RICH FOREVER: The Life You Deserve, Not Just the One You Earned
April | Vol 1
By Jaron Baston, Commissioner, LAW Fund
Athletes are earning millions before the league — but will they stay rich? A look into how NIL deals can be structured for legacy, not loss.
Somewhere, a 20-year-old just landed his first six-figure NIL deal—and booked a weekend in Vegas.
He reserved the penthouse at the Cosmo. Dropped $8K on a table. The section’s full of strangers and bottles he won’t remember. His IG stories are lit. His bank account? Down $20K by Monday.
Meanwhile, another 20-year-old took that same NIL money and funded a life insurance policy.
Five years from now, that policy will have $80K in cash value. He’ll borrow against it, launch a business, and by 35, it’ll help seed his family trust.
One weekend made memories. The other bought a future.
This is RICH FOREVER—not just financial literacy, but financial fluency.
FROM HYPE TO HISTORY
In 2021, the NCAA greenlit NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals. Within two years, it minted millionaire college athletes.
Shedeur Sanders signed with Beats, Gatorade, and Mercedes-Benz. His NIL valuation crossed $5M+ (On3.com).
Quinn Ewers left high school early to sign a $1.4M deal with Ohio State.
Cam Ward went from the FCS to Power 5 with partnerships from Adidas, EA Sports, and Giorgio Armani.
But big money without big structure? That’s a trap. The only protection is systems.
HOW TO GO BROKE
Let’s be real. You know this guy:
- $400K NIL deal, no game plan
- $150K car, no garage
- Five friends living off his name
- $30K Cuban link
- $0 in real assets
By year two? Stats fall. Brands go silent. No structure. No legacy.
He touched half a mil. And kept none of it.
SPEND IT VS. STRUCTURE IT
| What You Spent It On | What It Could've Built |
|---|---|
| $20K Vegas Weekend | Funded $75K in PLI liquidity |
| $8K Designer Belt Rotation | Legal setup for a Family Trust |
| $100K G-Wagon Lease | Rental duplex w/ $1,800 monthly income |
| $30K Cuban Link | High-yield index fund worth $60K in 10 years |
| $10K Club Flights | Speaking tour at wealth summits |
Structure > Splurge. Every time.
THE BAG VS. THE BLUEPRINT
The Performer:
- Got paid
- Fed the crowd
- Went broke when the lights went out
The Architect:
- Funded a PLI
- Seeded a trust
- Gained leverage that outlived his jersey
WHAT $500K CAN BECOME
You earn $500K in NIL over two years.
Option 1: Spend it
- $120K car
- $40K fits
- $60K rent
- $50K travel
- $80K “helping friends”
- $50K failed business
- $100K taxes
💸 Net worth at 25? $0
Option 2: Structure it
- $150K into Whole Life → $90K borrowable in 5 years
- $100K in a trust-seeded brokerage → ~$215K in 10 years
- $100K property → $1,500/mo passive
- $25K parent PLI → Generational protection
- $50K tax buffer
💼 Net worth at 25? 7 figures (with systemized control)
FROM HIGHLIGHT TO HOLDINGS
You were taught to perform.
You were never taught to own.
That ends here.
RICH FOREVER isn’t a mindset.
It’s a mechanism.
Because the real flex isn’t just the bag — it’s the vault that holds it.
LOST ATHLETE WEALTH
Where policy ownership is the only stat that matters.
Move Quiet. Move First. Rich Forever.
Jaron Baston
