Why Student Athletes Need Financial Help With Their NIL Deals
The money moves to make before, during, and after signing an NIL deal.
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NIL University by Financial Footwork
NIL University by
Financial Footwork
NIL financial education for student-athletes. Real money skills for the athletes earning real money, from the team trusted by universities and pro organizations nationwide.
Our Clients
Universities We Serve
NIL Financial Education Built for Student-Athletes
NIL University by Financial Footwork is a financial education program for college athletes and the universities that support them, teaching the money skills the NIL and revenue-sharing era demands: managing earnings, understanding contracts and taxes, protecting personal brands, and building wealth that outlasts a college career. In the era of NIL, college athletes have unprecedented opportunities to monetize their personal brands. With those opportunities come real financial responsibilities, and most student-athletes have never been taught how to handle them. That’s the gap NIL University closes, through practical, hands-on financial wellness education delivered on campus and on demand.
Proven Impact
Inspiring College Students To Build
Financial Confidence & Success
16+
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Since 2017
Serving Athletic Organizations
650+
Performance-Focused Financial Programs Delivered Nationwide
NIL UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Programs Built for Student-Athletes
Every program is designed to build financial confidence and competence, with a special emphasis on the opportunities and challenges of NIL. Delivered on campus, in person and virtual, and tailored to your athletic department.
ON CAMPUS
In-Person Programs
Engaging workshops and seminars that empower college athletes to take control of their finances, focused on the key money skills NIL athletes need to know.
- Money management and budgeting with variable NIL income
- Personal credit and strong financial habits
- Taxes, 1099s, and W-9 basics for NIL deals
- Fraud protection and choosing a trusted financial team
Signature Program
TRANSITION TO THE PROS
The jump from college athletics to the pros is one of the most financially challenging periods in an athlete’s life. Created by Financial Footwork and led by NFL Money Coach Hillary Seiler, backed by 9+ seasons inside NFL and NBA organizations.
- Managing sudden income and first pro contracts
- Taxes, agents, and building a financial team
- Protecting wealth and identity from day one
- Built into draft prep, rookie onboarding, or exit programming
BUILT FOR YOUR PROGRAM
CUSTOM PROGRAMMING
A custom financial program built for your student-athletes, with a dedicated coach guiding the way and a plan that fits your team’s needs.
- Designed around your sports, rosters, and season
- Aligned with compliance and player development staff
- Scales from one team to your full student-athlete population
- Sets your athletes up to train their money for success
Not sure where to start? Book a strategy call and we will build the right program for your athletes
Preparing athletes for the next level? See how we support professional athletic organizations.
Book a Program Design Call
financial preparation
Students lack
Insight: Over half of undergraduates do not maintain a personal budget, leaving them vulnerable to overspending and financial stress. Teaching students how to create and follow a budget helps them track expenses, plan for goals, and develop stronger financial habits.
ON CAMPUS
In-Person Programs That Elevate
Your Student-Athletes
NIL University by Financial Footwork hosts engaging workshops and seminars that empower college athletes to take control of their finances. Each session is designed to build confidence and competence in financial literacy, with a special emphasis on the challenges and opportunities presented by NIL.
These are not lecture-hall talks. Sessions are live, interactive, and built around the real money decisions your athletes are making right now, from their first brand deal to their first tax bill.
Money management:
Budgeting and cash flow skills built for the variable income that comes with NIL deals.
Personal credit:
How credit works, how to build it, and how to protect it through college and beyond.
Taxes and NIL income:
1099s, W-9s, saving for taxes, and simple bookkeeping for brand deals.
Fraud protection and the right team:
How to spot scams, protect their identity, and choose trustworthy people to support their financial journey.
Every session meets your athletes where they are and moves them forward.
SIGNATURE PROGRAM
Transition to the Pros: From Student-Athlete to Pro Sports
The transition from college athletics to the pros is one of the most financially challenging periods in an athlete’s life. The Pro Athlete Transition Program, created by Financial Footwork and led by NFL Money Coach Hillary Seiler, equips your athletes with the tools and training they need to navigate that shift with confidence.
Backed by 9+ seasons inside NFL and NBA organizations, this program goes beyond basic financial literacy. It prepares athletes for what’s actually coming: the money, the pressure, and the people who show up when both arrive.
Sudden income:
How to manage a first pro contract without letting the first pro contract manage them.
Taxes and the financial team:
Understanding pro-level taxes and how to build and vet a trusted financial team.
Protection from day one:
Safeguarding wealth and identity before the spotlight makes them a target.
Fits your existing programming:
Integrates seamlessly into draft prep, rookie onboarding, or exit strategies.
Help your athletes build a strong financial foundation for life after college.
BUILT FOR YOUR PROGRAM
Custom Programming for Your Athletic Department
Every university has its own structure, culture, and priorities. That’s why we partner directly with athletic departments, NIL programs, and player development staff to build financial education around your athletes, not around a template. Whether you’re supporting one team or your entire student-athlete population, we design programming that integrates with the initiatives you already run.
