The Multi-Year Partnership Aims to Empower
Student-Athletes to Pursue Financial Goals
NEW
YORK, July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
Merrill Wealth Management and IMG Academy announced a three-year
partnership to offer more education and resources around financial
awareness to student-athletes and their families. The program aims
to provide actionable financial education to IMG Academy
student-athletes that can help them throughout their
student-athlete journey and in life.
"Athletes today are navigating an increasingly complex
financial landscape and are expected to make decisions at an early
age that can have a significant impact on their futures," said
Greg McGauley, Head of Merrill Private Wealth
Management, International and Institutional Groups.
"That is why this partnership with IMG Academy is so important and
timely. It offers students and their parents the education and
resources to help them make informed financial decisions now and in
the future."
Recognizing the growing need for financial advice and having
long-served clients in the sports industry, Merrill increased its
commitment three years ago through the introduction of a dedicated
Sports & Entertainment group. These advisors are well-versed in
the unique challenges that the sports industry presents, and work
with their sports clients to address these challenges. With the IMG
Academy partnership, Merrill advisors will provide specialized
personal financial education to IMG Academy student-athletes and
families through a curriculum that incorporates Bank of America's
free financial education resource, Better Money Habits, and
covering such topics as:
- Basic of savings and spending,
- Introduction to credit,
- General Investing information from Merrill, and more.
IMG Academy's intentional and unparalleled focus on holistic
personal development sets it apart from any other education brand
or institution in the world. It is the only prep school in the
world with a dedicated staff of more than 100 specialists focused
specifically on intentional personal development in the areas of
leadership, mental performance, nutrition, communication, and
sports science. IMG Academy across its boarding school and digital
products, NCSA College Recruiting and IMG Academy+, helps place
more than 30,000 student-athletes onto college athletic rosters
annually.
"Given the modern high school and collegiate student-athlete
landscape, it is becoming increasingly important to develop
financial literacy at a younger age," said Brent Richard, CEO of IMG Academy.
"Establishing a partnership that provides our
student-athletes and their families financial resources and
knowledge is another significant addition to our holistic education
curriculum, and only further increases the value of an IMG Academy
education."
The financial education program will be offered to students and
their families attending IMG Academy's onsite boarding school in
Bradenton, Fla., and through their
online program, IMG Academy+. The curriculum will go into effect
during the 2024/2025 academic year and will include educational
sessions, campus-wide assemblies, self-study materials, and an
opportunity for students and their families to meet with a Merrill
advisor one-on-one.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial
institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market
businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking,
investing, asset management and other financial and risk management
products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience
in the United States, serving
approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with
approximately 3,800 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000
ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking
with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of
America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and
investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset
classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and
individuals around the world. Bank of America offers
industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business
households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online
products and services. The company serves clients through
operations across the United
States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of
America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE: BAC).
IMG Academy
IMG Academy is the world's leading sports education brand,
providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes
to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG
Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes
through an innovative suite of on-campus and online
experiences:
- Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus
in Bradenton, Fla.
- Online coaching via the IMG Academy+ brand, with a
focus on personal development through the lens of sport and
performance.
- Online college recruiting, via the NCSA
brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a
network of 40,000 college coaches.
To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online
experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and
affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of
Bank of America Corporation.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also
referred to as "MLPF&S" or "Merrill") makes available certain
investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by
companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA
Corp."). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered
investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned
subsidiary of BofA Corp.
Investment products:
Are Not FDIC
Insured
|
Are Not Bank
Guaranteed
|
May Lose
Value
|
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements
and other important information, visit the Bank of America
newsroom. Click here to register for news email alerts.
Reporters may contact:
Julia Ehrenfeld, Bank of
America
Phone: 1.646.855.3267
julia.ehrenfeld@bofa.com
Mike Lovecchio, IMG Academy
Phone: 1.941.577.2961
mike.lovecchio@imgacademy.com
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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation