Financial careers may have largely dried up on Wall Street, but a former professional football player has carved out a unique niche for himself advising other athletes on their future. An article this week in the Jacksonville Daily Record profiles Dave Widell, an NFL fourth-round draft pick in 1988 who played with four teams in his 11-year career. These days, Widell is a wealth management advisor with a prominent financial firm who plans to offer his services to college athletes preparing to enter the NFL draft. "I've had bad financial advice and agents that didn't do it right, and others who did. It's about gaining the confidence of the kids so they can ask the right questions about their future," Widell was quoted as saying. Few people have the unique life experiences or skill combination that will set them up for a career niche like Widell has established for himself. That said, financial advisors remain very much in demand, partially because the current uncertain climate means people need more advice than ever on how to manage their portfolios. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for financial advisors is expected to grow 37 percent in the coming years, much faster than the average.  |