Why do Slovenians save diligently but invest poorly? How can one select suitable investments and know when to start investing? How can we prepare in advance for unexpected events in life? What does risk diversification entail, and what role does insurance play in building financial security and a stress-free career? These and similar questions were addressed at a financial skills-building event in Brdo pri Kranju that was hosted by Triglav and attended by experts, guests and other participants. A solid foundation in finance and personal financial management is important for everyone in today’s world, but especially for elite athletes. Due to their youth, relatively high incomes and limited career spans, they are exposed to even greater financial risks than most individuals.
Since 2022, the Triglav Group and its partners have been encouraging the general public to act sustainably through the Let’s Secure the Future initiative. In the last two years, the initiative was focused on financial literacy, which is also being strengthened in the area of sponsorships.
“One of the main objectives of Let’s Secure the Future is to ensure that as many of our partners and their members as possible attend the financial skills workshops held in various parts of Slovenia. Through such efforts, Triglav aims to support clubs, associations, federations, sponsorship partners and others in addressing some of the important financial questions and challenges they face, both during their careers and in their lives after sport. In addition to today's main A Career After the Career event, we organise regional financial literacy workshops for young athletes across Slovenia. We have already held a workshop in Nova Gorica, with workshops in Kranj and Ljubljana still to come before the summer," said Marica Makoter, Member of the Management Board of Zavarovalnica Triglav.
A Career After the Career
At the Brdo pri Kranju event, the participants were guided through the world of finance, wealth management and insurance by the Triglav Group employees Vid Pajič from Triglav Skladi, and Nataša Matič and Nina Zorman Tisovec from Zavarovalnica Triglav. Polona Škrbec, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Management at Zavarovalnica Triglav, explained how the Triglav Group develops its sponsorship strategies and the role financial literacy plays in this process. Beno Lapajne, Director of Sales at Triglav Skladi, also shared his experience with the participants. Once a professional handball player and member of the Slovenian national team, he successfully defended the net before taking on new challenges in the business world. Petra Majdič, an Olympian and former top cross-country skier, and today a successful businesswoman, and Alenka Potočnik Anžič, a former basketball player who now complements her business career in a global company with her role as president of the Celje Handball Club, also shared their diverse post-sport career paths.
When life happens to you
The cyclist and Paralympian Anej Doplihar and the snowboarder and Olympian Žan Košir shared their experiences with injuries and the consequences they faced because of these, each offering a unique perspective. The importance of mental resilience was emphasised by Robert Hrgota, head coach of the Slovenian ski jumpers, Matej Lunežnik, psychologist and Director of the Mentalni Trener company, and Tea Bajc, a rising ballet star and the Young Hope of the Vse bo v redu (Everything Will Be OK) Institute.
The event concluded with the judoka Andreja Leški, who won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the Paralympian Lena Gaberšček, who, together with their mothers, reflected on the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship and the vital role of family support during a young athlete’s career-building years.
Sponsorship as an investment
With today’s A Career After the Career event, as well as many other activities and projects, the Triglav Group is also delivering on its commitment to sustainability through sports and other partnerships, which is being implemented at all levels of the business, addressing the environment, society and governance. In this way, the company regards such sponsorships as an investment and a way to operate successfully and sustainably in the environment in which it does business.
