Before classes hit full speed, take 15 minutes and run a few smart money plays. It’s simple, it’s repeatable, and it can save you from the leading surprise I see with NIL and side income: taxes.

Play #1: Check your 2025 Tax Scoreboard

If you got paid from NIL, revenue sharing, camps, appearances, automobiles, side gigs or anything else that is worth value, there’s a good chance some of that income was 1099. That usually means taxes weren’t automatically withheld. As I have worked with athletic departments, this is something that most college athletes have been told to do, now that is it coming down to crunch time it is important to double check and make sure you are ready for this. Taxes for 2025 income are due April 15, 2026. In states like mine, you are likely to pay up to 25% of your income to Federal, State and Self Employment taxes. So if you are making 50k, this is around 12.5k of this that could go to taxes (not taking into account any deductions etc).

An important question to ask yourself is:Do I have my tax money set aside?
Part two of this is: Do I have ENOUGH tax money set aside?

If the answer is “I’m not sure,” don't stress as you’re not alone. The goal here isn’t to make you feel more stressed. The goal is to get you in a clear place of awareness, then take control of how you do this regularly.

A quick set of action steps you can take today:
- Estimate how much 1099/NIL income you earned in 2025
- Look at what you’ve saved for taxes
- Identify the gap (if there is one). If there is a gap, how will you be able to address this gap? This is why it is important to do this now, as you still have time to prepare here.

Play #2: Put a System in Place for 2026

You don’t need a finance degree to have a system in place that eliminates stress as you approach tax season. The biggest thing you need is a routine. Athletes win because they don’t rely on just motivation or showing up, they rely on reps. Money and personal finance works the same way. Just like every athlete on the field or court has a job to do for their team, every payment gets assigned jobs for your financial game plan before it gets spent.

The mindset shift here is simple:
Don’t ask, “Can I afford this?”
Instead Ask, “Did I assign my money first?” If the money is assigned, it will be ready for a purpose that you have thought through. Examples: Taxes, Agents, personal health treatments, dining out etc.

By setting a plan for your taxes and the rest of your finances, you are setting yourself up for less stress in the near term as well as abundant success beyond the field or court.

Want the TAX tracker?

If you want my Tax Check & Set-Aside Tracker, drop a comment or message me TAXPLAN and I’ll send it.

Disclaimer: This is not tax advice. Tax rules vary by state and individual situation. If you’re unsure, talk with a tax professional.