Winning at life after sport

“From the day I signed my first professional rugby contract, I knew if I played well, then I’d be paid well, and I really needed to make the most of the money I earned as an athlete to set me up for the future”.

At Zone Financial we understand, from first-hand experience, the unique financial opportunities and challenges faced by professional athletes.  Young professional athletes experience a different earning trajectory compared to people in more traditional careers. With a front-weighted earning curve it magnifies the need for them to find a team to work with away from their chosen sport, that can provide trusted expertise, guidance, and support to make sound financial choices and build a strong financial foundation for their future.

Ben is a country boy, whose goal was to return to the land after his playing career finished and to own and farm some land near the family property he grew up on.  What makes Ben’s story so impressive is not only did he achieve this, he was also able to do what many astute farming families do. He built an off-farm investment strategy that would support him through periods when the weather was not so kind.

During the early stages of Ben’s playing career, we developed a comprehensive financial plan that accounted for his current and future projected earnings, expenses, and the financial goals that he wanted to achieve. Importantly we structured regular contributions to his investments to ensure he maximised the potential returns from his surplus income – something very few young athletes take advantage of. Additionally, we had to consider worst case scenarios, such as a career-ending injury, and it was fortunate that we did. 

Unfortunately, Ben’s career was abruptly cut short as a result of an injury sustained during an international game on a European tour. Such an event is devastating for any athlete, but we were able to shift our focus to assist Ben in making a successful insurance claim specifically designed for athletes like him. We were able to use the proceeds to build on Ben’s existing strategy and ensure a smooth transition into life after sport.

“From the day I signed my first professional rugby contract, I knew if I played well, then I’d be paid well, and I really needed to make the most of the money I earned as an athlete to set me up for the future”.

Ben is a country boy, whose goal was to return to the land after his playing career finished and to own and farm some land near the family property he grew up on.  What makes Ben’s story so impressive is not only did he achieve this, he was also able to do what many astute farming families do. He built an off-farm investment strategy that would support him through periods when the weather was not so kind.

During the early stages of Ben’s playing career, we developed a comprehensive financial plan that accounted for his current and future projected earnings, expenses, and the financial goals that he wanted to achieve. Importantly we structured regular contributions to his investments to ensure he maximised the potential returns from his surplus income – something very few young athletes take advantage of. Additionally, we had to consider worst case scenarios, such as a career-ending injury, and it was fortunate that we did. 

Unfortunately, Ben’s career was abruptly cut short as a result of an injury sustained during an international game on a European tour. Such an event is devastating for any athlete, but we were able to shift our focus to assist Ben in making a successful insurance claim specifically designed for athletes like him. We were able to use the proceeds to build on Ben’s existing strategy and ensure a smooth transition into life after sport.