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Topic: Financial Education

5 Essential Tips for Entertainers from a Leading Business Manager

Key Takeaways:

  • Navigate the unique financial challenges of the entertainment industry with a solid strategy tailored to your diverse income streams and career goals.
  • Master budgeting and maintain open communication with your business manager to create stability and prevent potential issues before they occur.
  • Prepare for financial unpredictability and leverage your brand strategically to maximize long-term success.

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In the entertainment industry, where the spotlight often shines brightly but unpredictably, managing your finances can feel like walking a tightrope. Whether you’re an actor, producer, director, or writer, the nature of your income is unique — often fluctuating with the ebb and flow of projects, endorsements, and creative ventures.

As you navigate this complex landscape, having a solid financial strategy becomes crucial. Here are top tips to help you maximize your earnings, plan for the future, and maintain financial stability:

1. Understand Your Income Streams

In today’s entertainment industry, your income is likely coming from multiple sources — acting gigs, endorsement deals, social media partnerships, and more. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of where your money is coming from and how it’s being managed.

Different income streams often involve different representatives, each focused on a specific aspect of your career. You might have an agent handling your film and TV roles, another for endorsements, and yet another for book deals or modeling contracts. This diversification offers incredible opportunities but also requires careful management. The first step in securing your financial future is knowing exactly who is managing each income stream and how those funds are being handled.

When you understand your income sources, you can better plan and project your financial future. This foresight is especially critical in an industry where income is not always consistent.

2. Master the Art of Budgeting

Unlike a traditional job where you receive a steady paycheck, your earnings can be unpredictable, often arriving in large sums at irregular intervals. This means budgeting is not just important — it’s essential for your financial well-being.

When a major payday comes in, it’s easy to feel flush with cash. But remember, that money often needs to last until your next project. A key part of effective budgeting is stretching your income to cover your expenses over an extended period so you can live comfortably between jobs. This might involve setting aside a portion for savings, investing in long-term financial goals, or simply making sure you have enough to cover day-to-day expenses without stress.

Effective budgeting also means being realistic about your spending. It’s tempting to see a million-dollar deal as a windfall, but after commissions, taxes, and other expenses, that sum shrinks significantly. Understanding the difference between gross and net income is vital, and a good business manager will help you navigate these waters so you can avoid overspending based on inflated expectations.

3. Prioritize Open Communication

Financial management in the entertainment industry isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust and communication. You’re not just hiring a business manager, you’re bringing on a team that should be in lockstep with you — understanding your goals, lifestyle, and the unique challenges of your career.

Open communication with your business manager through regular check-ins, updates, and transparent reporting will keep you on the same page so vital information doesn’t slip through the cracks. This is especially important when your financial situation changes — whether you’ve taken on a new project, invested in a new venture, or simply have questions about your spending.

A proactive approach to communication also means that your business manager should be alert to any potential financial issues before they become problems. For instance, if your spending starts to increase unexpectedly, it’s essential to address it immediately, adjusting your budget or planning for additional income sources to maintain financial balance.

4. Plan for the Unpredictable

In the entertainment industry, no two careers are alike, and neither are the financial challenges you’ll face. Whether it’s an unexpected tax bill, a dip in income, or a sudden opportunity that requires quick financial maneuvering, you need to be prepared for anything.

Your business manager should help you anticipate these challenges, providing guidance on everything from tax planning to estate management. Annual financial reviews are a great way to stay on top of your financial health, allowing you to adjust your plans as your career evolves.

For A-list talent with significant wealth, this planning might also include customized reporting and detailed management of a diverse portfolio — from real estate to investments in startups or other ventures. The goal is to keep you informed and confident in your financial decisions, no matter how complex your financial landscape may be.

5. Leverage Your Brand

Today’s entertainment landscape offers more opportunities than ever for you to build and leverage your brand. From creating your own content to partnering with brands, the potential for income is vast. However, with these opportunities comes the need for strategic management.

Whether you’re considering launching a product line, investing in a startup, or simply increasing your social media presence, your business manager should help you evaluate these opportunities so they align with your long-term financial goals. 

There is also a lot of equity to be found in authenticity today. Invest in and promote what you’re passionate about. This authenticity not only resonates with your audience but also increases the value of your brand.

Creating Financial Stability in the Entertainment Industry

Your career is unique. So are your financial needs. With the right guidance and a clear plan, you can navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry and focus on what you do best — creating and performing — knowing your financial future is secure.

How MGO Can Help

Our dedicated Entertainment, Sports, and Media team provides customized business management services to leading and up-and-coming talent in the entertainment industry. We work closely with you to stretch your earnings, plan for the future, and manage your diverse revenue streams.

Reach out to our team today to find out how our personalized approach can help align your financial goals with your lifestyle so you can focus on your craft.

5 Financial Pitfalls Athletes Can’t Afford to Ignore

Key Takeaways:

  • Athletes often face financial challenges despite lucrative careers due to mismanaging money or trusting the wrong people with their finances.
  • Common risks that threaten athletes’ wealth include entourages, unqualified gatekeepers, and financial short-sightedness.
  • Solutions to frequently seen financial pitfalls for pro athletes involve setting boundaries, seeking diverse advice, and adopting disciplined budgeting.

