At a glance
- Wale Ogunleye, UBS's head of sports and entertainment in New York, told the outlet that many arrive with businesses, investment portfolios, advisors and banking relationships already established at home.
- For an advisor to an international athlete, that means banking relationships that cannot be used in the US, assets denominated in foreign currencies and regulatory requirements that vary by jurisdiction, before any product conversation.
- UBS's athletes and entertainers group holds NFL Players Association approval to work with current and retired players, alongside Goldman Sachs, Bessemer Trust, Morgan Stanley and Bernstein Private Wealth.
The NBA opened its 2026–27 season with 125 international players from 43 countries on opening-night rosters, the sixth consecutive season above 120, InvestmentNews reported. Wale Ogunleye, UBS's head of sports and entertainment in New York, told the outlet that many arrive with businesses, investment portfolios, advisors and banking relationships already established at home.
For an advisor to an international athlete, that means banking relationships that cannot be used in the US, assets denominated in foreign currencies and regulatory requirements that vary by jurisdiction, before any product conversation.
Wale Ogunleye said the first window with a new client is where advisors make their most consequential mistake, treating onboarding as an account-opening exercise rather than the start of a long-term relationship.
UBS's athletes and entertainers group holds NFL Players Association approval to work with current and retired players, alongside Goldman Sachs, Bessemer Trust, Morgan Stanley and Bernstein Private Wealth.
Reported by the Practice management desk from InvestmentNews. Published . Corrections