In April 2012, I wrote an article about Birmingham, Michigan-based Compass Management Group, LLC. The relatively young start-up founded by Daniel Sillman had already signed up sixteen prominent NFL and NBA clients and focused on being a full-service business management firm assisting athletes with private banking and bill pay, short and long term budgeting, oversight of investment and insurance services, accounting, tax planning and preparation and estate planning.
Fortunately for Sillman and his colleagues, Compass Management Group has only grown since the date that the aforementioned article was published. While in 2012 the company was almost entirely focused on servicing NFL clients, in 2013, it has expanded through the signing of a high-profile baseball and basketball client. Sillman and his team are proud to announce that they are now working on behalf of No. 9 overall NBA Draft pick Trey Burke and No. 11 overall MLB Draft pick Dominic Smith.
Burke is represented by his father and Alonzo Shavers for NBA contract negotiations. Smith’s agent is Danny Lozano of MVP Sports Group.
“I came to meet Dominic Smith and his family through a mutual business relationship in the sports marketing world,” explained Sillman. “Dominic is a somewhat atypical to most young baseball players because of his focus on the field, while still spending time to ensure he has the right team off the field. From his agent selection of Danny Lozano to his hiring of Compass Management Group, he has made it clear that he wants to engage the guidance of those with experience to help him on and off the field. His maturity is well beyond his years and that shows in all of his interviews and his focus on his craft.”
Sillman is not only looking to expand his company through the signing of new clientele. He is also bringing in fresh faces to support his rapidly expanding venture. One of those individuals is Jordan Dumars, the son of former NBA All-Star Joe Dumars and a former walk-on with the Michigan basketball program.
“I have learned through my experience not just as a student-athlete, but as someone who has seen the life mistakes that professional athletes make, that advice and guidance at a young age is critical,” said Jordan Dumars. “We provide unbiased and sensible advice to our clients at a time when they are thinking short term with all the trappings that come in. Our view is not for today, it is for all aspects of a long healthy and financially happy life they should lead, and that is our goal.”
Guidance at a young age is certainly critical, as Sillman and his team of young, fresh-faced workers can attest to. Sillman graduated from the University of Michigan – Stephan M. Ross School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 2010. He is advising professional athletes who are older and much bigger than he is. But age does not seem to be a factor for this young go-getter. His company is racking up new clients and attracting a lot of attention from those entrenched in the business of sports.
“We have had the opportunity to work with a unique group of high character professional athletes and their families,” acknowledged Sillman. “These athletes’ strong principles allow us to be successful in bringing our business experience to a younger generation. Dominic Smith and Trey Burke are prime examples of smart and socially conscious young athletes that parallel the philosophies of the Compass’ team.”
