The basics

What is NIL?

NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness. It refers to a student-athlete's right to earn money from their own identity — through brand deals, sponsorships, social media partnerships, appearances, and more.

Why it matters financially

NIL income often arrives quickly, varies a lot from month to month, and comes with tax and planning responsibilities most first-time earners have never faced. A $10,000 deal is not $10,000 in spendable cash once taxes and irregular timing are accounted for.

What this Playbook does

The NIL Financial Playbook empowers student-athletes and anyone interested with the financial knowledge and understanding of NIL finance to make smarter decisions and build future success.

• Understand how NIL income works from a tax and cash-flow perspective
• Build simple systems to manage uneven income and reduce stress
• Learn foundational investing and long-term planning principles
• Spot scams and protect what you've built
• Know who belongs on your financial team and what they each do

This program is educational. It complements — and does not replace — agents, NIL collectives, tax professionals, or licensed advisors.

Start the free Playbook