Riccardo Stewart joins Zach “The Truth” Miller, Sam “The Mayor” Acho, and Jeff “The Professor” Locke to draw up the playbook behind becoming the CEO of your own career as an NFL player. With Brock Purdy’s path—from Arizona high school standout, to last pick in the draft, to signing a $265 million extension—as the backdrop, the team unpacks what really drives value for pro athletes: performance, preparation, grit through setbacks, and knowing exactly who belongs in your circle. The conversation lays bare how discipline on and off the field, combined with relentless self-belief, is the foundation for maximizing long-term value and setting up a winning legacy.

Key Highlights:
• Why every athlete needs to run the business of themselves—not just play in the business of the NFL.
• Brock Purdy’s journey: overlooked and underestimated, but methodically building value through adversity, belief, and execution.
• The power of intellectual capital: seeing the whole field, staying prepared, and making the right decisions when the pressure’s highest.
• Grit forged in recovery and rejection: how setbacks and unseen effort fuel future contracts.
• How contract structure impacts long-term value: rookie wage scale, forms of guaranteed money, skill cap, injury clauses, timing, and the true meaning of “extension.”
• Why maximizing value means keeping your circle small and choosing partners carefully both on and off the field.

References:
• Brock Purdy contract extension: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45167784/san-francisco-brock-purdy-new-contract-extension-mr-irrelevant-big-expectations
• Shark Tank (ABC), as a metaphor for realizing value and investment: https://abc.com/show/535e2b07-18a9-4d94-9803-9ed8257b9d23
• Text in your questions: 602-989-5022

In this episode of the AWM NFL Podcast, host Riccardo Stewart is joined by Sam Acho, Zach Miller, and Jeff Locke to break down “The Three I’s” of athlete financial strategy: independent, integrated, and individualized advice. Pulling from real scenarios and the unique demands facing today’s NFL players, the team spells out what it means to have your Family Office working exclusively for you the AWM Way. This episode offers athletes and their families a direct look into the non-negotiables for effective wealth management—clarifying why every financial decision should be intentional, coordinated, and tailored to your future.

Key Highlights
• What makes advice truly independent, and how the AWM Way ensures your Family Office always puts your interests first—never those of shareholders or public company profit mandates.
• Why integration is essential—illustrated by a real-world example where lack of coordination cost millions in unnecessary taxes—and how AWM builds cohesion across your tax, investment, estate, and philanthropic strategies.
• The risk of “siloed” advisors and menu-limited investment choices, and what it takes to unify your entire financial team around your unique needs.
• How individualized planning supports every aspect of your financial life—delivering strategy and solutions based exclusively on your goals, opportunities, and family priorities.
• Practical steps to help NFL athletes and their families demand better, more aligned solutions from their advisory teams.

References
• Discover the AWM Way and Family Office Services at awmcap.com
• Listen to AWM Insights™: athletefamilyoffice.com/podcasts

In this episode of the NFL Players' Podcast by AWM Insights, host Riccardo Stewart is joined by Zach Miller, Jeff Locke, and Sam Acho to explore the various financial advising options available for NFL players. The team discusses the different types of financial advisors and the benefits of a family office tailored for athletes. This episode is a must-listen for players looking to effectively manage and grow their wealth. The discussion contrasts traditional financial advisories with more specialized, athlete-centered solutions, offering valuable insights for making informed decisions.

Key Highlights:

• Understanding the different financial advisory options available to NFL players.
• Insight into the limitations of traditional financial advisors versus the specialized services of a family office.
• The importance of taxes and NFL benefits in comprehensive financial planning.
• Why the big banks' marketing strategies do not always equate to the best advice for athletes.
• Upcoming discussion on the role and benefits of a family office for NFL players.

Quotes:

• "You might have the biggest marketing budget in the world, but that doesn't mean you're best for me." – Sam Acho
• "It's not set up for an athlete to know about a failure or a missed opportunity that a company may have." – Sam Acho
• "Any advisor that's serious about giving financial advice is going to be a certified financial planner." – Zach Miller