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Donald Kushner of DK Sports Financial Wants to be Athletes’ “Financial Coach”

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.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.