NFL Players' Podcast

In this episode of the AWM NFL Podcast, host Riccardo Stewart is joined by former NFL players Sam Acho, Jeff Locke, and Zach Miller to explore the traits and skills essential for professional athletes aiming to build multi-generational wealth. Together, they discuss the importance of knowledge, communication, and discipline, highlighting insights from their experience both on the field and within the family office advisory space. Tune in for actionable strategies and thought-provoking conversations tailored for athletes aspiring to long-term financial success.

Key Highlights:

• Understanding the importance of knowledge and curiosity in financial growth.
• Communicating effectively—an underrated skill in managing partnerships.
• Embracing a CEO mentality for decision-making in personal and professional spheres.
• The role of discipline and consistency in achieving sustained success.
• Characteristics of top-performing NFL players and their financial habits.

Quotes:

• "Our clients want to be knowledgeable about anything and everything... that's the knowledge you have to have to do what you do." – Jeff Locke
• "The ones that communicate the best... those skills are transferable." – Sam Acho
• "Your athleticism will only take you so far... it's the intangibles that separate you." – Zach Miller
• "I would rather for you to be consistently good as opposed to being occasionally great." – Riccardo Stewart

Join host Riccardo Stewart and co-hosts Zach Miller, Jeff Locke, and Sam Acho as they explore the concept of "paying your future self" in Episode 47 of the AWM NFL Podcast. The discussion navigates through personal and financial strategies for NFL athletes, emphasizing the importance of planning early to ensure long-term prosperity. This episode offers invaluable insights into achieving enduring financial stability and lays the groundwork for securing a flourishing legacy for athletes and their families.

Key Highlights:

• Sam Acho highlights the significance of investing in both physical well-being and finances for future benefit.
• Jeff Locke emphasizes the importance of early savings and the advantages NFL players have in securing long-term financial stability.
• Zach Miller discusses lifestyle management and the necessity of maintaining adequate savings to counter lifestyle creep.
• Strategies on building intellectual and social capital during and after an NFL career are shared by Sam Acho.
• Practical financial strategies such as maintaining a 40% savings rate are presented by the hosts.

Quotes:

• "Saving money is paying your future self." – Sam Acho
• "Your ability to control time is real wealth." – Zach Miller
• "Starting early is the biggest superpower you have as a young athlete." – Jeff Locke

In this latest episode of the AWM NFL Podcast, hosts Riccardo Stewart, Jeff Locke, Zach Miller, and Sam Acho dive into the fundamental question every high-earning athlete faces: "Where does my money go?" They discuss the Four Uses of Money framework designed to help NFL players plan for taxes, spending, giving, and saving. With insightful advice and real-life examples, this episode provides a valuable roadmap to managing wealth effectively.

Key Highlights:

• Explore the inevitable reality of taxes and strategies for minimizing tax burden over a lifetime.
• Understand the privilege of spending wisely and the importance of enjoying your earnings.
• Discover the joy of giving and its profound impact on happiness and community.
• Learn the significance of saving and investing aggressively to ensure a secure financial future and multi-generational wealth.

Quotes:

• "Taxman is undefeated. It's about planning for it across your lifetime." – Jeff Locke
• "If you really want to be happy, I'd argue giving is a great option." – Sam Acho
• "Your future self will thank you for saving aggressively while you earn millions." – Zach Miller

In this episode of the AWM NFL Podcast, host Riccardo Stewart is joined by Jeff Locke, Zach Miller, and Sam Acho to explore the playbook for achieving multi-generational wealth for NFL athletes. They dive into how athletes can leverage their human capital—physical, intellectual, and social—and outline the crucial steps for managing income, taxes, spending, saving, and investing. The team emphasizes the importance of having a strong support system, from financial planners to wealth advisors, to ensure long-term success beyond sports.

Key Highlights:

• The concept of human capital—physical, intellectual, and social—and its role in generating income.
• The importance of tax management and how much athletes can expect to pay.
• Strategies for spending and sharing income, including a 40% savings rate.
• The importance of investing income for future prosperity.
• Key protections through insurance and estate planning to safeguard wealth.
• Building a financial team including certified financial planners and advisors.

Quotes:

• "Your human capital is how you can earn income." – Sam Acho
• "Giving unlocks the grips of greed." – Zach Miller
• "40 percent is what you need to try and hit to be setting yourself up for life after sports." – Jeff Locke

In Episode 44 of the AWM NFL Podcast, Riccardo "Coach" Stewart is joined by Zack "The Truth" Miller, Sam "The Mayor" Acho, and Jeff "The Professor" Locke, to discuss effective financial strategies for NFL players during the offseason. The hosts delve into topics such as offseason training plans, maintaining physical fitness, understanding NFL pay structures, and the importance of postseason financial meetings to ensure long-term financial success. This episode provides essential insights for players and their families navigating the unique financial landscape of professional sports.

