Student-Athletes Benefit From Financial Literacy Week

LUBBOCK, Texas – Make a spending plan. Or a budget. Or even a spreadsheet.

A simple strategy in the eyes of 18 to 22 year old Texas Tech student-athletes can pay dividends over time, according to financial literacy coach Eric Smith, who was on the Texas Tech campus last week as part of a lectureship series through the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy.

Smith, one of the highest-producing commercial and real estate leaders in the Atlanta market the past 20 years, hosted three sessions for Texas Tech student-athletes and two for staff within the Texas Tech athletics department, providing insight and guidance on financial issues when entering the professional world.

"Having Eric Smith on campus last week was empowering," said Jessica Gray, the assistant director for community and character development in the Talkington Leadership Academy. "His presentation was beneficial not only for our student-athletes but for our staff members that attended the sessions. We are now informed and equipped to take control over our financial journey."

Smith's lectureship series covered the following areas over his three days in Lubbock: personal cash flow issues, credit management issues, financial goal setting, credit card issues, identity theft protection, bankruptcy related issues, mortgage questions and basic investment discussions.

As a financial literacy coach, Smith has consulted for business owners, politicians, developers and the residential contraction over his career where he has personally originated over $1.5 billion in real estate and commercial loans.

With an empire of success over his career, Smith's guidance to Texas Tech's student-athletes and coaches could accurately be described in one word – control.

"Control your money," Smith implored during his presentation. "How you handle small money translates to big money. Figure out what you're passionate about and the financial opportunities will find you."

As part of his series, Smith had presentations designed specifically for junior and senior student-athletes, illustrating his four principles of winning financially: saving, planning, spending and giving.

For seniors, he went further in depth, providing an outline for how to transition into a first job. His topics included comparing job offers from a financial perspective, understanding compensation and benefits, budgeting on a real salary, credit report issues and learning the meaning of various contribution plans.

"It was interesting to hear the different ways I can be saving," said junior women's track and field athlete Chinne Okoronkwo.

The financial literacy series is part of a year-long campaign through the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy to educate Texas Tech student-athletes with various life skills. The academy will begin its annual Suited for Success program later this week that is designed specifically for junior and senior student-athletes.

"It was interesting to hear the different ways I can be saving!" - Chinne Okoronkwo, Junior T&F @TexasTechTF @EksgroupEric

Check out highlights from our Junior session with Eric Smith! #FinancialLiteracy pic.twitter.com/FOJzo0OOhT
— Talkington Leadership Academy (@JTMTalkingtonLA) January 24, 2019

Texas Tech University Athletics

Student-Athletes Benefit From Financial Literacy Week

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