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It’s an all-too-common story: A talented athlete makes it to the big leagues and scores a life-changing payday only to watch their wealth slip away.

In some cases, it’s the result of overspending or poor financial planning. In other cases — like we recently saw with Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (you can read MGO Entertainment, Sports, and Media Industry Leader Tony Smalls‘ perspective on that situation in this ESPN article) — it’s trusting the wrong people with access to your finances.

The reason we see the same story play out time and again in the world of professional sports is simple: athletes aren’t trained to look out for red flags or be proactive about protecting their money.

But just as you would prepare for an opponent before a big game or match, you need to be aware of the potential financial pitfalls you may encounter as a professional athlete.

The Five Biggest Dangers to Athletes’ Wealth

The warning signs that an athlete’s wealth is about to take a turn for the worse are easy to spot – because it happens in predictable ways. Lack of experience and betrayals of trust are enough to take down all but the strongest financial foundations. The biggest keys are to understand it can happen to anyone, and take the simple steps to avoid these issues.

1. The Entourage

Friends from the neighborhood latch onto the athlete and live the celebrity life while being a persistent drain on finances and a source of bad ideas. The athlete has promised to “take them out of the neighborhood/poverty,” but forgets that before they can help anyone else, they need to put the oxygen mask on themselves first. 

What to do instead: You can turn this potential risk into an asset. Take your crew out of the neighborhood but set them up to thrive. Whether through responsible small business loans, or education and career training, you can rise up together. 

2. The Gatekeeper

Far too frequently, a long-time friend or family member lacking financial expertise assumes the role of “The Gatekeeper” for the athlete. This individual often makes ill-informed business choices and monopolizes access to the athlete, shielding their finances from scrutiny and preventing anyone from uncovering potential negative consequences. 

What to do instead: Instead of relying on a single gatekeeper, assemble a roundtable of advisors AND meet with them together, as often as you can. Especially as significant financial decisions are being made. Carefully evaluate those you entrust with financial matters, considering both their motivations and competency in making sound financial decisions. If either aspect is lacking, guide them toward improvement or seek out individuals with the necessary qualifications and integrity. 

3. The Tantrum

When finally rewarded for the work and discipline required to become a pro, many athletes go through a phase of feeling they deserve anything and everything. When advised not to buy luxury items such as jewelry or cars, the response often is “who the hell are you to tell me what I can or cannot buy!?” Increasingly disastrous financial decisions inevitably follow. 

What to do instead: This one is on you. No one will ever truly understand what you’ve endured to achieve success, but you also have to keep one foot on the ground and understand how quickly you could lose everything you’ve worked for. The best path forward is to implement a budget with room to enjoy what you’ve earned that also has controls in place to ensure you’re building an unshakeable foundation for the future. 

4. The YES Men

When someone in the athlete’s camp gets fired for not agreeing with a bad decision, the professionals hired to protect their client (like the agent, business manager, or lawyer) may mitigate any conflict with the athlete to avoid getting fired — becoming YES Men. They would rather ride out the impending financial storm rather than tell the athlete what he or she actually needs to hear. Once there are only YES men around, the end is almost certainly near. 

What to do instead: Understand how getting different points of view on financial matters helps avoid financial hazards. Get into the habit of asking your team: “What could go wrong with this financial move?” The final decision is always yours, but there is tremendous value in advisors who feel confident sharing financial knowledge and experience, even when you don’t want to hear what you need to hear. 

5. Financial Myopia

Athletes can have a defective vision of their financial future. The average career span in the NFL is 3.3 years. In the NBA, it’s 4.5 years. The NHL is 5 years. And MLB is 5.6 years. Sure, pro players may earn a lot of money. But after paying agent’s fees, taxes, and shelling out for a luxury lifestyle, there isn’t much left to support the non-playing years. Some athletes may think they can pull off another miracle in overcoming all odds to maintain their lavish lifestyle, but the most common result is a broke athlete. 

What to do instead: Budgeting and planning are the keys here. Just remember it isn’t a “one or the other” situation. With the right mindset and approach, you can still live (relatively) large, while putting away enough to secure a future for yourself and your family. It just takes some self-control and a willingness to make the right decisions. 

Overcoming Financial Obstacles by Building a Winning Team

Many athletes come into a level of money at a young age that no one is truly prepared to handle. Lack of experience and betrayals of trust are enough to take down even the strongest financial foundations. This is why it is essential to choose a winning financial team. 

Too often, athletes split responsibilities between team members (frequently friends and family members), allowing them to operate in silos without any oversight. This sets the stage for financial trouble down the line. Instead, you need to build a team of professionals who work together, so you always have a system of checks and balances in place. 

Remember, true baller status comes when an athlete can live like a king for a lifetime, not just a couple years. When you build a trusted team, establish a plan, and follow it through, you can live comfortably long after your playing days are over. 

How we can help:

With more than 30 years of experience working with athletes, actors, and music artists, our dedicated Entertainment, Sports, and Media team understands the unique financial challenges you face. Our team will help you build a financial foundation to achieve your goals both now and in the future. Reach out to us today to learn more.