Key Highlights:

• Players should focus on decompressing and addressing physical health, including any required offseason surgeries.
• Importance of planning offseason training and nutrition to maintain peak physical condition.
• Explanation of postseason financial meetings and their role in assessing past spending and structuring future financial goals.
• Understanding the NFL pay structure is crucial for effective cash flow management and avoiding financial stress.
• Strategies for players anticipating big contracts and those considering retirement, focusing on residency planning and post-career benefits.

Quotes:

• "Winning the cashflow game is one of the five skill sets of building multi-generational wealth." – Sam Acho
• "These are really some of the biggest meetings of the year that we have with our clients." – Jeff Locke

In this episode of the AWM NFL Podcast, host Riccardo Stewart is joined by NFL veterans Zach Miller, Sam Acho, and Jeff Locke to discuss the thrilling NFL playoff season. The conversation goes beyond the field to explore the vital off-field aspects, including financial implications and preparations unique to this stage. Tune in for first-hand playoff experiences, financial insights, and advice on managing both expectations and earnings during this intense time.

Key Highlights

• Sam Acho shares the exhilaration of his first playoff game and the crucial learning about peaking at the right time.
• Jeff Locke discusses the importance of treating every playoff game with the same seriousness as the regular season, despite varying conditions.
• Zach Miller reveals how experience in the playoffs changes perspective and preparation methods.
• The panel explores how playoff compensation works and the importance of understanding its tax implications.
• Jeff Locke emphasizes maintaining a tight, trusted circle off the field during playoff season.

Quotes

• "The further you go in the playoffs, it can start up to a few hundred thousand dollars that you weren't expecting, which is nice." — Zach Miller
• "Keep it tight. There's going to be a lot of people coming out of nowhere, wanting things from you." — Jeff Locke

Key Highlights:

Analysis of the benefits and timing of entering the Transfer Portal, especially during coaching changes.

Discussion on evaluating promises made by coaches and their impact on transfer decisions.

Advice on prioritizing long-term financial success and career goals over immediate NIL offers.

Explorations of NIL agent roles and the necessity of choosing trustworthy representation.

Emphasis on maintaining focus on athletic performance while making strategic career moves.

Quotes:

"Think, as young as you are, you have to predict the future to secure a second or third NFL contract." — Jeff Locke

"For me, the right agent is about trust and how they protect you in those contracts." — Sam Acho

"Parents might not always understand the industry, so doing thorough research is crucial." — Riccardo Stewart

Key Highlights

Introduction to human capital and its components: physical, intellectual, and social capital.

Jeff Locke explains human capital's importance for athletes in maximizing their value.

Sam Acho discusses the significance of developing multiple dimensions beyond athletic performance.

Zach Miller joins in to illustrate how physical capital directly impacts wealth generation in the NFL.

Sam Acho shares a personal story on the nuances of leveraging social capital effectively.

Quotes

"Human capital, let's break it down into two words. Human, me, Capital, value—what is the value that you produce as a human being?" – Jeff Locke

"Social capital is your last name. It's your network, it's your ability to walk in the doors and get into places that no one else can because of who you are." – Sam Acho

"The amount of guys this guy knows. I don't know how his phone has enough memory for his contact book." – Jeff Locke

KEY HIGHLIGHTS: 

—NFL players often show generosity at a granular level by supporting people within their facilities. 

—The impact of end-of-year giving and its benefits for both givers and recipients. 

—Utilizing a donor-advised fund allows athletes to maximize their charitable giving opportunities. 

—Strategic charity not only benefits recipients but also provides tax advantages for players. 

—Step-by-step guidance on initiating a donor-advised fund for effective giving. 

QUOTES: 

—"Giving helps unlock the grips of greed." – Zach Miller 

—"The donor advice fund gives you the flexibility of time." – Jeff Locke 

—"NFL players are extremely, extremely generous but we're looking for better ways to be more effective in our generosity." – Sam Acho

Key Highlights

• Sam Acho shares the importance of understanding the value of a supportive financial team during an NFL career.
• Jeff Locke emphasizes getting transparent details in writing about how advisors are paid to avoid unnecessary costs.
• Zach Miller discusses the unique investment opportunities for athletes and the importance of customized financial plans.
• Insights are provided on how taxes and NFL benefits should be integrated into an athlete’s financial strategy.
• Practical advice is given for athletes transitioning to the NFL or switching advisors, including key questions to ask.

Quotes

• "If I knew then what I do now, I would have been so much better off from a time standpoint." – Sam Acho
• "You need a team that can actually advise on your taxes and help you with your taxes, not just on the investment side." – Jeff Locke
• "You are one of one. So you deserve a kind of one, your own individualized plan." – Zach Miller