An artist on and off the field! In Episode 22 of Career Conversations, Tristan Bowen and Charlie Rugg discuss his journey to becoming an artist and entrepreneur. Charlie shares how his passion for painting grew after retirement, the challenges he has faced transitioning into entrepreneurship, and how he has developed routines to stay creative and disciplined.

He also emphasizes the importance of active players finding career paths outside of soccer to make the transition off the field smoother.

The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

What are things that might get overlooked during a playing career that could actually have a lasting impact after retirement? In this episode of Career Conversations Tristan Bowen and Lamar Neagle dive into the small but powerful habits that make a big difference in easing the transition to life off the field - like building a professional network while still playing, creating a LinkedIn profile, and earning certifications.

Lamar, who is now a financial advisor and real estate investor, also shares why financial education is essential for both current and former players, and explains the power of investing whether in stocks, real estate, or retirement accounts like a 401(k).

The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

Interested in transitioning into coaching or content creation? In this new episode, Chris Kanopka joins Tristan Bowen to share his journey from a 14-year playing career to retirement, and how he became a goalkeeper director and full-time content creator. Kanopka talks about how he leveraged coaching opportunities at the academies while still playing and encourages current and former players to stay open to new possibilities and think outside the box.

In honor of his father Walter F. Konopka’s contributions to the game of soccer, Konopka and his brother launched a fundraising campaign to support renovations at the Walter F. Konopka Soccer Complex in Oak Park, Toms River, New Jersey. Visit https://www.wfksoccercomplex.com/ for more information.

The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.