If you are a regular reader of Sports Agent Blog, you have undoubtedly come across an article written by Donald Kushner at some point-in-time. Kushner, President of DK Sports Financial (http://www.dksportsfinancial.com/) in Scottsdale, Arizona, has contributed pieces concerning the concept of athletes “paying themselves first,” what athletes should do when they experience financial pain, the idea of athletes having a “financial coach,” and much more. In fact, Kushner prefers to be considered as a coach instead of being referenced as “President” of a company. When he meets athletes, he explains to them that they have a head coach with whatever team they play for, they have assistant coaches that focus on specific areas, they have a strength and conditioning coach to help them stay in game shape form, and they have a coach, who is their agent, for their contract. Kushner wants to be their financial coach – and he has had success in that specific role in the past.
The following contains some background information on Kushner:
- has 34 years of experience with major investment banking firms;
- has assistants consisting of those who place transactions, wire funds, open new accounts, and oversee legal and compliance;
- employs no-fee daily financial management of bill paying for clients;
- his financial plans encompass: a) Investment planning and management, b) College education analysis and funding, C) Expense and budget allocation, D) Life, Disability, and Long Term Care needs, E) Financial Independence analysis and implementation, F) Estate planning and funding, and G) Tax planning.
Unlike the other aforementioned “coaches,” when a player retires, it is rare for his head coach, strength and conditioning coach and often an agent to continue to contact the player continually for the rest of his life. Kushner’s creed is: “A relationship based upon the performance of investments is no relationship at all, and most ultimately end badly. But a relationship based upon faith and trust in a Financial Consultant can last forever.”
It is my pleasure to highlight those non-agent members of the “athlete business team” who truly care about the well-being of athletes. One of Kushner’s clients recently told him, “Thanks Don, really appreciate how much you look out for the guys…means the world to me!” And he has an impressive list of people that he has helped, including Aaron
Brooks, Pervis Ellison, Carl Landry, and many more.
