Better Call Sal(gado)
Rich Salgado has carved out a niche for himself by helping athletes protect their most valuable assets.
The basic principles of insurance are simple: You pay a premium to protect an asset in case something bad happens to it.
But what happens when the most valuable asset you own is your intangible athletic talent? In that case, you might want to call Rich Salgado, also known as “Big Daddy,” to pretty much everyone he meets.
Big Daddy is the owner of Coastal Advisors, LLC, a risk management firm that works with athletes from all professional sports leagues, as well as college athletes, executives, entertainers and other celebrities. Coastal boasts a current and past client list of more than 500 celebrities, such as Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Reggie Bush, Scott Gomez, Adam Schefter, Jay Glazer, Billy Jaffe, Doug Marrone, John Dorsey and Melissa Joan Hart, to name a few.
Big Daddy entered the insurance industry in 1996, with hockey players as his initial clients.
“It was just by chance that one weekend I came home from school, a neighbor was explaining to me what he was doing, and he asked me if I wanted to join,” said Big Daddy. “It was kind of random, actually. I was in the right place at the right time.”
A former football player for the Maryland Terrapins, Big Daddy understands, first-hand, how important it is for athletes to take care of themselves on and off the field. So, he created a new philosophy to find clients and work his way up in the industry: Instead of just being in the right place at the right time, Big Daddy deliberately put himself in the right place, all the time.
“In the beginning, I was everywhere,” explained Big Daddy. “When I tell you I went to every event, I did. NBA All-Star, MLB All-Star, NHL All-Star, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Senior Bowl, Combine. I wanted everyone to know who I was and what I did.”
“I was told growing up, ‘If you’re not proud of what you do, then you should be doing something else.’ To this day, that still holds true.”
Big Daddy never shies away from an opportunity branding or market himself because he believes everyone needs insurance, especially from someone they can trust to insure them properly.
“No matter what level you’re at as an athlete, you have insurance for cars, homes, businesses, death, loans, etc.,” proclaimed Big Daddy. “I do it all, so I have a large clientele where in the beginning it was probably 100 percent pro athletes, but now it’s probably more 65–35 in regard to sports and entertainment.”
“I meet so many people and everyone has an insurance need. Maybe not at the present time, but sometimes I’ll get a call three or four years down the road from someone I randomly met at a sporting event. Never know who you’re going to meet!”
Big Daddy knows that each client’s need is unique. He prides himself on educating his clients on why they have the need and then how he can help take care of that need in a proper fashion.
Coastal Advisors takes on all challenges in risk management for individual athletes, such as wills and trusts and health proxies, but the firm mostly focuses on estate planning, life insurance, disability insurance and career-ending insurance. Coastal also helps the athletes on the business side of risk management when they decide to open a business and hire employees.
“We make sure their health benefits are up to date and proper, there is insurance for the business and employees, as well as taking care of risks on that property, such as slip and falls,” explained Big Daddy. “It’s a one stop shop to make it as easy as possible for the athlete or entertainer, and it’s a unique process for each one to help them minimize their risks.”
Big Daddy found a niche, in an area of the industry that will always be needed, by taking advantage of every opportunity he had. With an extensive knowledge of the risk management industry and a rolodex of incredible celebrities, it’s easy to see that his hustle paid off.
And since we have Murphy’s Law, it would be smart for athletes and other entertainers to give Big Daddy a call, sooner rather than later.
Rich “Big Daddy” Salgado has been featured by NFL Network, Wall Street Journal, ESPN’s NFL Live, and more. You can also catch Big Daddy on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, where he has been Super Bowl Correspondent since 2009. Connect with Big Daddy on Facebook (personal and company), Twitter and Instagram.
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