solve

NIL income is taxed like self-employment income.
Most athletes find that out the hard way.

When a brand pays you for a deal, they don’t withhold taxes. Nobody does. That means every dollar you earn from NIL comes with a tax bill attached — one that’s due quarterly, whether you knew it was coming or not.

Add in the fact that NIL income is irregular, comes from multiple sources, may cross state lines, and you’re likely handling your own finances for the first time — and it’s a setup for expensive mistakes that follow you for years.

We build a simple, practical financial plan around your NIL income so you keep more of it, stay out of trouble with the IRS, and start building wealth during the window you have right now.

Sound Familiar?
You received a check or Venmo from a brand deal and aren’t sure if you owe taxes on it
Your NIL income is lumpy — some months are big, some are zero — and budgeting is hard
You’ve heard about quarterly estimated taxes but haven’t done anything about them
You’re not sure how much to save vs. spend from each deal
Nobody around you — coaches, parents, teammates — has dealt with this before
You want to build something real with this money, not just spend it
Self-employed
NIL income is classified as self-employment income by the IRS — taxed at up to 15.3% in self-employment taxes alone, before income tax
4x/yr
Estimated tax payments are due four times a year. Miss them and you owe penalties on top of the tax itself
$1M+
What a 20-year-old who starts a Roth IRA today and contributes consistently could have tax-free by retirement — your NIL window is the perfect time to start
How We Help

A financial plan built for how NIL income actually works.

Irregular, multi-source, no withholding, and short-window. Here’s what we put in place.

NIL Tax Strategy
We calculate your estimated quarterly tax obligation based on your NIL income and make sure you’re setting aside the right amount from every deal. No surprises in April.
Estimated Tax Payments
Q1 through Q4 — we build a payment schedule, set the right amounts, and make sure you never miss a deadline. Penalties for missing estimated payments add up fast.
Roth IRA Setup
If you have earned income, you can contribute to a Roth IRA. Starting at 20 instead of 30 is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax-free growth. We get you set up and contributing.
Deal-by-Deal Cash Plan
Every NIL deal should be split: taxes, savings, and spending. We build a simple percentage framework so you always know exactly what to do when a check hits your account.
Multi-State Income
Playing in multiple states or doing deals with out-of-state brands can create multi-state tax obligations. We identify the exposure and make sure you’re filing where you need to.
Protection Planning
Your body is your income. Disability and injury insurance exist for athletes — we review your options and help you understand what coverage makes sense for where you are right now.
YOUR NIL WEALTH-BUILDING WINDOW Now Draft / Post-College Career Retirement ROTH IRA: START AT 20 vs. 30 $1.2M $680K Age 20 Age 65 Starting now Starting at 30 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STARTING NOW AND WAITING $520,000 in tax-free retirement wealth — from the same contributions
Why Right Now Matters

The NIL window is also the best financial head start you’ll ever get.

Most athletes don’t think about their financial future until after their playing days are over. The ones who do — who use their NIL years to build real habits and real accounts — enter the next chapter of life in a fundamentally different position.

Starting a Roth IRA at 20 instead of 30 is worth $500,000+ in tax-free wealth over a lifetime — from the same contributions. The math is simple. The hard part is knowing to do it.

That’s what we’re here for.

Our Process

Simple. Built around your schedule.

We know you’re managing practice, classes, travel, and everything else. Our process is designed to be fast to get started and low-maintenance to maintain.

1
Free 30-Minute Call
We learn about your NIL deals, your income so far, and what you’ve done (or haven’t done) about taxes. No judgment — just an honest starting point.
2
NIL Tax & Savings Plan
We put a simple structure in place: what percentage goes to taxes, what goes to savings, what you can spend. Clear rules that work on any deal size.
3
Accounts & Filing Setup
Roth IRA opened, estimated tax payment schedule set, and your CPA looped in. Everything is set up and running before it becomes a problem.
4
Ongoing Check-Ins
Quarterly estimated tax reviews, deal-by-deal guidance, and a plan that adjusts as your NIL income grows or changes. You’re not on your own.

Don’t let a tax bill be your first big financial lesson.

A free 30-minute call to look at your NIL income, your current tax exposure, and what a real plan would look like for your situation.

Schedule a Free Call → See All We Serve
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