Patrick Mahomes will make $45 million this year leading the Kansas City Chiefs into Super Bowl LIX. That's about 900 times what the average American earns annually. But here's what makes football and finance interesting—success means more than the numbers on the paycheck.

When you look beyond the stadium lights of the NFL's biggest game, you'll find something that matters for every retirement plan: the extreme power of preparation mixed with the right strategy.

In Sport, as in Life: Planning is Everything

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Famed financial planner, Peter Mallouk, puts it perfectly: "Financial success rarely comes from your earning power – it comes from understanding what to do with what you earn." The proof is in the numbers: according to recent data, many NFL players (and other professional athletes) struggle financially within a few years of retirement, despite earning millions during their careers.

Let's explore what this means for your retirement playbook:

First, you need offensive strategies:

• Building multiple income streams (like how Gronk lives on his endorsement checks and invests the rest)
• Know the tax implications before making moves (like Mahomes structuring his deal to take up just 5.3% of the salary cap)
• Creating a realistic budget that lets your money work for you long-term

Then comes your defensive line:

• Protection against market downturns
• Insurance strategies that make sense for your situation
• Emergency funds that can handle life's unexpected blitzes

As Sportico reports, even teams worth billions like the Eagles ($6.75B) and Chiefs ($5.43B) focus heavily on steady, sustainable income rather than just big game revenues. Your retirement plan needs the same careful attention to regular season fundamentals.

‍Could You Retire on a QB Salary?

Let's have some fun with Mahomes' $45 million salary. After taxes and agent fees (roughly 45%), he pockets about $25 million yearly. Most financial planners recommend saving 15-20% of your income for retirement – but let's think bigger. If Mahomes put aside half his take-home pay, that's $12.5 million annually working toward retirement.With smart investing and compound growth (assuming a conservative 6% return), here's what retirement could look like:

‍1. $300,000 Monthly Living

• Private jet shares for global travel ($50k/month)
• Multiple vacation properties ($100k/month in maintenance and mortgages)
• Family foundation donations ($100k/month)
• Lifestyle expenses ($50k/month)

2. $200,000 Monthly Business Focus

• Angel investments in sports tech startups
• Commercial real estate portfolio
• Professional sports team minority ownership
• Personal living expenses

3. $100,000 Monthly Legacy Plan

• Generation-skipping trusts
• Private school funds for grandchildren
• Medical care fund for extended family
• Conservative lifestyle with major flexibility

But let's get real – most of us aren't signing $450 million contracts. The lesson here isn't about the size of the numbers; it's about having a game plan for whatever your numbers are.

‍Draw Up Your Retirement Play with Savvly

‍Think about your retirement like the Chiefs think about their Super Bowl strategy – you need more than just talent and resources. You need a system that works.That's where Savvly comes in. We've built something different: a market-driven pension that helps turn your retirement savings into reliable income. No complicated playbooks or excessive fees – just a powerful strategy for lasting results.

While Mahomes has Andy Reid calling plays, you've got Savvly helping design your financial future. Ready to start building your championship-caliber retirement? Join our waitlist today.