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Sports March 18, 2026
Boardroom Staff
Boardroom Staff

Dwyane Wade, Sue Bird, Tom Brady, More Tapped for JPMorganChase’s Athlete Council

JPMorganChase launches the Athlete Council, bringing top athletes together to help design financial education and planning programs for players.

For many athletes, the thrill of competition comes with a hidden challenge: managing money in careers that can be thrillingly short and wildly unpredictable. Fewer than 2% of NCAA athletes make it to the professional level, and even those who do often retire before they turn 35. Yet, nearly two-thirds of athletes say they never received formal financial education in school. The consequences can be stark, as studies show roughly one in six NFL players files for bankruptcy within a dozen years of leaving the field.

Recognizing this gap, JPMorganChase is taking an innovative step to help athletes navigate every stage of their financial journey. The firm has launched the Athlete Council, a group of some of the world’s most accomplished sports figures who will work directly with JPMorganChase leaders to design programs tailored to the unique financial needs of athletes.

“An athlete’s career and earning power are unique,” said Kristin Lemkau, CEO of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. “Careers can be short and retirement unexpected. We want to develop a program by athletes for athletes to help them from college to professional sports to retirement.”

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The inaugural council reads like a who’s who of modern sports. At the helm is Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion and two-time Hall of Famer, who chairs the group with a mission to “pay it forward” to athletes navigating financial pitfalls he’s seen firsthand. Alongside him are Sue Bird, the Seattle Storm WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist; Tom Brady, seven-time Super Bowl champion; Jalen Brunson, Knicks All-Star guard and founder of the Second Round Foundation; Ally Love, Peloton instructor, TODAY contributor, and founder of Love Squad; Alex Morgan, two-time FIFA World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist; Megan Rapinoe, World Cup-winning winger and Olympic gold medalist; Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants edge rusher and founder of JREAM; and A’ja Wilson, four-time WNBA MVP and Las Vegas Aces champion. Together, they bring a mix of legendary experience and rising talent, offering insights across generations to help athletes navigate every stage of their financial journey.

“With finances, you don’t really want to make many mistakes. It’s way too hard to earn it, and it’s pretty easy to lose it,” Brady said Wednesday at JPMorganChase’s live event announcing the council. Fellow member Rapinoe echoed that sentiment, saying, “It’s yours. Whether you own it or not, somebody will. So, you can own it, or you can let them own it.”

“I think we all deeply care about the next generation of athletes, and leveling up what our experience was, no matter what that is. … I think we’re in an amazing time where we can marry an incredibly successful financial institution with an incredibly successful institution of people, players, and knowledge to really change what the next generation of sports really looks like,” Rapinoe continued.

The Athlete Council is part of a broader push by JPMorganChase to serve athletes in a holistic way. Initiatives include the Athlete Center of Excellence, staffed by financial professionals with firsthand experience in sports; outreach programs at universities and major sporting events; and a digital hub offering resources tailored to each stage of an athlete’s career. The goal is to meet athletes where they are — whether they’re rookies on campus or veterans preparing for retirement — with advice they can trust.

“I’m appreciative to be on this council, because it allows the youth to see your role models teach them things that we didn’t have. … Your decisions matter, and who you trust with your money matters,” said Wilson at the event.

From NBA courts to NFL fields and global soccer arenas, the Athlete Council is set to become a unique force, bridging the worlds of sport and finance. It’s a reminder that while athletic talent may win games, smart financial planning can win a lifetime of security and opportunity, on and off the field.

“Athletes face unique challenges and opportunities. Having the right educational resources and guidance is critical to making smart decisions about money as your career evolves. … The Council gives us the opportunity to share our experience and insights to help athletes build their financial knowledge and plan beyond their playing careers,” Wade said.

This article is presented in partnership with JPMorganChase. 

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Boardroom Staff