Who We Are and How We Can Help
Top Shelf Private Wealth is a fiduciary Registered Investment Adviser and family-office platform designed exclusively for professional hockey players and hockey professionals.
A hockey career is short, volatile, and geographically complex. Contracts change. Income fluctuates. Taxes span multiple states and countries. Financial decisions are often made quickly, under pressure, and with fragmented advice.
Top Shelf exists to bring structure, coordination, and long-term thinking to that environment—so career earnings are protected, not just accumulated.
The Financial Realities of a Professional Hockey Career
Most NHL players earn the majority of their lifetime income before age 30.
That one fact should shape every financial decision you make.
On paper, a professional hockey contract looks life-changing. The signing bonus makes headlines. The AAV gets posted online. People see the number and assume permanent security.
But the number everyone sees isn’t the number you actually keep.
And hockey careers don’t follow a straight line.
If your financial plan doesn’t reflect that, it’s built on the wrong foundation.
Understanding Cross-Border Taxes in the NHL (High-Level Overview)
An NHL player can earn income in more than 20 jurisdictions in a single season.
That alone explains why cross-border tax is one of the most confusing—and stressful—parts of professional hockey life.
This is a high-level overview. It’s not personal tax advice. The goal is simple: explain why NHL cross-border tax is complex, and why coordination matters long before April arrives.
What Happens Financially When You’re Traded
A trade is a career milestone—but it’s also one of the most financially disruptive moments in professional hockey.
The announcement is fast. The expectations are immediate. And behind the scenes, dozens of financial details begin shifting at once. This isn’t about panic—it’s about understanding why trades create friction, and how preparation changes the experience.
What a Family-Office Approach Means for Professional Athletes
Early career success in hockey is earned—and it comes fast. Contracts arrive before there’s time to fully absorb what’s changed, and financial decisions often happen in parallel with performance pressure, relocation, and public attention.
The goal of this conversation isn’t to criticize. It’s to normalize what commonly happens and show how small adjustments early can create more options later.
How We Work With Player Agents and Advisory Teams
We do not negotiate contracts or provide legal advice.
Agents lead career strategy and negotiations. We support that work by translating contract structures into cash-flow, tax-awareness, and long-term planning context—so players understand decisions without second-guessing their representation.