Former Stanford Receiver Advises College Athletes on NIL

Osiris St. Brown, a former Stanford wide receiver who works at RBC Wealth Management, advises college athletes who receive name, image and likeness (NIL) payments. He started his client list with brothers Amon‑Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown.

Amon‑Ra St. Brown signed a four‑year, $120 million NFL contract after several Pro Bowl seasons. Osiris says stories of athletes losing money or accepting poor advice motivated him to get licensed and enter wealth management. He added his brothers as his first clients when he joined RBC.

College rules now allow student‑athletes to be paid for endorsements and appearances. Some underclassmen, including freshmen, have received six‑figure NIL deals. St. Brown focuses on those athletes because many have not yet built a full advisory team, while most established NFL players already work with advisors.

He recruits prospects nationwide through social media and personal introductions. Referrals from coaches, trainers or mutual contacts often open initial conversations. St. Brown emphasizes spending time to learn an athlete’s background and financial needs, saying, “I felt like I understood, as a former athlete myself and being around so many athletes in my life, that I could do a good job of this.”

Planning for NIL clients differs from typical financial advice because athletic careers are often short and earnings can be uneven. Contracts can list large totals that are not fully guaranteed, so St. Brown centers plans on guaranteed income, short‑term savings and early investing. He notes many college athletes have scholarships and low student debt, which affects cash‑flow plans.

He prepares for cases where clients do not reach or sustain professional careers. Services include advisory meetings about next steps, introductions to potential employers and help with career transitions. St. Brown expects work with those clients to focus more on life planning and income replacement than on professional‑athlete wealth management.

Operational challenges include difficulty reaching younger clients, inconsistent communication habits and requests for money from friends and family. Those pressures can complicate budgeting and long‑term plans.

For advisors aiming to build a niche, St. Brown recommends evaluating personal networks and areas of genuine interest, then applying licenses and marketing to the contacts already in place. He views his sports background and family connections as the foundation for his current client base.