With a dedicated coach guiding the way, your program takes shape around your calendar and your goals, from single-team workshops to full-scale development programming that runs across the athletic year.
Tailored by sport and season:
Content and scheduling built around each team's roster, competition calendar, and travel weeks.
Aligned with compliance:
We work with your compliance and player development staff so every session fits your school's policies and process.
Flexible formats:
Team sessions, workshops, and department-wide programming, in person or virtual, sized to your needs.
Measured and reported:
Pre- and post-assessments with aggregate reporting for your department. Individual student data stays private.
Let’s build something that works for your athletes and your program.
Financial stress
Financial stress in students
Insight: High levels of financial stress can negatively impact students’ academic performance, mental health, and long-term money habits. Providing targeted financial education and resources empowers students to manage money effectively, reduce stress, and build a strong foundation for financial independence.
Testimonials
Universities Agree: NIL University by Financial Footwork Is a Game Changer for Student-Athletes
Dr. Melissa Weinsz
Tiger Life Director of Student-Athlete Development LSU
“I was fortunate enough to meet Hillary in July of 2018 and quickly realized her expertise and approach was different in terms of being able to capture the attention of student-athletes and give them usable information in real time. Her knowledge of the subject matter is incredible, and her delivery is impeccable.
Furthermore, she has a great grasp of the ability to connect with student-athletes because of her experience and credibility with professional athletes. The real value is that this is not a one-off or “check-the-box” type program; there is real and sustainable learning, and she always has strong takeaways from each session that students can use immediately.
We have had very positive feedback both from student-athletes and staff and I highly recommend her work without hesitation. If you really want a program that is going to give your students real skills that they can use daily, this is the program for you. Financial literacy should be a requirement for all students and this program is a winner in all aspects. ”
Kimya Massey
Senior AAD for Student Development, OSU
“In 2019, when I was with the Cleveland Browns, I met Hillary Seiler, who came in to teach our rookie class about all things money. Over the years, we stayed connected as great friends and she always extended herself as a genuine resource.
Fast forward 6 years later, as I have stepped into my new role with Boise State Athletics, I made one phone call and she didn’t hesitate to come through and deliver! We partnered together to provide the “Blue Chip$” Financial Wellness Series, year-round education serving all of our teams on campus.”
Willie Wright
Student-Athlete Development, Boise State University
train Your Money with NIL University by FInancial Footwork
The NIL era rewards athletes who are prepared for it. Your athletes are already earning. The question is whether they’ve been equipped to keep what they earn, protect it, and build on it.
NIL University gives your department one partner for all of it: on-campus programs that build real money skills, a transition program that prepares athletes for the pros, and custom programming built around your teams, your season, and your compliance process.
Fill out the form and we’ll respond within one business day. Tell us about your athletes, and we’ll build the game plan together.
NIL RESOURCES
NIL Money Resources for Universities<br> & Student-Athletes
<p>From the Financial Footwork blog: the guides athletes, parents, and athletic departments read most.</p>
FAQs
FAQs: NIL University by Financial Footwork
What is NIL University and who is it for?
A finance education program built for college athletes and students. It covers real world money skills tied to NIL deals so athletes can manage income, protect their brand, and plan for life after college.
What NIL topics do you teach?
Budgeting with variable income, saving for taxes, 1099 and W-9 basics, simple bookkeeping, credit health, contract red flags, brand deal planning, and how to pick and work with a financial team.
How is the program delivered?
Live on site sessions, team workshops, and a 24/7 digital hub with videos, tools, and checklists. Virtual options are available for travel weeks and busy seasons.
Can you tailor it to our sport and compliance needs?
Yes. We customize by sport, season, and department priorities. We align with school policies and work with compliance and player development staff to fit your process.
How do we measure impact?
Pre and post assessments, hub usage, office hour attendance, and goal tracking. You get aggregate reports. Individual student data stays private.
Is this financial advising?
No. NIL University provides financial education, not financial advising. We don’t sell financial products, manage money, or take a cut of NIL deals. That’s why athletic departments and compliance offices can bring us in: athletes get unbiased education, and the university gets a partner with no conflicts.
“Hillary is an exceptionally intelligent and talented individual who prioritizes and deeply understands how to connect with people in a genuine way. Her main goal is to educate, but she indirectly provides a positive influence of motivation, connectivity, and autonomy for our LSU student-athletes as she guides them through the nuances of their financial fitness.
She and her team also provide assistance for our LSU athletics staff members as they progress and navigate their financial journeys. Hillary’s ability to appropriately cater educational content to anyone in the room speaks volumes to her desire to authentically connect with and support others. If anyone can make financial literacy fun, engaging, and relatable, it’s Hillary!”