Many established professional athletes deem it crucial to give back to the communities that have shaped them and help them reach the heights they work so hard to climb to. One of the most generous and dedicated athletes you can find across any professional sport is Jalen Brunson, All Star point guard and captain of the New York Knicks. In the years since Jalen emerged as one of the league’s superstars, he has made it a priority to establish his own charitable foundation, Second Round Foundation. However, although he always possessed the talent to be great on and off the court, the Jalen people know today was shaped by perseverance and hard work, something his parents instilled in him from the very start. Hannes and Max welcome on Jalen’s mother, Sandra Brunson, Co-Founder and CFO of Jalen’s Second Round Foundation, to discuss how she and Jalen go about successfully running SRF and advice she would give to other professional athletes to succeed in their own charitable ventures.

Selling your business isn’t as simple as signing a contract and handing over the keys. Without the right planning, a business owner could end up paying far more in taxes than he or she needs to or even leave money on the table in ways that weren’t anticipated. That’s why bringing in a tax attorney early on is crucial when selling a business. In our most recent episode, special guest and tax attorney Robert Finkel dives into these complexities and how he helps his clients navigate them.

When it comes to anyone with significant wealth, especially professional athletes and entertainers, the use of life and disability insurance is vital in protecting it for themselves and their families. In our latest episode of Through the Wealth Lens, Max welcomes on Zach Wolkstein, insurance advisor of The Balaban Group out of Los Angeles, to discuss the use of said insurance policies, the process he uses to assess the type of policies that fit a client’s situation best, and how he coordinates them with the client’s overall financial plan and other professionals in the client’s circle.

Just like many of our clients aren't familiar with all the financial jargon in our industry, many of us have felt lost in a conversation with our doctor or insurer. That’s because the healthcare system has its own language—full of jargon and subtext. A doctor saying, “we’ll monitor this,” might mean they’re unsure of the diagnosis. An insurer denying a claim might phrase it as, “this doesn’t meet medical necessity.” A doctor talking about "code status" to a family member who has a healthcare proxy for a loved one elicits a blank stare. Decoding these messages is critical. Hannes welcomes Dr. Gerda Maisel, private patient advocate and founder of MD Advisor, who helps clients and patients navigate these complexities in order to avoid mistakes that could be tremendously harmful.

Hannes and Max welcome on Wale Ogunleye, Head of UBS’ Sports and Entertainment segment, to discuss how he successfully transitioned from an 11-year career in the NFL to an executive role in the business world, and some key tips he’d give professional athletes today to succeed in their post-professional sports careers.

Max and Hannes welcome on fellow UBS advisors Bryant Shirreffs and Christian Foxen, who break down where risk management for college athletic programs and their players are heading in the constantly evolving world of NIL.

Hannes and Max welcome on guest expert and family attorney Paige Zandri (Artese Zandri PLLC) to discuss "girlfriend and boyfriend insurance" aka cohabitation agreements. Similar to prenups, Paige explains how they can be used to protect the wealth and image of ultra-high net worth individuals outside of marriage, specifically athletes and entertainers.

Hannes and Max welcome on guest experts Daniela Sassoun and Mark Mistovich, seasoned real estate advisors of Sotheby’s International, to discuss best practices for the affluent when considering a real estate transaction. Daniela and Mark talk about everything from the difference between a real estate broker and advisor to some of the biggest mistakes to avoid throughout the process.

Hannes and Max are joined by veteran real estate advisor to professional athletes and Founder/CEO of Distinct Concierge Sports & Entertainment Real Estate Firm, Rod Watson, to discuss some of the best practices professional athletes should take when considering a real estate purchase.

Hannes and Max welcome on expert entertainment attorney and partner at Greenberg Traurig, Paul Sarker, to discuss some of the key points college and high school athletes and their representatives should consider to navigate NIL compensation successfully.