By Brandyn Campbell, Player Engagement Insider
Patrick Kerney is lucky enough to have two careers that were his passions: First as a defensive end in the NFL and now working to support football players as they harness their financial futures. Currently the Director of Business Development with National Fire & Casualty Investments, his work represents his desire to work with football players to bolster their families, their finances, and their futures.
“With the right lifestyle management and investment advice, the average NFL player has the opportunity to turn their earnings into generational wealth because of the time value of money,” Kerney said.
The notion of generational wealth is a central theme at NFL Player Engagement’s Personal Finance Bootcamp, held from April 4-7 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It’s the idea of building prosperity beyond the scope of an individual to provide financial stability into a family’s future.
Disputes over finances are the leading cause of divorce in the U.S., but that can be avoided. “Winning the financial game promotes stability in the home,” Kerney said. “We want happy families. We want our alumni in good situations.
Kerney’s passion to promote healthy relationships stems from his own experience. “The NFL was an immense blessing to my family financially,” Kerney said. “When I was able to couple that with formal and informal education, it really turned into something special for me and my wife and our four children. It’s something that I want so many other members of our fraternity to experience.”
It’s important to Kerney that players know that financial failure is not a foregone conclusion. “For all the stories that are out there about guys going broke, there are a lot more about guys who have captured the opportunity,” Kerney said. “There are a lot more how to’s out there than how not to.”
How can players learn to translate their paychecks into a means of protection for their families’ futures? By tapping into what they know results in a “W” on the field: set a strong game plan, find a good coach, know the details and execute at the highest level.
In the end, Kerney’s passion is to help his NFL brothers achieve their full potential for themselves and their families. “Winning the financial game gives you long-term freedom so that our guys get to pursue a passion rather than a paycheck,” Kerney said. “That’s something that can become viral, and become a really positive thing for our entire fraternity.”