Ben Askren Talks On Why MMA Athletes Fail To Plan For Retirement

Dad Saves America just lately had Ben Askren on thier present. Askren at a younger age discovered to plan for his future. He knew that his profession as a competitor in fight sports activities would come to an finish someday, so planning for retirement is essential.

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Within the video above, Ben Askren talks about how he needed to put together for post-MMA life and why retirement is so troublesome for athletes and what was on his thoughts going into his final battle.

“You understand what’s humorous is, so I used to be the president of the Scholar Athletic Council at Missouri of all of the athletes. And one of many issues we carried out once I was a senior was one thing known as the Complete Particular person Program…. Primarily it was establishing you might have dates on the calendar and it’s straightforward, proper. You practice for this date, you get this date, and then you definitely’re executed with that and then you definitely get the following date, possibly somewhat little bit of day without work, nevertheless it’s type of… You’re kinda on rails.

So then they get executed with their profession whether or not it’s a university profession or an Olympic profession after which they are saying, what do I do now?You understand, there’s nobody telling ’em like, hey, on November 18th you gotta be right here, you’re doing this factor, you realize?

I used to be simply speaking to one among my athletes who’s ending his school profession about that is like, you nearly can drown in alternative ’trigger you’re like, effectively, I can do that and I can do that and I can do this and I can do that and I can do that.

After which like, typically you’re drawn to all these issues so that you spend somewhat little bit of vitality on all of them, however then your efforts are cut up 5 methods. And now clearly in case your efforts are cut up 5 methods you’re not gonna be good at it. You’re far and wide, you realize. So, you choose a pair and then you definitely attempt some issues and also you say, do I actually like that? Do I not like that, you realize?

After which I suppose the opposite factor type of to tie in with that is I used to be an avid reader rising up and I noticed most athletes find yourself poor.

And that is the true, as a fighter and clearly we don’t make as a lot cash as an NBA or an NFL participant, however you understand, like so in my final battle I made, my final MMA battle I made $300,000, proper.

However like for me to do this once more. I don’t have a simple approach to make that a lot cash once more. Whereas the combating was like one battle, I present up, growth, examine, there you go.

However for these fighters, you realize, they get thus far the place, okay, they are saying, all proper I’m gonna retire. I’m executed with coaching, my physique’s beat up. So then they retire after which they understand like, wow, making that a lot cash in the actual world’s like actually onerous and I didn’t save sufficient.

And, you realize, for soccer gamers effectively if I made $5 million a yr, so I’m gonna overlook about taxes, however we’ll assume they pay their taxes, proper. And now, so I obtained to maintain three or no matter. And I spent three. And I purchased this large home and all these items. And now you gotta pay property taxes.

And so then, however then, you realize so that they’re used to now spending $3 million a yr after which now they haven’t any approach to make that a lot cash once more. And so now they’re like, oh my God. After which they’re compelled to return in, proper. Or they’re compelled to take one other battle.

And so, I believe that was one thing that was actually on my thoughts as I fought is I wanna have one thing I wish to do once I’m executed and I wish to be financially secure sufficient the place I’m by no means compelled to battle once more if I don’t wish to. You understand, and I believe that’s, you realize that’s a spot the place a variety of fighters and athletes find yourself.”

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.