The new NFL? Nourishing Family Life. How a former football family makes the most of every play. Focused on protecting the littlest football players from concussions.
I made this blog because a photo of my husband and I has gone viral on the internet. I wanted to share the story behind the photo for the hundreds...
Diane Van Deren
Diane Van Deren suffered from constant seizures due to epilepsy. Before sensing a ‘premonition’ of a seizure, she would...
Biirdie - Who Were You Thinkin’ Of?
This vid is from when Biirdie appeared on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic with Nic Harcourt. Look at me go...
Introducing Tumble Tree! ~ Check out this thing I made that lets you see how posts are reblogged across Tumblr. It works on the...
I take what I want.
Fresh nomz!
Photo via GATO
Interview with Erin Brown and Brad Rosen, the Charmer Foundation…
Founded in 2010 by...
25 posts tagged nfl
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This is exactly the scenario that keeps me motivated to protect the littlest football players… and pray that my husband’s 10 year NFL career won’t yield the same result.
“Perfetto knows struggle. She watched her husband slowly degenerate from a fit, energetic high school football coach in his early 50s to a dementia ward resident who couldn’t walk, write or bathe himself. Who could only eat his favorite apple cinnamon doughnuts if they were first mashed up. When Ralph died last year at age 69, he had dropped from 225 pounds to 140 pounds; a scientist who examined his brain said it had shrunk to the approximate size of a 1-year-old’s. He was posthumously diagnosed with CTE and Alzheimer’s.”
”
Amazing demo to educate by @drinkart with @3fatguys @playerengage @iceculinary @tonymoll #nfl #education (at The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE))
FINANCIAL ABCs
For:
Off the Field – Players Wives’ Association
August 10, 2012
Presented by:
Caralee Allsworth, CFP® & Lana Hock, CFP®,ChFC® & CDFA™
The Hoffman & Hock Group
A is for Athlete: In 2009 Sports Illustrated published an article
titled “How (and why) Athletes Go Broke”. The article states that 78% of former
NFL players have gone bankrupt within 2 years after retirement.
The Article Sites 4 Key Reasons:
1. The Lure of the Tangible – stocks, bonds, and other investments are
“invisible” and boring – inventions, nightclubs, car dealerships and Tshirt
companies have the advantage of the thrill of tangibility.
2. Misplaced Trust – athletes go through an extraordinary
metamorphosis of financial challenge. They most often have
attended college on a scholarship, then drafted – haven’t even
learned the basics of budgeting or keeping receipts. They make two
common mistakes – hiring the wrong people as advisers, and trusting
them far too much.
3. Family Matters – touchy subject, divorce, death, disability.
4. Great Expectations – of themselves and from others – Many people
around them expect help of money or jobs.
But a recent article (2012) from Fox Business quotes what we believe “NFL
players make the same kinds of financial mistakes regular people make” they live
beyond their means, become victim of Ponzi Schemes, and make risky
investments.
Here are a few more “Letters of Recommendation!”
B is for Budget: One reason for all those financial meltdowns is
that they spent too much money. The first step in creating a budget is to find out
where your money is going now. Spend Income, not principal. If you receive a
$1 Million dollar bonus, that is principal. If that 1 Million dollars ears $50,000,
that is income.
Q is for Quicken – financial software that can help you find out
where the money is going and help you monitor your progress in following your
budget.
C, F & P: No it is not the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
certification that Caralee and I both have. It stands for Comprehensive Financial
Plan. Every great financial outcome starts with a plan. We often say that you
must “plan for what you cannot predict.”
D is for Diversification. U is for the “Umbrella Story”. I won’t read
aloud the umbrella story, but it is a simplistic example of how diversification
works. Diversification helps reduce risk and volatility. It does not necessarily
increase return. Also attached is a chart with many colored blocks on it. Each
color represents a type of asset, and they are ordered each year from the top
performing asset class to the worst performer. Look at the chart and tell me
which class you think will be the top performer next! You can’t tell, and neither
can we! That’s why we diversify.
