Insurance Mistakes
Most families find out about the gaps after something goes wrong.
These are the conversations I have had with families who came to me after the fact — and the ones I want to have with your family before anything happens. Read this page before the next season starts.
Here is what most families do not know about their athlete's coverage.
When I ask parents what their athlete's life is covered for, most say the school handles it. Here is what the school actually provides on average.
$10,000
Average university accidental death policy per athlete
$25,000
NCAA accidental death benefit coverage
Total coverage without a private policy: $35,000
"My grandson is a freshman offensive lineman at Indiana University. After speaking with Marty and his team, he told us the truth about insurance coverage and they helped us put a generational wealth plan in place for his future."
Greg W., grandparent of a Division I athlete
The Six Most Common Mistakes
What families get wrong — and how to fix it before it costs you.
01
Assuming the school's coverage is enough
The most common and most costly assumption. Families hear "the school covers it" and stop asking questions. The numbers above are the reality. Thirty five thousand dollars does not replace an income, cover a family's financial obligations, or come close to reflecting what an athlete's life is actually worth.
"Your brand and your athlete's protection is your responsibility — not theirs."
— Marty McNair
What to do: A private life insurance policy structured around your athlete's age and health can provide real coverage for far less than most families expect. This conversation takes thirty minutes.
02
No Disability and Critical Injury Coverage
Life insurance protects against the worst. But what about a torn ACL the week before the NFL Draft? A shoulder injury that changes a career trajectory overnight? Disability and Critical Injury coverage pays a cash benefit when career threatening injuries happen — whether or not the athlete returns to play. Coverage amounts are based on the athlete's current earning potential and eligibility. What is consistent are the injury triggers that qualify.
Common injury triggers
Highest priority
Torn ACL
Torn Achilles Tendon
Torn Patellar Tendon
Torn Rotator Cuff
Torn UCL — "Tommy John"
Knee or Ankle Dislocation
Heart Attack · Cancer
Significant injuries
Torn Pec, Biceps, or Hamstring
Torn Quadriceps or Adductor
Herniated Disc requiring surgery
Lisfranc Joint Fracture
Fractured Femur or Tibia
Dislocated Shoulder or Elbow
Surgical fractures
Fractured Clavicle, Hand, or Wrist
Fractured Humerus or Fibula
Torn MCL, PCL, or Ankle Ligament
Fractured Metatarsal
Coverage is 24 hour and worldwide. Qualification and benefit amounts are determined by the athlete's earning potential at the time of application. Coverage must be secured before an injury occurs — not after.
What to do: Contact us before the next season starts. We determine eligibility, structure the right coverage, and make sure your athlete is protected while the window is still open.
03
Waiting until the career is over to think about retirement
The average professional athletic career lasts three to five years. Many end before age 30. Most athletes have no retirement structure in place because they assumed there would be time to figure it out later. There is not. The window to build tax advantaged wealth is open right now — during the NIL years, before the first professional contract, not after the last one.
What to do: Indexed strategies started during college can compound into meaningful retirement wealth long before most people think about saving. We build this into every plan from day one.
04
Treating NIL income like it will last forever
NIL income is tied to eligibility, performance, and brand value. Every one of those things is temporary. Families who spend NIL income without investing it find themselves back at zero when the eligibility window closes. Income without a structure underneath it is not wealth. It is just spending money with a deadline.
What to do: Every NIL dollar should be doing something. We build the structure that turns a four year window into a thirty year foundation.
05
No coverage on the parents
Families focus entirely on protecting the athlete and forget to protect the household that makes it all possible. If a parent passes away during an athlete's college career, the financial and emotional impact can derail everything the family has worked toward. The athlete is the asset. But the family is the foundation.
What to do: Family coverage is part of every plan we build. We protect the athlete and the people behind them.
06
Signing contracts without understanding them
NIL contracts are legal documents with real consequences. Exclusivity clauses, revenue share terms, image rights — families regularly sign agreements they do not fully understand, often at the urging of someone whose interests are not fully aligned with the family's. The other side of that table always has representation. Your family deserves the same.
What to do: Before any contract is signed, your family should understand exactly what is in it. That review is part of what we do — and it has saved families from agreements that would have cost them far more than they realized.
A Family Who Found Out in Time
The conversation that changed everything.
What We Didn't Know
My grandson is a freshman offensive lineman at Indiana University. After speaking with Marty and his team of trusted advisors about our current situation, he told us the truth about insurance coverage and they helped us put a generational wealth plan in place for my grandson's future. Thank you, Marty.
Greg W.
Grandparent of a freshman offensive lineman · Indiana University · Insurance coverage and generational wealth plan
What most families do not know
Average university accidental death policy
$10,000
NCAA accidental death benefit
$25,000
Total without a private policy
$35,000
Keep Learning
Read before you assume you are covered.
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The Best Time Is Before Something Happens
Do not wait for a gap to become a crisis.
Schedule a free 30 minute consultation. We will look honestly at what your family has in place and what needs to change before the next season starts.
"I protect your athletes on and off the field, and your families in life."
— Marty McNair
Free with every consultation
Schedule your call and receive a complimentary copy of Marty's book — The 5th Quarter: A Parent's Guide to Preparing Student Athletes for Life Beyond the Game
No commitment required. Available by phone or video.
(410) 870-9327 · [email protected]
McNair Legacy Solutions — Serving Athlete Families Since 2019
(410) 870-9327 · [email protected]
20 S Charles Street, Suite 403, Baltimore, MD 21201
Jordan's name is in the law. His legacy is in the work.
Licensed in Maryland, Virginia & Washington D.C. Working with athlete families nationwide through our affiliate network. McNair Legacy Solutions provides insurance consulting services. For educational and informational purposes. McNair Legacy Solutions is not a licensed financial advisor.
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