Key Takeaways
- JPMorganChase forms a nine-member Athlete Council chaired by Dwyane Wade to advise on financial programs for athletes
- Nearly 65% of athletes report never receiving financial education in school, per the firm’s cited data
- The initiative targets more than 500,000 college, working and retired athletes across the country
- Chase already partners with Hudl and League One Volleyball (LOVB) as their designated financial education partner
- A new Athlete Center of Excellence and dedicated content hub at jpmorgan.com/ace support the broader rollout
Who Sits on the Council
The JPMorganChase Athlete Council includes Dwyane Wade (chair), Tom Brady, Sue Bird, Jalen Brunson, Ally Love, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Kayvon Thibodeaux and A’ja Wilson. The group spans the NBA, NFL, WNBA, soccer and fitness media.
Council members will meet periodically with JPMorganChase leaders to discuss the financial needs of athletes at different career stages and help shape programs around those needs. The inaugural meeting has already taken place.
The Financial Literacy Gap in Athletics
The data JPMorganChase cites underscores why the initiative exists. Less than 2% of NCAA college athletes go professional. Most pro athletes retire before age 35. Roughly one in six NFL players file for bankruptcy within 12 years of retiring.
Kristin Lemkau, CEO of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, said the firm wants to build a program “by athletes for athletes” that serves athletes regardless of income level, from college through professional careers and into retirement.
What the Program Includes Beyond the Council
The Athlete Council is one component of a larger financial education push. JPMorganChase also announced an Athlete Center of Excellence staffed by financial professionals with direct experience in the athlete space. The firm is rolling out education programming at universities and major sports events with curriculum built specifically for athletes.
A dedicated content hub is live at jpmorgan.com/ace with resources tailored to each phase of a sports career.
Chase is also the designated financial education partner for LOVB and Hudl, the sports tech platform that serves youth through college athletes. The firm recently became the official partner of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), with a focus on financial literacy for players and their families.
What This Means for the Youth Sports Industry
The Hudl and LOVB partnerships are the most relevant thread here for youth sports operators. Both deals position Chase as a financial education resource well before athletes reach the professional level.
Financial literacy remains one of the most underdeveloped support areas in youth and college athletics. With a dedicated content hub, university outreach and partnerships with platforms that touch millions of young athletes, JPMorganChase is building infrastructure that reaches deeper into the athlete pipeline than traditional wealth management programs.
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