Hillary Seiler joins us today to discuss the finances of athletes and NFL players. She shares her journey from personal financial struggles in college to building a career helping athletes, students, and employees improve their financial wellness. She shares how supporting friends who went pro in the NFL led her into creating financial literacy programs for professional teams, eventually expanding into universities and corporate America. She talks the lack of financial education for athletes, the misconceptions around their earnings, and the systems now in place to protect players from going broke. Today we discuss... 

• Hillary is a financial education coach who began working with pro athletes and later expanded to universities and corporate America.
• She was inspired by her own financial struggles during her mother’s illness, which gave her perspective on money management.
• The NFL now mandates financial education sessions for rookies and younger players to prevent bankruptcy and poor financial decisions.
• Many athletes face misconceptions about their earnings, with most NFL players earning far less than the public assumes.
• Financial downfall is often tied to lack of education, poor money management, divorce, and being targeted for bad investments.
• Hillary teaches athletes to evaluate deals by requiring full business plans and consulting financial advisors before investing.
• Support systems and career planning are critical to helping athletes adjust to life after sports and avoid identity loss.
• Studies show Olympic silver medalists often stay motivated while gold medalists can struggle with depression and identity loss after reaching the pinnacle.
• Professional athletes and military veterans face similar challenges when retiring, often losing their sense of purpose.
• There has been debate about requiring athletes to save in pensions or annuities, but concerns remain about limiting free will.
• The NFL and NBA encourage saving with strong 401k matching programs, but players cannot access funds until age 45.
• The Pro Athlete Community (PAC) helps retired athletes manage money and avoid financial pitfalls.
• Despite education programs, some athletes still make costly mistakes or fall for scams, learning lessons the hard way.

How to Build Financial Confidence: Real Steps to Take Control of Your Money

By Coach Hill

Why Financial Confidence Is a Game Changer

Let’s talk money…It can feel like a mystery sometimes. And when you’re unsure about something, what usually comes next? Avoidance, anxiety, and mistakes. That’s where financial confidence comes in. It’s not about being perfect or knowing all the answers. It’s about trusting yourself to make smart decisions, handle your money responsibly, and keep learning along the way.

Financial confidence is the foundation. It gives you the ability to say “I’ve got this” when unexpected bills hit, when you’re negotiating a raise, or when you’re figuring out how to invest for the first time. It helps you stay calm during uncertainty and focused on your long-term goals—even when life throws curveballs. The good news is that this confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, step by step, just like training for anything else in life.

Start with Small Wins

Confidence builds with action. Not giant, overwhelming leaps—but small, consistent wins. If you don’t know where to start, begin by tracking your money. Seriously. Write it down or use an app—whatever works for you. Just the act of paying attention to where your money is going gives you power over it.

Most people are shocked once they look at their actual numbers. Maybe you thought you were only spending $100 a week on eating out, and it’s actually $250. That knowledge is eye-opening, and it gives you the chance to make better choices.

Once you’ve got a handle on your spending, the next win is building a starter emergency fund. I’m not talking tens of thousands of dollars overnight. Start with $500. Then aim for $1,000. That little buffer is the difference between panicking and problem-solving when something unexpected comes up. Car repair? Covered. Medical bill? Less stressful. You feel in control—and that feeling fuels your next steps.

And here’s another win you can grab quickly: set up automatic savings. Whether it’s $10 a week or $200 a month, get it out of your checking account before you even see it. This is how you pay yourself first. It’s simple, but it creates a powerful habit that builds wealth over time without relying on willpower.

Let Your Money Work for You

Once you’ve got the basics handled, it’s time to put your money to work. One of the most important concepts to understand is compound growth. And it’s not complicated. You earn money on the money you’ve invested, and then you earn money on that money too. Over time, this turns small contributions into real results.

The biggest mistake I see people make is waiting. “I’ll invest when I make more.” “I’ll start saving when life settles down.” But time is your most valuable resource in the world of compounding. Even if you can only invest a little, starting now gives you a huge edge over someone who waits years before taking action.

