Hidden Gems: Meet Nakia Sanford Lawson of Nakia Lawson/ Primerica Advisors

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakia Sanford Lawson.

Hi Nakia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sports were my first love — and track was where it all began.

I’m a double state champion in track and basketball, but track came first. Track taught me early: don’t stare at the hill — just put one foot in front of the other and you’ll get to the top. Basketball taught me to focus on the next play, not the one already behind you.

Both taught me discipline. Focus. And how to finish — regardless of the circumstances.

Basketball carried me to the University of Kansas on a scholarship and eventually into a 14-year professional career, including 10 seasons in the WNBA and overseas.

From the outside, it looked like success — and it was. But professional sports teaches you something most people don’t talk about: the clock is always running.

Careers end. Contracts stop. Applause fades.

And somewhere along the way, I started asking a different question: What’s my next quarter?

I wasn’t studying finance yet. I didn’t have a detailed plan. But I knew this — there would be a transition. And I wanted mine to be intentional, not reactive.

In sports, you don’t always control when change comes. Injuries happen. Coaching changes happen. So I don’t take for granted that I had the space to think ahead. That awareness was a gift.

After basketball, I stepped fully into the financial services industry and became a student of wealth-building, strategy, and long-term planning. What began as preparation for my own transition turned into a calling to help others navigate theirs.

Today, I help people design their “after” — whether that’s life after sports, a career transition, retirement, or building something new. I help them protect what they’ve earned and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road.

Sports teaches you resilience early — injuries, coaching changes, trades, roster cuts. There are seasons where you’re starting, and seasons where you’re fighting just to stay on the roster. That alone builds a certain mental toughness.

But the real challenge wasn’t on the court — it was identity.

When you’ve been an athlete your whole life, the question isn’t just “What’s next?” It’s “Who am I without this?”

There’s a silence that comes after the applause. A space where the structure you’ve always known is suddenly gone. No practice schedule. No game prep. No team.

And then stepping into a completely different industry — financial services — where no one cares that much about your “before”. You’re starting over. You have to build credibility again. Build relationships again. Prove yourself again.

That was humbling.

There were moments of doubt. Moments of learning curves. Moments of realizing that discipline translates — but it doesn’t replace experience.

But every struggle sharpened me. Sports gave me grit. Transition gave me perspective. And building a business gave me ownership.

So no, it wasn’t smooth — but it was necessary. And every part of it prepared me to serve the people I work with today.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m known as The Tall Money Lady, and that name is more than branding — it’s perspective.

At 6’4”, I’ve always had a different vantage point. I bring that same elevated view to money.

I’m a financial advisor and fiduciary who helps athletes, professionals, and entrepreneurs make intentional wealth decisions — especially during seasons of transition. Whether it’s life after sports, a career pivot, retirement, or building generational wealth, the common thread is this: success requires strategy.

What sets me apart is that I combine discipline with design. My approach is structured, but deeply personal. I want clients to understand what they own, why they own it, and how it aligns with the life they’re building.

After 14 years as a professional athlete, I understand performance — earning quickly, competing under pressure, and operating within short windows of opportunity. I also understand the identity shifts that come with transition.

So when clients work with me, they’re not just getting investment advice. They’re getting clarity. Structure. A long-term game plan.

The Tall Money Lady brand stands for integrity and intentionality. No hype. No shortcuts. Just education, strategy, and long-term thinking.

Because wealth isn’t about flash — it’s about freedom. It’s about options. It’s about designing your life on purpose.

And that’s what I help people do — see further, plan smarter, and move with confidence.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentorship and networking changed my trajectory — but not in the way most people think.

First, I don’t believe you “find” a mentor by asking someone to be your mentor. I believe you earn proximity.

What worked for me was showing up consistently. Being prepared. Asking thoughtful questions. Following through. And most importantly — adding value before asking for it.

In sports, you don’t walk into a locker room demanding respect. You earn it through work. I’ve approached mentorship the same way.

I also learned that mentorship doesn’t have to be formal. Some of my greatest lessons came from observing how successful people move — how they think, how they communicate, how they make decisions under pressure.

As for networking, I think the word gets a bad reputation. It shouldn’t be transactional. It should be relational.

The best networking I’ve done has come from genuine curiosity and service. Instead of asking, “What can this person do for me?” I ask, “How can I support what they’re building?”

When you lead with value and consistency, relationships compound — just like money does.

And I would say this: don’t just look for someone ahead of you. Build peer relationships too. The people growing alongside you often become your strongest collaborators later. I found some of my best friends by connecting with other like minded people who where in the same stage of their journey.

Pricing:

• I am a fee based advisor.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetallmoneylady/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetallmoneylady/