A Career in Sports is Temporary—But Wealth Can Be Forever

As a former professional skier with a two-decade-long career transitioning into real estate investing, I’ve made it my mission to help athletes take control of their financial future. For years, my world revolved around skiing. I trained relentlessly, competed at a high level, and traveled the world—all while getting paid to do what I loved. Financial planning? Investing? Those were for the corporate world, not for someone chasing their passion.

But reality hit me in my late 20s. A career in professional sports doesn’t last forever. Without a financial plan, many athletes struggle to maintain their lifestyle after retirement. The good news? With the right strategy, athletes can turn their earnings into long-term wealth.

I wasn’t making millions, and I certainly wasn’t earning enough to retire at 30. At some point, I had to ask myself: What happens when this chapter ends? What comes next?

For a long time, I had no clue. The thought of a "real job" felt completely foreign to me. I didn’t want to work in marketing for a ski brand or sell gear for the rest of my life. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to keep my independence and my freedom.

Discovering Real Estate Investing—By Accident

My first step into real estate investing wasn’t planned. It happened by chance. My girlfriend suggested renting out my apartment in Munich on Airbnb during Oktoberfest. I figured, why not? A few weeks later, I had earned six months’ worth of rent.

"That was a lightbulb moment."

For the first time, I saw money differently—not as something I had to actively work for, but as something that could work for me. Around the same time, I read Rich Dad Poor Dad—a book that completely changed how I viewed wealth. I went down the rabbit hole of financial education, reading everything I could about investing, real estate, and wealth-building.

I teamed up with my best friend Bene Mayr, another pro skier, and we started small—buying, renovating, and flipping condos. The same mindset, discipline, and competitive drive that helped us succeed in skiing helped us build a real estate business from the ground up.

Six years later, we had turned €20,000 into a small multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio.

The Biggest Financial Lesson I Wish I Had Learned Sooner

Looking back, I ask myself: What if I had started investing at 20?

Had I invested just $15,000 per year while I was skiing, even passively, my portfolio could have been worth over $1.5 million by now—without doing any of the active real estate work I did later.

Here’s what that could have looked like:

• 2004: I invest $15,000 in a real estate syndication deal.
• 2009: The financial crisis hits—but instead of panicking, I hold onto my investment and reinvest my gains.
• 2014: The market recovers, my investments grow, and my wealth starts compounding.
• 2024: After 20 years, assuming just a 12% average return, my portfolio is worth over $1.5 million.

And this scenario assumes I never got more aggressive with my investments, never leveraged financing, and never used my network to find even better deals.

Why Athletes Should Invest in Real Estate

Athletes have unique advantages when it comes to building wealth:

✔ High earning potential early in life – but those earnings won’t last forever.
✔ A disciplined, competitive mindset – perfect for long-term investing.
✔ A strong network – but most never leverage it for financial opportunities.

And yet, so many of us fall into the same traps:

❌ Spending instead of investing – When the paychecks are big, it’s easy to think they’ll never stop.
❌ No financial education – Schools don’t teach wealth-building, and athletes don’t learn it on their own.
❌ Short-term focus – Everything is about the next season, not the next 30 years.

I know these mistakes because I made them myself.

How Athletes Can Invest Without Giving Up Their Focus

Not every athlete wants to actively manage real estate investments like I did. But here’s the great part—you don’t have to.

By investing passively (as a Limited Partner in a real estate syndication), you can:

✔ Own real estate without managing it
✔ Earn passive income while focusing on your sport
✔ Benefit from real estate appreciation and tax advantages
✔ Build long-term wealth with minimal effort

Just like in sports, the key is surrounding yourself with the right people—finding trusted investment partners who know what they’re doing.

The Athlete’s Blueprint for Financial Security

🏆 1. Learn the Basics – Start with books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, listen to investing podcasts, and educate yourself on real estate.
🏆 2. Live Below Your Means – Just because you make six or seven figures now doesn’t mean you always will.
🏆 3. Start Investing Early – Even small amounts compound into big wealth over time.
🏆 4. Find the Right Investment Partners – Work with experienced real estate operators so you can invest passivelywhile focusing on your sport.
🏆 5. Think Long-Term – The goal isn’t quick cash—it’s building real financial freedom.

Final Thoughts: Your Career Ends, But Your Wealth Doesn’t Have To

When you’re in the middle of your athletic career, it feels like it will last forever. But the reality is, there’s a next chapter. The question is:

Will that next chapter be on your terms?

If I had started investing earlier, I would have had even more financial security when I transitioned out of skiing. And that’s what I want for other athletes—to avoid the mistakes I made and take control of their future now.

If you’re an athlete who wants to start investing in real estate the smart way, it doesn’t have to be complicated. The first step is simply getting in the right rooms with the right people.

Want to Learn More?

I’ve built Rockfish Capital to be a place where athletes and high performers can invest in real estate the right way—without the stress of managing properties.

📩 If you want to learn more about passive investing, join our investor portal.

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