WEALTH MANAGEMENT
BUILT for Athletes BY ATHLETES
Building your legacy beyond the game.
Why VestGen Athlete Exists
For today’s athletes, opportunity has never been greater.
- Professional athletes are signing contracts earlier and for larger sums than ever before.
- High school and college athletes now have access to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals that were once reserved for the pros.
But here’s the reality:
- Most athletes’ careers are short.
- The money often runs out faster than expected.
- Families are left without a plan if the next contract doesn’t come—or if injury changes the game overnight.
VestGen Athlete, in partnership with Athlete Collective, helps athletes and their families transform today’s opportunities into long-term security, no matter where the career path leads.
The Pain Points We Solve
For Athletes
- “Who can I trust to guide me beyond flashy deals and short-term hype?”
- “What happens when my playing days end?”
- “How do I manage my NIL or pro earnings without making costly mistakes?”
For Families
- “What’s the safest way to balance immediate needs with long-term planning?”
- “How do we make sure our child’s sudden income doesn’t slip away?”
- “How do we prepare for a future where our child may or may not go pro?”
For Former Athletes
- “How do I transition from playing to what’s next—financially and personally?”
- “What can I do with the wealth I did earn, even if my career didn’t last as long as I hoped?”
OUR APPROACH
Brand + Wealth = Legacy
Through our strategic partnership with the Athlete Collective, we deliver a complete solution:
Brand Power
Athlete Collective
- Secure sponsorships and brand deals.
- Build and grow your social presence.
- Create connections with agents, sponsors, and media.
Athlete Collective is unaffiliated with VestGen and PCS. Learn more about the Athlete Collective.
Wealth Power
VestGen Wealth Partners
- Financial literacy education tailored to athletes and their families.
- Custom wealth management plans: budgeting, investing, tax strategies.
- Risk management and insurance to protect against the unexpected.
Legacy Planning
Together
- Estate and family planning guidance.
- Transition strategies for life beyond the game.
- Support for entrepreneurship, second careers, and giving back.
Meet Cole Dow,
Director of VestGen Athlete
Cole Dow knows the athlete journey because he’s lived it.
- Former NCAA and NFL football player.
- Co-founder of Athlete Collective, where he helped athletes secure six-figure brand deals and grow their platforms.
- Now leading VestGen Athlete, Cole’s mission is simple: to make sure athletes and their families are financially prepared—whether the career lasts 2 years or 20.
Cole bridges the gap between the locker room and the boardroom, giving athletes guidance they can trust and families the confidence they need.
we serve
01
Professional Athletes
Seeking long-term wealth and career transition planning
02
College Athletes
Balancing studies, sport, and new income streams
03
High School Athletes & Families
Preparing for NIL opportunities
04
Former Athletes
Looking to protect and grow what they earned
Why VestGen
We know families often act as stewards of an athlete’s wealth. VestGen Athlete creates a safe, trusted environment where parents and guardians can:
- Learn alongside their athlete through literacy workshops.
- Be involved in planning without being overwhelmed.
- Rely on advisors who combine athlete experience with professional expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
NIL & COLLEGE ATHLETE
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) allows student-athletes to earn money from endorsements, appearances, camps, merch, and social media. NIL income is typically taxable as self-employment income. You may need to make quarterly estimated payments and keep clean records. Eligibility rules can vary by school and state; we coordinate with your compliance office and your legal counsel to keep you in bounds while we handle planning, budgeting, and tax strategy.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Many athletes start as sole proprietors, then move to an LLC for liability protection and cleaner accounting. S-Corp status can help at higher income levels. We evaluate your deal flow, expenses, and state rules, then coordinate with your CPA and attorney to choose—and set up—the right structure.
Yes. A dedicated business account (and debit/credit) makes bookkeeping, taxes, and audits easier. We help you set it up, connect it to simple accounting tools, and create a cash-management plan so every dollar has a job (spend/save/give/taxes).
We install a “profit allocation” system: automatic tax set-asides, fixed savings, and a realistic monthly spending plan—plus an emergency fund. We also plan for slow periods and off-season income so you don’t have cash crunches.
Visa status matters. Some visas restrict employment and business activity. We coordinate with immigration counsel and school compliance to determine what’s allowed and explore alternatives (e.g., deals fulfilled abroad or deferred structures) when appropriate.
Start with health coverage and disability/“loss-of-value” where appropriate. We also review renter’s insurance, liability coverage for camps/clinics, and business coverage for NIL activities. VestGen integrates these into your overall risk plan so you’re not over- or under-insured.
It can affect need-based aid and tax filings for your family. We model the impact ahead of time, align with your school’s financial aid office, and adjust your tax strategy and savings plan accordingly.
We’re collaborators. The Athlete Collective supports brand building and partnerships; your agent negotiates and manages deals; your attorney handles contracts. VestGen coordinates the financial plan—cash flow, taxes, investments, risk, estate—and keeps everyone aligned.
PRO & FORMER PRO ATHLETE
Before anything else: establish cash controls. We set up secure banking, a real-world spending plan, automatic tax withholdings, and short-term reserves. Next, we prioritize debt clean-up, risk coverage, and a staged investment plan aligned to guaranteed vs. non-guaranteed income.
We use a “guardrails” approach with spending policies, multi-signature controls for large purchases, independent due diligence for private deals, and a defined investment policy statement (IPS). If a deal can’t clear diligence, we say no—together.
Diversify and de-risk. We match your horizon with liquid reserves, core public markets exposure, and prudent illiquid sleeves (if appropriate). We avoid concentration and fads, and we revisit risk every season and every contract change.
Yes. We coordinate wills, trusts, powers of attorney, titling/beneficiaries, and (when needed) family governance for multi-household or multi-generational support. The goal: protect assets, reduce friction, and preserve relationships.
Absolutely. We evaluate viability, set capital budgets, establish the right entity, and build a runway plan. For foundations and donor-advised funds, we design a giving strategy that aligns with your values and tax picture.
We pre-plan contingencies: disability coverage, loss-of-value, multi-city cash buffers, and a “next-contract” plan that assumes different scenarios. If circumstances change, your plan adjusts the same day.
We help you reset: cash flow, benefits, health coverage, and a second-act plan (media, coaching, entrepreneurship, corporate roles). With The Athlete Collective, we also evolve your brand from “player” to “builder,” and align your financial plan to new income patterns.
FAMILY & INNER-CIRCLE FAQS
Clarity and roles. We set up shared visibility (dashboards and permissions), spending policies, and a cadence of family check-ins—while preserving the athlete’s decision-making authority and privacy.
We implement approval thresholds, independent third-party verification, and a consistent “cooling-off” period for large asks. Every request runs through the plan—no exceptions.
We don’t select agents for you, but we do help you ask the right questions and run financial diligence. For private investments, we review business plans, capital stacks, fees, liquidity, and downside scenarios—then give you a clear, independent view.
Take The First Step
Your career is uncertain. Your financial future doesn’t have to be.
Schedule a conversation with Cole Dow, Director of VestGen Athlete, and discover how to turn today’s opportunity into tomorrow’s legacy.
VestGen financial advisors may only conduct business with residents of the states and/or jurisdictions for which they are properly registered. Not all of the investments and services mentioned herein are available in every state.