Financial Life Lessons from Our Player of the Game Athletes

High school football under the lights is more than a game. Discipline, teamwork, sacrifice, and community come together every Friday night. At iWealth, we’ve long believed the lessons athletes learn on the field carry over into the rest of life, including financial decisions that can shape your future.

That’s why we started the Player of the Game program: to recognize standout athletes in Waseca and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (WEM), and to highlight the values that connect sports, life, and financial planning.

In our blog, we’ll explore what athletes, coaches, and mentors say about these lessons and how they can help build a stronger financial future with guidance from experienced Minnesota financial advisors who understand the unique challenges athletes and families face.

Why iWealth Started the Player of the Game Program

Brad Connors, CEO of iWealth, grew up on the football field. As a former lineman who knows the grit and commitment it takes, Brad created the Player of the Game program to shine a spotlight not just on quarterbacks or running backs, but also on linemen and unsung heroes who do much of the hard work.

Brad shared that he wanted to recognize the outstanding player each game, allowing him to showcase a player in WEM and Waseca each week and show that iWealth cares about student athletes and our community.

Over the years, the plaques have become treasured keepsakes, often displayed at graduation parties, and sometimes, in moments of loss, remembered at funerals. The program has become more than recognition; it’s a way to reinforce that effort and character matter long after the final whistle.

Commitment: A Lesson That Lasts

Brad Wendland, head coach of the Waseca Bluejays, said it best: “The biggest thing that extracurricular activities can teach you is commitment. You have to learn how to deal with others to work for the group’s betterment. This helps prepare for all life lessons, including financial ones”.

The discipline to show up for practice mirrors the discipline it takes to save consistently, stick to a budget, or build an investment strategy. Like players improve through repetition and accountability, you can improve your financial habits by committing to a plan constructed and guided by respected Minnesota financial advisors, like the iWealth team.

Goal-Setting: Sports and Financial Planning Go Hand-in-Hand

Sam Stier, head varsity coach of the WEM Buccaneers, draws a clear connection: “in sports, the long-term goal might be a championship, but the smaller short-term goals, like winning the week’s game or improving technique, get you there.”

Finances work the same way. Retirement, buying a home, or transferring wealth are the long-term “championships.” Short-term goals, such as building credit, contributing to a Roth IRA, or creating an emergency fund, are the building blocks to pursuing financial independence.

Stier explains, “In the world of finances, our long-term financial goals often need to be coupled with short-term goals that are strategically implemented.”

At iWealth, we encourage our clients, whether athletes, business owners, or retirees, to set both goals. With guidance from Minnesota financial advisors, those habits built early can translate into lifelong financial freedom.

Start Early, Stay Consistent

Both coaches emphasized a simple but powerful truth: start early. Success in sports doesn’t happen by accident. Athletes don’t wait until the first game to get in shape. They spend months in the weight room, on the practice field, and studying playbooks. That early preparation builds the strength, stamina, and confidence they need during the season.

Financial planning follows the same principle. Just as preseason training prepares athletes for peak performance, starting to save and invest early seeks to ensure long-term financial stability for you and your family.

As Coach Wendland noted, “I wish I had started preparing a financial plan earlier. It’s like preparing for the season, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”

Consistency is just as important. An athlete who trains sporadically won’t see the same results as one who shows up daily. Similarly, setting aside money regularly, even in small amounts, can compound into significant growth over time. Being disciplined, whether contributing to a retirement account, building an emergency fund, or funding college savings, can pay off later in life.

The lesson is clear: early preparation paired with steady commitment turns potential into performance, both in the field and your financial future.

The Role of Mentors: On the Field and in Finances

Athletes often credit their success to mentors who push them to stay disciplined and committed. In the financial world, the same is true.

Fiduciary financial advisors in Minnesota, like iWealth, can serve as mentors who help you and your family make confident decisions about saving, investing, tax planning strategies, and retirement. Just as a coach draws up the game plan, an advisor can provide the structure and accountability needed to keep your financial strategy moving forward.

Carrying Lessons Beyond the Game

Discipline. Focus. Respect.

These values can make a difference in the locker room and in life. As Wendland put it: “You can’t disrespectfully treat people and then suddenly be a great leader on the football field and in the locker room. It doesn’t work that way. The way you do one thing is the way you do everything”.

The same applies to finances. How you manage important details, like tax planning or monthly budgets, reflects the habits that drive larger financial freedom, such as strategies for building wealth and preparing for retirement that could last 30 years or longer.

iWealth’s Ongoing Commitment

Supporting the Player of the Game athletes isn’t just about sports; it’s about reinforcing the lessons that prepare them for adulthood.

Brad Connors reflects on his playing days, reminding his younger self: “Enjoy these days of practice with your football brothers. It’s not about wins/losses; it’s about the process of being part of something bigger than yourself.”

At iWealth, a strong financial plan is like preparing for the goal of a winning season. Athletes who are recognized as our Player of the Game didn’t get there by chance; they put in the time, stayed disciplined, and followed the guidance of their coaches. The same approach works when it comes to your money.

A rewarding financial plan starts early, builds consistently, and adapts as life changes. Whether you’re just beginning your career, raising a family, or preparing for retirement, our team of fiduciary financial advisors in Minnesota works with you to create a strategy that addresses every stage of your journey.

Our role is to help you stay focused, adjust when needed, and celebrate wins. With the right plan, you can apply the discipline athletes learn on the field to building lasting financial freedom.

Ready to learn more about our comprehensive financial planning services? Connect today.