E10: Learning Financial Strategies from 11-Year NBA Vet Anthony Tolliver

Beyond the Game: Wealth Mastery for Athletes

In this episode of Beyond the Game, Kris Benson and Alec Ogletree dive into a wide-ranging conversation with 11-year NBA veteran Anthony Tolliver about his journey to the NBA, managing expectations both on and off the court, and the financial strategies he employed during his playing career and beyond.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

[02:00] Dedication to basketball and daily practice

[07:58] The impact of expectations on performance and personal growth

[16:00] From small-town Missouri to the NBA

[25:00] Developing a daily routine of improvement

[31:00] Investing in real estate early and often

[46:00] Choosing cash flow investments over traditional returns

[1:00:30] Learning valuable lessons from setbacks and mistakes

[1:12:00] Finding fulfillment through philanthropic work

Episode Highlights:

[07:58] The Impact of Expectations on Performance and Personal Growth

Anthony had intuitively developed this growth mentality from a very young age. He discussed always thinking ahead towards his future goals and recognizing the importance of small, daily efforts to steadily progress over time towards his dream of making the NBA through a process of self-directed learning and ownership of his development. From a young age, Anthony developed a daily routine of getting his shots up and working on his game for 20 minutes each day. He shares how this consistent practice built up over time through the 10,000 hour rule and helped him improve his skills.

[31:00] Investing in Real Estate and Maximizing Investment Returns

Anthony got started in real estate right after college with his first investment property and he has invested in some private businesses and deals over the years, including a highly successful currency trading portfolio. In recent years, he has shifted his investment focus more towards cash flow generating deals and opportunities that provide monthly or quarterly returns. Some of his alternative investments, like his highly successful currency trading portfolio, have significantly outperformed his traditional stock market investments in terms of returns. Anthony actively seeks out opportunities outside more conventional avenues in order to generate higher returns for his portfolio. It's an example of how he thinks unconventionally when it comes to maximizing his investment returns.

[1:00:30] Learning Valuable Lessons from Setbacks and Mistakes
Anthony shares the hardest financial lesson of his career when an investment in a friend's business went sour. As a result, he learned to improve on due diligence and bringing in outside help to manage opportunities going forward.

[1:12:00] Finding Fulfillment through Philanthropic Work
Anthony shares his involvement with the nonprofit organization World Serve International, where he is a board co-chair. Doing mission trips to Africa with his wife, Anthony stresses the importance of having a cause greater than himself to contribute to through initiatives focused on clean water, education, and community empowerment.

Resources Mentioned:

Anthony Tolliver's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATolliver44

Creighton University basketball: https://gocreighton.com/sports/mens-basketball

World Serve International nonprofit: https://www.worldserve.org/