E is for Education. Your husbands’ probably spent zero for their
education. Unless your children are very talented and/or very smart it will cost
much much more. Start planning now. A 529 college saving plan may be a way
to start.
G is for Goal. Financial goals have $$ signs and specific dates. For
example: we need an income of $10,000 a month when we are 66 years old. NFL
families have a head start with the programs the NFL has for you but it won’t be
enough.
Houses & Mortgages. The SI article I mentioned at the onset
states that over-allocation to real estate is the number 1 problem. Buying a
house (or houses) is one of the most important financial decisions people make.
The financial/credit crisis of 2008 affected all of us. We recommend the goal of
NO mortgage by retirement. $1 Million mortgage results in almost $2 Million
paid with interest + ongoing maintenance. Treat is as an asset class with no more
that 10-15% of your total net worth in real estate.
I is for Inflation. Inflation is one of the biggest risks of all. Our
dollar loses value every day.
R is for Risk. There is no such thing as no risk. If it
sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Some investments are riskier than
others. Business opportunities – restaurants, franchises etc. fall into this
category. A good rule is to invest only what you can afford to lose and invest
only a percentage of your assets.
J is for “Just Say No”. Disreputable people see athletes’ money as
very easy to get to. How to handle “new people”, people in search of handouts
or who have a great investment idea – tend to stretch the definition of friends
and family. (The lure of the intangible) “fail proof/no downside”. Just say No!
K is for Keep it Simple. The financial industry is good at coming
up with all sorts of very complex investments vehicles. If you don’t understand
it, don’t do it. Plain vanilla is usually best.
L is for Liquidity. The phrase “Cash is King” sometimes refers to
liquidity. High net worth individuals tend to own more illiquid investments.
Private Placements/LPs
Restaurants
Collectibles
Real Estate
How quickly assets can be converted to cash determines your liquidity –
unforeseen situations may come up that require it. This supports the need for a
Comprehensive Financial Plan.
N is for Noise. Investment headlines sell newspapers. Whoever
shouts the loudest (ala Jerry Cramer) makes the biggest story. We have so many
24/7 investment channels – it is important to remember that CNBC is in the
entertainment business, not the financial advisory business. We have become a
culture that looks for “defining moments” in everything that happens. Can you
think of some alarming words you’ve heard on TV about the markets? When the
stock market is in turmoil (for good or ill), investors need a strong filter to help
them make good decisions. Focus on your plan – and listen to the music
channel!
O is for Order. Is your life in order? Do you have a will? Are your
will and trust up to date? Are the beneficiaries of all the pension accounts
correct?
S is for Save. “Pay yourself first”
T is for Team. You will need more that one advisor. That team
will probably include a financial advisor, a lawyer and an accountant and possibly
more.
V is for Volatility. Cartoon – There is nothing that does not wiggle
up and down. Even cash loses value because of inflation.
This is one of my favorites –
W is for Women/Wives. As women,
we have unique financial strengths. We are able to plan longer-term. We seek
detailed information before making an investment. We admit when we’ve made
an investment mistake. We are much more likely to consult a professional.
Women are rising to the challenge – 60% of all the wealth in the US is controlled
by women – many are in charge of the household finances. Greater financial
engagement – 9 out of 10 women will be solely responsible for their finances at
some point – life expectancy. Building financial awareness and knowledge is a
critical success factor.
We are out of time…actually couldn’t think of anything for these
letters anyway.
Robert W. Baird & Co. Member SIPC. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect
against loss.
The Umbrella Story
Allen Smith has the opportunity to purchase shares in two businesses. The
first is a suntan lotion manufacturer (Tipper’s Sun Lotion) and the second
manufactures umbrellas (Liberman’s Umbrellas). Both businesses are
greatly affected by the weather. If it’s rainy, Liberman’s Umbrellas will
have a return of 25%, and Tipper’s Sun Lotion will lose 10%. If it’s sunny,
Liberman’s Umbrellas will lose 10% and Tipper’s Sun Lotion will have a
return of 25%.
