The world of college athletics has entered a new era. With Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) now in play, student athletes are gaining access to real income opportunities earlier than ever, often before they even step onto a college campus. But with these new possibilities come major responsibilities around money, contracts, and long-term planning.

In this episode, Domenick Macri, NIL consultant and partner at Via Vitae Partners, breaks down what NIL really is, who’s actually earning money, and the biggest misconceptions surrounding these deals. He shares what families need to know before signing, how sudden income can impact young athletes, and why education and structure are critical in this fast-moving space.

Listen in as Domenick explains how young athletes can avoid common financial mistakes, develop smart spending and saving habits, and build a foundation that protects their future, whether their path continues in sports or leads elsewhere.

What You’ll Learn:

• What Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) means and how student athletes earn income from it.
• The biggest misconceptions about NIL and who is actually receiving large contracts.
• Why financial literacy is critical for young athletes managing sudden money.
• How spending habits, optimism, and lifestyle inflation can impact long-term wealth.
• The importance of saving early and planning for life beyond athletics.
• How personal branding and social media factor into NIL success.
• Why wraparound support systems can help protect athletes and their families.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “Being too optimistic about the future sometimes can be painful in the current, and so if you get all this money and you think, ‘Oh, it's just gonna keep coming, or I can play my way to more money,’ you tend to spend more because you're optimistic that that's gonna happen.” - Domenick Macri
• “The best thing to do is set up a nest egg so that you have that for the future. That allows you to be a better planner in the future and have the ability to make decisions.” - Domenick Macri
• “Our goal… is to help them transition from high school to college to either professional athletes or into professional employment.” - Domenick Macri

Resources:

• Domenick Macri: LinkedIn
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Dreams2Elite
• Via Vitae Services

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

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