Aussie Sports Stars Excelling in Financial Planning

Australia has a rich tapestry of sports legends who have transitioned into the world of financial advising. The AFL fraternity sees former Geelong Cats player, Michael Mansfield at Morgans, former Freemantle and Western Bulldogs player, Brad Wira at Shadforth; Rugby League sees former Broncos five-eighth, Shane Perry at Infocus; Rugby Union sees former International, Elton Flatley at Wealth Insurance Solutions (Centrepoint Alliance); Football sees former A-Leaguer Dylan MacAllister at Via Financial Group and Tennis sees former Australian player Dennis Maddern at Maddern Financial Advisers – to name a few.

We sat down with stalwarts - Olympic 400m hurdler and Paris-hopeful, Sarah Carli; former International Rugby player, Drew Hickey; and Rugby League International and Clive Churchill winner, Luke Priddis, to understand their journeys from the field to the finance world.

 

Sarah Carli - HLB Mann Judd

Sarah, competitor in the Tokyo Olympics and prospective contender for Paris 2024, was only two years ago recovering from a severed carotid artery in her neck, requiring emergency surgery using a vein from her thigh to repair it. If anyone knows the value of advice, it’s Sarah.

However, for Sarah, the leap from athletics to finance wasn't so disparate. Sarah stated, “the attributes she honed on the track - consistency, discipline, and routine - became her strengths in financial planning.”

She emphasises that just like in sports, it's the small, consistent habits in financial planning that lay the foundation for long-term success.

Sarah's foray into the finance industry happened almost serendipitously during her university days. Opting for a paraplanner role closer to home over a 3 hour commute, she discovered her passion for advising at HLB Mann Judd. Today, as she trains for the Paris Olympics, “she balances her athletics and financial career, crediting her firm's flexibility for making this possible.”

For Sarah, financial advising is more than crunching numbers, “it's the ability to set goals with her clients, work towards them, and celebrate those milestones – with her clients - that makes this job uniquely special.”

Drew Hickey – Zone Financial 

Drew Hickey has traversed the globe, from Australia to Japan to England for what some say is the “game they play in heaven”, Rugby Union. Drew's sporting acumen instilled in him a unique ability to “focus on what truly matters and block out the noise” - a trait invaluable in the complex world of finance.

He underscores the parallel skills between professional sports and financial advising, emphasising the discipline required in both fields. Drew highlighted, “financial advice is an area I was interested in, there is a great degree of complexity involved in this field, requiring discipline, focus, and collaboration to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients."

His transition was catalysed by witnessing fellow players grapple with the challenges of early wealth.

“Good financial advice set me on the path of stability, helping me transition out of sports seamlessly.”

Now, as an adviser, Drew finds joy in making a tangible difference in people's lives, ensuring they're equipped with the right financial strategies to achieve long term financial security.

Luke Priddis – Invest Blue 

In 2003, Luke Priddis held aloft the trophy as Penrith beat the Sydney Roosters 18-6 in the NRL Grand Final, and with it Luke was named man of the match (the Clive Churchill medallist).

For Luke, it's the “unwavering dedication and commitment” from his sporting days that he brings to financial planning. A recommendation during his younger years led him to recognise the dynamic nature of financial advice and its immense value.

As an adviser, Luke’s primary aim is to enhance people’s lives. Working in tandem with his foundation, the Luke Priddis Foundation, he believes in the “universality of financial advice, stressing that everyone, regardless of their earnings, can benefit from sound financial planning.”

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