Six Figures at Sixteen: How NIL Turns Teen Athletes Into Business Owners Overnight

The notification lights up your phone: Your high school athlete just landed their first NIL deal. Six figures.

The family group chat explodes. Grandma is already spending the money. Your athlete posts a screenshot on Instagram, and within minutes, random "financial advisors" you've never heard of slide into the DMs.

Nobody mentions taxes. Nobody explains the content obligations buried on page seven. Nobody says the $500,000 deal is really closer to $300,000 after the IRS gets paid.

In this episode of BABES BALLS & BRANDS™, host Janet Moreira breaks down the reality of NIL: student-athletes aren't just athletes anymore. They're business owners, whether they're ready or not.

Joined by Dontay Wilson, Lead Advisor at Cothrine Financial and founder of Blueprint Money Management, this conversation exposes what actually determines whether NIL becomes generational wealth or a cautionary tale.

The Three Financial Pillars Every NIL Athlete Needs

Wilson structures every NIL conversation around three non-negotiables, whether the deal is $5,000 or $500,000:

Taxes: Earn money, owe money. Period. Federal taxes, state taxes, and self-employment taxes add up fast. Spend like you have $500K, and April will humble you.

Budgeting: Wilson teaches the 70/30 rule: save 70%, spend 30%. Athletes who track every dollar build wealth. Athletes who "figure it out later" watch their money disappear.

Vision: Is NIL lottery money or business capital? Without a purpose, the money goes to cars and clothes. With vision, it builds legacy.

Social Media Is the #1 Wealth Killer

Wilson doesn't sugarcoat it: clout chasing destroys more wealth than bad contracts. Instagram culture pressures teen athletes to look rich instead of building wealth. A $250K deal turns into an $80K car plus insurance, maintenance, and regret. All for likes that disappear in 72 hours.

Wilson's advice is direct: "Don't follow the trend, set your own trend. Just because you don't post it doesn't mean you don't have it."

Your Athlete Needs a Team Before Signing Anything  

Before a single NIL contract gets signed, Wilson says every family needs:

• A CPA to handle taxes,

• An attorney to catch contract traps, &

• A financial advisor who actually understands young earners.

His vetting advice is simple: ask what licenses they hold, how they're compensated, and what experience they have with athletes. If someone can't explain something simply, the family should not move forward.

Legacy Starts Now, Not Later

The biggest lie in NIL? "I'll deal with money later."

Wilson is clear: "Legacy doesn't start at age 30 or when they retire. It starts right now with the decisions they make at 16, 18, or even 21 years old."

Wilson practices what he preaches. His 16-year-old daughter has bills: rent, groceries, cell phone. She doesn't know the money goes straight into her college savings account. The lesson? Healthy financial habits start now, not later. Before signing any NIL deal, Wilson tells parents to ask two questions face-to-face: What's in it for you? And what's the catch? Then read the contract word for word. If you don't have time, hire someone who will.

Janet brings her dual perspective as a Board-Certified IP attorney and a mom navigating high school football recruiting in real time. This episode is for parents who want to protect their kids and athletes who don't want to fumble the bag.

Listen before the deal gets signed.

Take Action Today  

Financial literacy determines whether NIL deals change lives or create disasters. Janet Moreira brings her dual perspective as a Board Certified IP attorney and sports mom. Her conversation with Dontay Wilson covers how to teach teenagers financial responsibility, why giving young athletes controlled access builds trust, and the specific questions to ask before signing any NIL deal.

New episodes of BABES BALLS & BRANDS™ drop twice monthly on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you listen. The show delivers real talk for athletes, sports parents, and brands navigating NIL deals. Connect with the community and join sports parents learning how to protect their teen athletes while building generational wealth.

Follow BABES BALLS & BRANDS™  and Janet Moreira:

Website: BABESBALLSBRANDS.com | YouTube: @BabesBallsandBrands | Twitter/X: BABEBALLBRAND | Instagram: BABES.BALLS.BRANDS

Follow Janet Moreira:

LinkedIn: JanetMoreira | Instagram: TheNILAttorney | Instagram: TheJanetMoreira | YouTube: @TheNILAttorney | Caldera Law: Janet-Moreira | Book Free NIL Consultation: Janet Moreira

Follow Dontay Wilson:

LinkedIn: @Dontay-Wilson | Email: dontay@cotherineassociates.com