PKF O’Connor Davies’ Robert Raiola and Scott Edison Join Accelerate Sports Ventures’ NIL360°edu Program
Noted accounting experts tapped to share industry knowledge and head up program’s tax education team
PKF O’Connor Davies, one of the nation’s largest accounting, tax, and advisory firms, announced today that Robert Raiola and Scott Edison have been selected to join Accelerate Sports Ventures’ NIL360°edu, a comprehensive educational program for collegiate athletes and their programs on the topic of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). Raiola, Director of the Firm’s Sports and Entertainment Group, and Edison, Partner in the Firm’s Business Solutions Group, will lead the program’s tax education team.
The recognized industry leaders will share their combined 40-plus years of insider accounting expertise and experience as they help student-athletes navigate the tax implications of utilizing their NIL to openly promote and/or endorse commercial products and/or services. While a majority of college athletes have historically been barred from engaging in these types of agreements, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is expected to announce a rule change allowing athletes to accept future promotion and endorsement contracts.
“The ability for college athletes to join their professional counterparts in endorsing products and services would mark a watershed moment in the sports promotions space,” said Robert Raiola. “Scott and I are thrilled to be at the cutting-edge of this breakthrough and share our decades of accounting, tax and consulting experience to ensure student-athletes maximize their future financial opportunities as they pursue endorsement and promotion contracts.”
”Sports Tax Man” Robert Raiola has over 20 years of experience providing business management, tax planning and business consulting services to high-net-worth individuals and their families in the sports and entertainment industries. Scott Edison has over 20 years of experience providing business consulting and advisory services, as well as individual, partnership and corporate tax planning and accounting services for privately-held and family-owned businesses. NIL360°edu will bring Raiola and Edison together with other legal, financial, branding, licensing and education experts in the execution of the program.
“To be recognized as industry experts and afforded the opportunity to participate in this exciting new venture is a true honor,” said Scott Edison. “Robert and I look forward to collaborating with noted industry experts as we impart our real-world expertise, strategies, and best practices onto future generations of student-athletes and their families.”
Accelerate Sports Ventures, a provider of comprehensive, collegiate athletic solutions, has launched NIL360°edu and its greater NIL360™ solution, with the purpose of better preparing athletes for success in the NIL era. The tax education provided by Raiola and Edison, in addition to the legal, contracts, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and brand education provided by other world-class experts, will be delivered both virtually and in-person, combined with year-round support for athletes, coaches and staff.
About Accelerate Sports Ventures and NIL360™
Accelerate Sports Ventures was created to provide comprehensive solutions for the future of college athletics. Accelerate’s immediate focus is helping athletic departments manage Name, Image and Likeness with its NIL360 solution. NIL360 will provide a comprehensive NIL solution with an unbiased oversight process for athletic departments. From education to infrastructure to management and review, NIL360 will provide an unparalleled experience to guide athletic departments and student-athletes into the new world of NIL and the future of college athletics. For more information, go to AccelerateSportsVentures.com or email info@acceleratesportsventures.com.