E16: Beyond Football: Cliff Avril’s Journey from NFL Star to Real Estate Investor

Get your game plan from a true Beyond the Game master!

Today, Kris Benson and Alec Ogletree sit down with former NFL star Cliff Avril to discuss his journey from football to real estate investing. Over the course of his career, Cliff learned valuable lessons about financial literacy, accountability, and team building - skills he now applies to growing his real estate business. 

Tune in to hear Cliff share lessons from the gridiron and insights into his multifamily and luxury spec home ventures.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

[02:35] Excuses are monuments of nothingness.

[08:42] The importance of financial literacy

[16:22] Translating your lessons and skills from football to business

[19:17] Paying for convenience

[28:50] Networking, ego, and time management for athletes and entrepreneurs

[36:05] Cliff’s real estate journey

[39:48] Understanding value add real estate investing

[44:35] Cliff’s business structure and diving into the luxury market

[51:41] Cliff Avril Family Foundation

 

Episode Highlights:

[02:37] Beyond Excuses: Achieving Success By Taking Accountability

Cliff lives by the quote: “Excuses are monuments of nothingness.” Those who specialize in them rarely amount to anything. People who rely on excuses to justify their shortcomings or lack of achievement will struggle to accomplish meaningful goals or have lasting success. The quote serves as a reminder to avoid complacency and instead focus our energy on finding solutions rather than making excuses.

[08:42] The Importance of Financial Literacy

When Cliff received his first signing bonus, he was surprised to learn through a conversation with his agent that most of the money went to taxes, a concept he had never been taught. This wake-up call drove Cliff's passion for educating himself and others on financial principles. He now ensures his own children understand these lessons from a young age to avoid the same surprises. Cliff's journey highlights just how critical financial literacy is, especially for athletes receiving large salaries.

[39:48] Understanding Value Add Real Estate Investing

Value add real estate investing is a strategy that focuses on renovating or redeveloping properties in order to increase their value beyond typical market appreciation. Cliff employs this tactic in his real estate business. He looks for distressed properties that he can purchase at a discount, and then completely renovates or rehabs the building to modern, higher-end specifications. This "forces'' appreciation in the property immediately through the renovation work. It allows him to buy a property for one price, put additional money into improvements, and sell or hold it at a much higher value once the project is complete. This value add approach generates outsized returns for Cliff compared to simply buying and holding properties for long-term appreciation.

Resources Mentioned:

Cliff Avril Family Foundation

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Integrity By Dr. Henry Cloud