Allen Smith expects half of the year to be rainy and the other half to be
sunny (obviously, he doesn’t live in Phoenix). If Allen buys Liberman’s
Umbrellas, he will have a return of 25% half the year and lose 10% for the
other half. On average, Allen will earn a return of 7.5%. If Mr. Smith buys
Tipper’s Sun Lotion he will also get an average return of 7.5 %, but the
timing of gains and losses will be reversed.
If Allen only buys shares in one of these businesses, and he proves to be a
poor weather psychic he is taking a risk. However, if he buys equal amounts
in both companies, come rain or come shine he will earn 25% on half of his
investment and lose 10% on the other half. Therefore, he eliminates the risk
and still has a net return of 7.5%.
DISCLAIMER: This is a hypothetical story intended to illustrate the value of
diversification.
Caralee Allsworth
Why Diversify? Because Winners Rotate.
Annual returns of key asset classes 1991 through 2011
Allocating your investments among diverse asset classes can help insulate your portfolio against
market fluctuations and underperformance in any single class.
Large Cap Core represented by S&P 500 Index; includes a representative sample of 500 leading companies in leading
industries of the U.S. economy. Large Cap Growth represented by Russell 1000® Growth Index; measures the
performance of those Russell 1000® companies with higher price to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.
Large Cap Value represented by Russell 1000® Value Index; measures the performance of those Russell 1000®
companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. Mid Cap represented by Russell Midcap®
Index; measures the performance of the 800 smallest companies of the Russell 1000® Index, which represent
approximately 25% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000® Index. Small Cap Core represented by Russell
2000® Index; measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represent
approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. Small Cap Growth represented by Russell
2000® Growth Index; measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and
higher forecasted growth values. Small Cap Value represented by Russell 2000® Value Index; measures the performance
of those Russell 2000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. Fixed Income
represented by Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index, which is comprised of approximately 6,000 publicly traded bonds,
including U.S. Government, mortgage-backed, corporate, and Yankee bonds with an average maturity of approximately 10
years. Int’l is represented by The MSCI EAFE Index, which is an international index measuring market performance of 21
countries in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. Indices are unmanaged and are used to measure and report performance
of various sectors of the market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and diversification does not ensure
against loss. Direct investment in indices is not available. Equal Weight portfolio calculated by investing evenly (11.11%)
across all asset classes. The Russell Indices are a trademark of the Frank Russell Company. Russell® is a trademark of the
Frank Russell Company.
The last daughter of a football player I heard speak about concussions was an Ivy League grad and a specialist in CTE… Young women making an impact, educating others.
If my husband could have committed himself legally to football he would have put a ring on her at 14 years old. His love for the game is so pure & so instinctual. It is no wonder he excelled since he was four years old and had a laser focus for the 28 years that followed. No circumstance nor human relationship could fog his football vision... Until he had children.
So now we sit in a place where information and science have come to an intersection of accountability for us as parents when making the decision to enroll our kids in football.
Keeping in mind recent events:
It is hard to believe that anyone could claim ignorance when enrolling their little guy in pee wee football.
But for a moment let's go back to a time when these gruesome details were kept in the dark. A place our parents had the luxury of enjoying. Let's get swept along with the joy of the game (it is just a game, right?), playing blind optimist let's think of the benefits and opportunity of football...
$ Positive attributes of team sportsmanship & discipline
$$ College scholarships
$$$$ NFL contracts
These things that may or may not exist for the next generation of football player.
Now for the million dollar question: Do we let our son play football?
It is a question many of us face. Let us face it with eyes wide open.
Brain damage occurs with every collision in life, football player or not. Yes, this brain damage is in every ding, ever head hit: from falling off your feet, to falling off wheeled objects, to whip lash from car accidents. Based on the linked article we still don't know what damage has been sustained to former NFL players, but the odds look scary, let's pray our favorite players are not genetically predisposed to CTE or any other neurodegenerative disease. Because prayer is all that's left for anyone who has played in the NFL. Let's be real.
