Maria is a globally renowned, elite-level athlete, admired not only for her achievements but also for the way she conducts herself as a professional. With her sport commanding worldwide attention and significant prize money, Maria had achieved remarkable financial success at a young age.
Fully aware of the unpredictable nature of elite sports and the risk of sudden career disruption due to injury, Maria sought a comprehensive plan to ensure her wealth would be protected, invested wisely, and provide financial security long after her athletic career ends.
Maria was introduced to Lightbulb by a close professional connection, and she appointed the firm as her primary adviser and financial representative—responsible for coordinating her personal and business financial affairs globally.
Goals
- Protect and invest substantial prize earnings to ensure long-term financial security, regardless of the length of her sporting career.
- Establish an efficient tax residency aligned with her international travel and competition schedule.
- Build a diversified investment portfolio to generate ongoing income and capital growth.
- Secure lifestyle assets, including property, in stable and strategically located jurisdictions.
- Have a trusted adviser to manage, coordinate, and represent her interests in financial, legal, and commercial negotiations—including brand and sponsorship partnerships.
Recommendations
Through seamless collaboration between Lightbulb’s Wealth Planning Team, Specialist Services Division, and a global network of tax and legal professionals, we implemented a bespoke, multi-faceted strategy:
- Relocated tax residency to a favourable jurisdiction such as Dubai or Monaco, offering both geographic convenience for Maria’s competition calendar and a secure, low-tax environment.
- Worked with our Specialist Services Division to strategically acquire real estate in locations aligned with Maria’s lifestyle and long-term residency goals.
- Established multi-jurisdictional asset protection trusts to safeguard wealth across various legal systems and ensure long-term control over her assets.
- Created a structured investment process and dedicated investment vehicles focused on income-producing assets and capital growth opportunities—ensuring Maria’s lifestyle could be sustained long after her competitive years.
- Appointed Lightbulb as Maria’s primary financial representative, managing all aspects of her personal and financial affairs, including:
- Liaising with tax, legal, and investment professionals across jurisdictions.
- Coordinating deal structures for brand, sponsorship, and commercial partnerships
- Participating in key meetings as Maria’s trusted financial advocate.
Outcomes
- A comprehensive, global strategy that ensures Maria’s financial independence is protected and secured regardless of the duration of her athletic career.
- Full asset protection and tax structuring to preserve wealth and minimise exposure across jurisdictions.
- Well-diversified investment holdings that are now generating sustainable income and positioned for long-term growth.
- Lifestyle and property goals met with secure, strategically located assets in jurisdictions aligned with her travel and personal preferences.
- Peace of mind from having a single, highly trusted financial partner managing all financial affairs and representing her interests with integrity and professionalism.