After the last two issues, the most common question I got wasn't "is this real?" It was some version of: "Okay, I believe you — so how do I actually find people I can trust with this?"
That's the real bottleneck. It's rarely a lack of willingness to plan ahead. It's not knowing who's actually working for you versus who's working an angle on you — and no easy way to tell the difference from the outside.
So this issue isn't about red flags. It's about what good looks like, so you have something to measure against.
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Free financial education for athletes, parents, and advisors — written by a former pro athlete turned finance professional.
The three roles, and what good looks like in each
Most athletes eventually need three professionals. Not all at once, and not always separately — but each function has to be covered by someone, and each has a clear version of "doing it right."
A fee-only financial advisor.
Good looks like: they're paid a flat fee or a transparent percentage of assets they manage — not commissions on the products they sell you. That single structural detail changes everything about the advice you get, because commission-based advisors are financially better off when you buy something, whether or not it's right for you. Fee-only advisors have no such conflict.
Good also looks like: they can explain their recommendations in plain language, they don't rush you into decisions, and they're comfortable with you asking "how are you compensated on this specifically?" — without flinching.
An accountant who understands your situation, not just taxes in general.
Good looks like: real experience with self-employment income, multi-country tax situations if you play internationally, and the specific quirks of endorsement or revenue-share income. A generalist accountant who does personal returns once a year is not the same as one who understands why your income arrived as a 1099 form, or why a payment from a foreign club needs different handling than a domestic salary.
Good also looks like: they set you up for quarterly estimated payments proactively, rather than surprising you with a bill in April.
A lawyer who reads before you sign, not after.
Good looks like: someone who reviews contracts, NIL deals, and agreements before you commit to them — not someone you call after something's already gone wrong. Sports and entertainment law is its own specialty; a lawyer who's never seen an endorsement contract may miss the specific clauses that matter most in this world (morality clauses, exclusivity terms, what happens if you get injured or transfer).
How to find people who work for you, not against you
The instinct is to Google "sports financial advisor near me" and hope for the best. A better approach:
Ask for referrals from people with nothing to sell you. Other athletes who've been through this, a trusted coach, or even a professional in an unrelated field whose judgment you respect — their recommendation carries more weight than any advertisement.
Interview more than one of each. A first meeting is free almost everywhere. Treat it like a genuine interview, not a formality — the person is applying to handle a meaningful piece of your life.
Ask directly how they're paid. Not "what are your fees" — ask specifically whether they earn anything beyond what they've disclosed to you (commissions, referral fees, kickbacks from products they recommend). A good professional answers this without hesitation.
Notice how they treat you as a person, not just a client. Ryan Peck, TCU's Senior Deputy AD, made a point recently that stuck with me: the goal should be a relationship where athletes feel comfortable asking questions in a space that isn't someone trying to take advantage of them. That's not a bar reserved for university programmes — it's the bar every advisor, accountant, and lawyer in your life should clear.
Start with three questions
Before you meet anyone, three questions do most of the work:
How exactly are you compensated — flat fee, percentage, commission, or a mix? Do you earn anything from the products or services you recommend to me? Have you worked with athletes or entertainers before? Can I speak with one?
How comfortable someone is answering those tells you most of what you need to know before you've discussed a single number.
I've put together the full list — all 10 questions, in a printable one-page checklist — free to download: 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Financial Team. Bring it to the first meeting with anyone you're considering.
One action to take this week
Pick the one role from the three above that you don't currently have covered. Ask three people you already trust — not Google, not an ad — for a referral this week.
You don't need your whole team built by Friday. You need to start the conversation.
The right team doesn't just protect your money. It protects your time to actually focus on your career.
Final Whistle Finance is written by a former professional basketball player and ACCA-qualified finance professional with Big Four audit experience. This newsletter is for educational purposes and does not constitute regulated financial advice.
If you found this useful, forward it to one athlete you know who needs to read it.
Next issue: What the data already shows us about the NIL cliff — three signals nobody's connected yet.