BUT, as a parent your question should be: What is the expected repeat frequency of head trauma in my child's sport? And is the well-defined risk worth the unknown reward?
If left to the beautiful, natural recovery of the human body, the brain will recover from reasonable trauma with proper rest. So we should not become obsessed with the occasional bonk, but we should become concerned by our choice to enroll our littlest ballers in a 45-90 pound pop warner division of tackle football.
What is the risk vs the reward of 4-11 year olds playing contact football? Yes, they may enjoy football the same way our kids enjoy eating every piece of candy from their Halloween bag. But is my job as a parent to make sure my child's (or my) enjoyment is kept sacred? No, my job as a parent is to do my very best to equip my children with healthy habits, discipline and most importantly for them to know they are loved, not just enjoyed.
My husband's ability and love for football has given us many opportunities and many challenges. Thankfully he didn't put a ring on football, he gave it to me. Knowing the risk, weighing the possible, and very elusive, rewards that football has to offer I will fight to keep my son OUT of football for as long as I possibly can... and yes, my husband supports this decision... for now.
#learnaboutCTE
For more about Off the Field www.OffTheFieldpwa.com or @OTFPWA on Twitter
There are not words to fully express the level of respect and admiration earned for Team Hodgins testimony tonight, the NFL’s (corporate) presence or the new Off the Field board. Each possessed a transparency and a professionalism that were awe inspiring.
Never have I been so humbled to be part of Off the Field than from what I experienced tonight.
#OTFinOC #community #impact
There’s something truly magical about the NFL draft. Like most things
associated with this most prosperous of sports organizations, there’s
nothing understated about it. Live from the Big Apple, fans around
the world are privileged to watch the future unfold for 250 or so of
the nation’s best collegiate football players. This is “The Beginning,”
the time sandwiched between potential and production, where
absolutely anything is possible.
This is the good part, ladies. Strike that – this is the GREAT part. And not
just for the players. Mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors,
dentists, barbers, plumbers –anyone who (accurately or not) counts
themselves among the inner circle of a new player’s posse – are all
treated to the vicarious thrill that comes with saying “I know that guy!”
And significant others? Not to worry. Even players not known for their
particularly generous nature always bestow a bauble or two among
the wives and/or girlfriends during this halcyon (meaning happy,
carefree and prosperous) time. The NFL Draft is Christmas in April,
baby! a tree decorated with 14 karat ornaments and icicles of
bling. Haaaa! (read with sarcasm)
Doing better by spending less… Here’s a proposed savings plan for rookies and league minimum guys & their families. I am not a financial expert & quite frankly I hope you are even more conservative and charitable with your money than I’ve illustrated.
Yeah, right. Boxing is brutal. So is football, yet the game is changing to pretend like it’s not.
When all the rules are in favor of the offense, is it any wonder that 2011 shows passing yards unmatched in NFL history? Let’s wait for the weather to change and all that passing goes out the window…. Well I guess we’ve resorted to domes. I remember back in the day when teams played in the snow and QB’s got rocked!!! #defensewinschampionships
It boggles my mind why all NFL teams don’t utilize wives & girlfriends in community service projects in every team city, every season. Ever since participating in the many volunteer opportunities created & offered by the Chiefs it seems like a fantastic way to serve the community and leverage a player’s name during the season. Kudos, Chiefs your CWO serves KC well!
If your stadium does not offer a family room, I highly recommend finding a stadium security officer in your section with a walkie-talkie. Introduce him or her to your children (& other wives kids). Tell them of your relation to a player. Kids love to roam the stadium (bigger kids usually, but maybe a sitter or older sibling takes a little guy for a walk). If they are wearing a cute: “Dad #30” jersey or just team gear, it is always better to have the right kind of eyes on them at all times (aka Stadium Security)!
A pro sports career is the ultimate high. Coming down from football, aka forced retirement, is a two year process. Prepare accordingly.
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