Interview with Vicky Hurst

What financial tips would you give to students in high school and what are some things you wish you knew in high school regarding saving, budgeting, investing, etc?

I was pretty fortunate as a kid to have access to good financial mentors. If you can find a financial mentor or if you have a trusted role model who you can build a good mentorship with, then that’s a great move. I’d also encourage you to talk to your teachers and have them help you find good articles and books to read about subjects like saving and banking and investing. You’ll get all sorts of advice from the world and not all of it is going to be good or worth your time. So, it helps to have smart people narrow down the literature to the good stuff, and then read that. Also, when you pick a mentor, make sure it’s a good one because not everyone wants the best for your money. If people come at you with too good to be true, “get rich schemes”, then you should probably stay away. I really wish I had known more basic stuff like how to negotiate car insurance, manage utility bills, car payments, and budget for the nuts and bolts of life when I was a kid.

Do you believe financial literacy education should be taught in K-12 schooling?

Yes, for a long time I’ve felt like the four classes (beyond the liberal arts and science education) that should be must takes in high school are financial literacy, basic car maintenance, media literacy, and parenting. These are things so many of us will end up doing in our lives, and why not start off on a good foot and not have to learn everything the hard way?

What are your long-term goals both financially and career-wise?

Thanks so much for this question. This reminds me I also wanted to give everyone this tip: Write down your financial goals and think about how those relate to your values and passions and dreams! It’s so important to be intentional about how you approach this stuff and not just end up mindlessly down some path that you don’t want to be on.

It’s always been really important to me to maintain a stable amount of wealth so that I can both enjoy high quality experiences myself and so that I can be prepared to take care of myself and my family in case of any health emergencies. And as far as my career is concerned, I would like to finish out my professional golfing career strong while I’m in my thirties and simultaneously set myself up to open my own golf business as I move into middle age.

What advice would you give to a student looking to pursue their dreams?

It can be kind of scary to start a new thing, but I remind myself that it’s really about the journey and whether I succeed or fail, I will learn from both. Sometimes people get a little paralyzed by the idea of failing but so many smart people failed the first thirty times they tried something, and then they get it later. But even if you don’t “succeed,” as long as you keep the importance of integrity and the journey in your heart, then you won’t lose. Sometimes, we get bad breaks and you just react to them the best you can. Or in other words try not to get too weighed down by things that are out of your control even though sometimes that’s harder than others. You might possibly pick a career that’s wrong for you, or you might just be getting bad breaks, but I am always impressed by people who do their best in adversity and are able to pivot fearlessly in new direction or stick with their passions!

As a professional golfer, how do you manage your finances? (endorsements, season salary, etc)

I made a pretty decent amount of money early on in my golf career, and so smart investing was very important for me. Golf can be really expensive to finance when you’re not winning because travel expenses and entry fees add up. By playing well, investing, and splitting costs with my friends, I have been able to stay financially successful through the thick and thin. Just because you make a lot of money one day, don’t assume it will keep raining money! I know a handful of fellow golfers that have made good money in their careers but they weren’t responsible with it and by the end of their golf careers they had nearly nothing left and left them in a very difficult position.  You have to save for the droughts. And I’ll repeat, having friends split costs is very helpful too. Roommates are a great call with the crazy housing prices of today, for example.

During your time in high school in Brevard what were some things you appreciated about the high school you attended and some things you wish were improved upon.

I loved hanging out with my friends! I didn’t have to worry about social media back then, which I will admit, probably made things easier. I attended Holy Trinity and I had wonderful teachers and the school provided a great selection of elective courses that made for a fun learning experience. I obviously really loved anything and everything active, and so I think the more time young people can spend on active learning and movement (minimize screen time), then the better everyone’s mental health will be. In fact, I think physical activity is absolutely crucial.

Being a role model and influence for many athletes in Brevard who are also seeking to play professional sports, what does that mean to you, and from a community perspective what is one goal/impact you want to make in our world/community?

It really brings me a lot of joy to have had the athletic career I’ve had and been able to share it with my community. I enjoy giving back to my community so much! One day I want to build a business / foundation where I can give back to the community and bring people of all ages and skill levels into the game of golf. Golf is such a wonderful game and I want to share the love that I have for it with as many people that I can reach! We all get help along the way from wonderful people in our lives and so to know that I can pass it forward and spread joy and make an impact on my community is what I look forward to the most in my future.