Merrill Wealth Management and IMG Academy have announced a groundbreaking three-year partnership aimed at enhancing financial literacy among student-athletes and their families. This collaboration comes at a crucial time when young athletes face increasingly complex financial decisions that can significantly impact their futures.
Key Highlights:
- Comprehensive Financial Education:
- Curriculum based on Bank of America’s “Better Money Habits” resource
- Topics include basics of savings and spending, introduction to credit, and general investing information
- Tailored for Student-Athletes:
- Addresses unique financial challenges in the sports industry
- Leverages Merrill’s Sports & Entertainment group expertise
- Holistic Development Approach:
- Complements IMG Academy’s focus on personal development
- Adds to IMG’s existing programs in leadership, mental performance, nutrition, and sports science
- Wide-Reaching Impact:
- Available to IMG Academy’s onsite boarding school students in Bradenton, Fla.
- Extends to online students through IMG Academy+
- Potentially benefits over 30,000 student-athletes annually
- Implementation:
- Program starts in the 2024/2025 academic year
- Includes educational sessions, campus-wide assemblies, self-study materials, and one-on-one advisor meetings
- Expert Insights:
- Greg McGauley, Head of Merrill Private Wealth Management, International and Institutional Groups, emphasizes the program’s timeliness and importance
- Brent Richard, CEO of IMG Academy, highlights the value added to their holistic education curriculum
This partnership represents a significant step in preparing young athletes for financial success both during their athletic careers and beyond. By providing early access to financial education, Merrill and IMG Academy are setting a new standard in student-athlete development.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,800 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).
IMG Academy
IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:
- Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
- Online coaching via the IMG Academy+ brand, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance.
- Online college recruiting, via the NCSA brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a network of 40,000 college coaches.
To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.
via: PR Newswire
