Adam Wolf- Financial Advisor, 1280 Financial Partners

10/15/2026

NIL: The Money Behind College Sports
Part 1 of 12 — Five Years Changed Everything

In 2021, college athletes were finally allowed to make money off their name, image, and likeness under NCAA rules. Not to toot my own horn, but I wrote a 10-page paper in my freshman HSS class detailing how and why all college athletes should receive a full scholarship. You’re welcome, everyone!

Five years later, the numbers are jaw dropping.

According to Opendorse, the estimated NIL market was $917 MILLION in its first year.

For the 2026-27 academic year? They're projecting $4.5 BILLION in total college athlete compensation.

That's nearly five times the original estimate.

Now, a lot has changed in how these athletes are being paid. Schools are sharing revenue directly with their athletes, endorsement deals are everywhere, and some college rosters have budgets that would've sounded ludicrous just a few years ago.

I've spent a lot of my life around professional sports, and I find this entire world fascinating. Sometimes I feel like I was born a decade too soon. The boys and I would have loved a simple hot chicken deal, but I digress.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to share some interesting facts about NIL, where the money is going, how it differs between schools and sports, and what happens to these athletes financially when their playing careers are over.

Because while everyone wants to talk about the quarterbacks making millions, I think some of the more interesting stories are about the athletes making a whole lot less.

I think some of these numbers might surprise you.

10/07/2026

Join NCYP for Financial Foundations: Things Every Young Professional Should Know, presented by Adam Wolf- Financial Advisor, 1280 Financial Partners and sponsored by Lord Abbett.

Learn practical tips to help you better understand your finances, make informed decisions, and build a stronger financial future—all in an easy-to-understand, interactive conversation.

🍹 Complimentary drinks & appetizers
🤝 Networking
📈 Financial tips + Q&A

📅 [Date]
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
📍Daly's Pub (back room)

Register today: https://business.greatersandusky.com/events/Details/ncyp-financial-future-mixer-1910428?sourceTypeId=Website

10/07/2026

The million dollar decade is something worth shouting from the mountain top.

Take two investors. Investor A starts at age 22. Invests for 10 years.
Then never contributes another dollar.

Investor B waits until age 32. Invests every year until retirement.

Who ends up with more?

Under reasonable long-term return assumptions, Investor A will finish ahead, even after contributing for only 10 years. Why?

Because compound interest values time more than almost anything else. At an 8% annual return, waiting just one decade can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

The hardest part of investing isn't picking the right fund. It's getting started.

Part 9 of my 9-part "The Roth Advantage" series

1280 Financial Partners

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09/25/2026

One of my favorite Roth IRA features has nothing to do with investing.

It’s about not being handcuffed later.

Traditional IRAs generally require you to begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) once you reach the applicable age—even if you don’t need the money.

Roth IRAs?

The original owner has no lifetime RMDs.

That means more control over when you take income, more flexibility in managing taxes throughout retirement, and additional estate planning opportunities.

Think about it this way:

You made good investment decisions for 30 or 40 years. Why put yourself in a position where those decisions could eventually limit your flexibility?

Sometimes tax planning isn’t about finding a loophole or chasing a clever strategy.

It’s about planning ahead so your future self isn’t handcuffed by decisions your younger self made.

Build flexibility while you have the opportunity.

Part 8 of my 9-part “The Roth Advantage” series

1280 Financial Partners

09/23/2026

You have to love the old adage: “The best ability is availability.”

I heard that countless times during my years in the bullpen. Turns out, the same idea applies to our investments.

One reason many people hesitate to invest in a Roth IRA: “What if I need the money?”

Here’s something many people don’t realize: The IRS generally allows you to withdraw your original Roth IRA contributions at any time without taxes or penalties.

That doesn’t mean you should treat your Roth like a savings account. The goal is still to leave that money invested for decades and let compounding do its job.

But sometimes, availability matters.

Sometimes you have to bring out the funky lefty for the third day in a row because you REALLY need a K against the big lefty in the middle of the lineup to finish the 7th.

Ideally? He stays in the bullpen. But it’s nice to know he’s available.

Part 7 of my 9-part “The Roth Advantage” series.

1280 Financial Partners

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09/18/2026

Who should consider a Roth IRA? There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

But Roth IRAs can be especially attractive for people who expect to be in a higher tax bracket later in life.

That often includes:
• Young professionals early in their careers
• Medical residents
• College athletes earning NIL income
• Teachers early in their careers
• Business owners in lower-income years
• Anyone temporarily in a lower tax bracket than they expect in the future

The question isn't: "Is a Roth better?"

The better question is: "Would I rather pay taxes on today's income or tomorrow's?"

That's where the planning begins.

Part 6 of my 9-part "The Roth Advantage" series

1280 Financial Partners

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09/16/2026

One of the biggest retirement myths I hear: "I already have a 401(k), so I can't contribute to a Roth IRA."

Not necessarily. Many people can contribute to both in the same year.

For 2026:

✔ 401(k): up to $24,500 (employee contribution limit)

✔ Roth IRA: up to $7,500 (if eligible under the income rules)

That's potentially $32,000 invested toward retirement in one year.

Pay some taxes now, pay some taxes later. Nobody can predict future tax rates. So why put all your retirement savings in one tax bucket?

Your workplace retirement plan and your personal retirement plan don't have to compete. They often work best together.

Part 5 of my 9-part "The Roth Advantage" series

1280 Financial Partners

09/10/2026

One of the most overlooked retirement planning opportunities is for stay-at-home spouses.

Many people assume that if you don't earn a paycheck, you can't save for retirement.
Not necessarily.

If a married couple files jointly and one spouse has enough earned income, each spouse may be able to contribute to their own IRA, provided they meet the applicable IRS requirements.

That means a stay-at-home parent can still build retirement savings in their OWN name.

It's a simple planning opportunity that many families never realize exists.

Part 4 of my 9-part "The Roth Advantage" series

09/08/2026

One of the best financial opportunities for today's college athletes isn't NIL... It's what they do with it.

Imagine an 18-year-old athlete earns $8,000 through NIL. Instead of spending every dollar, they invest $7,500 into a Roth IRA. Then they leave it alone.

That single contribution could grow well into six figures over a working lifetime, assuming long-term market growth.

Athletic careers may be short. The impact of smart financial decisions doesn't have to be.

Part 3 of my 9-part "The Roth Advantage" series