And here’s the thing: you don’t need to invest in complicated stuff. Stick to what’s simple and steady. Pick a low-cost index fund or retirement account and stay consistent. It’s not about timing the market—it’s about time in the market. That’s where the confidence comes from. When you see your money grow—even slowly—you start to trust the process.

Don’t Rely on One Play

In football, if a team runs the same play over and over, what happens? The defense figures it out, and you get shut down. Same with your money. Putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. If you invest everything in one stock, one business, or one type of asset, you’re exposed. And if it goes sideways, your entire plan gets derailed.

That’s why we diversify. It just means spreading your money across different types of investments. A mix of stocks, bonds, maybe some real estate or retirement accounts. You don’t have to be a financial expert to do this. Tools like index funds or ETFs already give you a wide mix of investments in one spot.

Once a year, check in on your strategy. If things have shifted—maybe your income has changed, or your goals are different—adjust your setup. Diversification helps keep your money growing while giving you peace of mind. You sleep better knowing you’ve got a game plan that’s built for long-term success.

Keep Learning from Different Voices

You can’t build confidence if you’re only hearing one version of the story. That’s why it’s so important to learn from different people, different experiences, and different perspectives. I always encourage my clients to read a variety of financial books, listen to trusted podcasts, follow reputable educators, and—most importantly—ask questions.

If something doesn’t make sense to you, speak up. Say, “Explain that again,” or “Can you break that down?” Don’t sit in silence pretending you get it. That’s how people get taken advantage of. When you stay curious, you build knowledge. And knowledge builds confidence.

You also need to reflect on your own money story. What worked for you in the past? What didn’t? Are there patterns you keep repeating? The more self-awareness you develop, the more control you’ll have over your financial future.

And if you need structure to stay consistent, that’s where Financial Footwork comes in. It’s a hub I’ve built to help you train your money with practical tools and a coaching mindset. Think of it as your financial workout partner—there to guide you, challenge you, and keep you focused on the fundamentals.

Turn Mistakes into Momentum

Let’s talk about failure. Because it’s gonna happen. Every single person makes money mistakes. Maybe you overdrew your account. Maybe you bought something you couldn’t afford. Maybe you trusted the wrong financial advice. Welcome to the club.

The goal isn’t to never mess up. It’s to learn and adjust quickly. Ask yourself what really happened. Did you make an emotional decision? Did you not have all the information? Were you acting from fear or pressure?

Then move forward. Don’t let guilt stop your progress. You don’t need to be ashamed of your past—use it. Use it to build a smarter strategy next time. When you can look back at a mistake and say, “That won’t happen again,” you’re already winning.

Set Goals That Actually Mean Something

“Make more money” and “get rich” aren’t goals—they’re just vague ideas. Let’s get more specific. Financial confidence grows when you create real goals and crush them one by one.

Set a short-term goal like saving $1,000 or paying off a small credit card. That first win feels good and builds momentum. Then, set a mid-range goal, like saving for a down payment or contributing consistently to retirement. Finally, look at the big picture. Do you want financial independence? Do you want to retire early? Travel? Leave money to your kids?

Whatever it is, write it down. Break it into smaller steps and keep your eyes on the prize. Every time you hit a milestone, take a second to acknowledge that. That’s your confidence growing in real time.

Stay in Learning Mode

The financial world is always evolving. Inflation, new tools, changing markets—there’s a lot going on. So don’t check out after you learn the basics. Stay in learning mode.

That might mean attending a webinar, listening to a new podcast, reading an article every week, or connecting with others who are on a similar financial journey. The more you expose yourself to, the more prepared and confident you become.

When you commit to lifelong learning, your decisions start to reflect that wisdom. You stop chasing trends and start building wealth with intention.

You Don’t Have to Be an Expert. You Just Have to Start.

Here’s the truth: you’re not going to feel 100 percent ready. No one ever does. But confidence doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from doing.

Start where you are. Take one action today—track your spending, open a savings account, read something new about investing. And then tomorrow, take the next step. Financial confidence is built rep by rep, just like physical training.

You’ve got what it takes. Every pro was once a rookie. The most important thing you can do is get in the game.Let’s train your money like a pro.