Pat Brown is a former Division I football player, team captain, and living proof that being a former athlete does not come with instructions, a timeline, or a guaranteed next step. He played at the University of Kansas, where preparation was expected, accountability was constant, and showing up unready was noticed immediately.
Serving as a team captain reinforced principles that carried well beyond the field. Be prepared. Be consistent. Take care of the people around you. Those lessons did not disappear when football ended, but the structure did.
After his playing career, Pat experienced what most former athletes face. One day your life is scheduled down to the minute. The next, no one is calling plays, no one is checking in, and the path forward is unclear. That transition became the foundation for his life’s work.
Instead of walking away from his athlete identity, Pat chose to translate it.
He is the founder of Former Student Athlete, a platform built to help former student athletes navigate life after sports with clarity, confidence, and practical guidance. Through long form content, education, workshops, and speaking, the platform focuses on what actually shows up after competition ends. Career transitions. Financial literacy. Identity shifts. Health. Relationships. Purpose. And the realization that “I used to play” is not a long term plan.
As the landscape of college athletics evolved, Pat expanded his work through dedicated financial literacy platforms:
www.financialliteracyfornil.com
www.financialliteracyforstudentathletes.com
www.parentsofstudentathletes.com
These platforms are designed to simplify complex financial concepts and help athletes and families understand income, taxes, contracts, and decision making before mistakes become expensive lessons.
To support that mission, Pat authored a series of financial literacy books built specifically for athletes and their families. The Financial Literacy for NIL collection includes:
Financial Literacy for NIL
Financial Literacy for NIL for Parents of Student Athletes
Financial Literacy for NIL for High School Student Athletes
Financial Literacy for NIL for International Student Athletes
Tax Literacy for NIL
Each book is written in plain language and designed to meet people where they are, whether they are earning income for the first time or helping guide someone through it.
He also created the Money101 series, a collection of sport-specific financial literacy books that translate financial concepts into the language athletes already understand.
FootballMoney101
BasketballMoney101
SoccerMoney101
TennisMoney101
CheerMoney101
DanceMoney101
BaseballMoney101
SoftballMoney101
LacrosseMoney101
WrestlingMoney101
GolfMoney101
GymnasticsMoney101
RowingMoney101
HockeyMoney101
TrackMoney101
VolleyballMoney101
Each book connects familiar athletic structure to real world financial decisions, helping athletes build confidence and clarity with money.
Professionally, Pat is a Wealth Manager with more than 20 years of experience in financial services. He holds advanced designations including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®), and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®). He has completed MBA coursework and continues to pursue additional education, including the CFP® certification. His work focuses on retirement planning, tax aware investment strategies, philanthropic planning, and financial education, particularly for individuals navigating transitions and nontraditional income paths.
Pat’s perspective lives at the intersection of athletics, finance, and education. He understands pressure. He understands performance. And he understands what it feels like when the season ends and the next step is not clearly defined.
As a former athlete, he speaks from experience. As an advisor and educator, he brings structure, clarity, and direction.
Today, Pat continues to write, teach, speak, and build platforms designed to help athletes and former athletes apply their competitive mindset to life beyond sports.
The end of a playing career is not the end of ambition, growth, or purpose. It is simply the start of a new season. And with the right guidance, former athletes can continue to win long after the final whistle.
