SUCCESS BEYOND
THE GAME
Cory Procter:
From the NFL to Pro Capital Wealth Management
By: Julie Nelson
“A lazy hand will not reap any kind of harvest,” said Cory Procter.
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For these elite athletes though, there is no shortage of determination and work ethic. The issue that resonates when they are done playing in the stadiums is ‘how do I find the next field?’
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NFL Legend Cory Procter was left asking that same question after an injury ended his six-year playing career. However, even after five surgeries, he still believed he would play ball again.
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“That whole time, that whole next year I spent on the couch,” said Procter. “It sucked. I fully expected being out, getting strong, and getting back with the team. I had some opportunities; I had some tryouts, but I had this long list of surgeries now. I had a list of surgeries that I had just gone through and my knee was not quite as stable as it could be. I was going into my seventh year and knew there were younger guys who were healthier that the team wanted to try and develop. That’s just the reality of the game.”
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In 2005, Procter was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Montana by the Detroit Lions. He was picked up off the Lions’ practice squad and signed to the Dallas Cowboys’ active roster that same season. After a five-year stint in Dallas, he finished his career in 2010 with the Miami Dolphins.
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Coming to terms with the fact that his professional football career was over, Procter chose to channel his competitive skill set into his next venture working in sales.
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“I went four years in this sales company,” said the former offensive lineman. “It was a starter company out of Atlanta, beverage company, and I really liked them. I was just looking to get started somewhere. I say the same thing with anybody else, ‘If you don’t know where to go, take a step in some direction because God is going to show you if it’s right or wrong’.“
![20081214_DAL_Cory_Procter04 [1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7686f8_aa9f01ea93d046629b529f31c4b3c7f2~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_402,y_0,w_2194,h_2000/fill/w_370,h_337,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20081214_DAL_Cory_Procter04%20%5B1%5D.jpg)
Former offensive lineman Cory Procter served a five year stint with the Dallas Cowboys from 2005-09.
The direction he followed has led to a successful career path beginning as a sales representative, being promoted to a manager, elevating as a prominent speaker, and now to starting and owning his own wealth management enterprise.
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“I love telling guys go into sales,” said Procter. “Why is that? Because your goal might be to make a sale, but you have to understand the nuances that go into that end goal. If there is an end goal, you have to check yourself in the goal. Then, when my faith came in, I had a foundational set of beliefs of this is what I’m about.”
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The Gig Harbor, Washington native ended up shifting to the financial sector because he started taking more of an interest in his own portfolio during his playing days and ultimately, wanted to take over managing his own finances.
He gained a better understanding of what was going on and how his portfolio was developing and was encouraged by his own advisor at the time to branch out and begin building his own business.
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“I’ve always been a jump in headfirst and never toe in the water kind of guy,” said Procter. “It might take me a while to do something, but when I decide to, I’m all in. I got my license, got my business going, and hit the ground running.”
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As a result, Pro Capital Wealth Management launched in 2018.
As an independent advisor, he helps his clients with similar strategies that have worked for him over the years. He understands that it is not going to be the same for everyone, but because of his situation, he is able to relate to others with similar backgrounds. When he transitioned into the financial industry, he began to discover the nuances of the different financial products.
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“I just want people to be aware,” said Procter. “The more awareness you have in your money, the more powerful you are in your decisions to spend it or invest it.”
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This November marks the 10-year anniversary of Procter’s career-ending injury. He may be done playing on the field, but off the field, he is finding himself competing again in a challenging environment and succeeding. His story should serve as an inspiration to those athletes in search of their own second acts.
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“I want to leave a legacy for my children’s children,” said the NFL Legend. “I want to do awesome and have them taken care of at the same time.”
Cory Procter is the owner of Pro Capital Wealth Management and serves as a public speaker with experience in securities, investment advisory, business development, and sales team management.
Pro Capital takes a concierge approach and works with each client individually to craft strategies and portfolios that align with their goals, dreams, life stage, and family. They believe that an effective financial strategy takes into consideration the unique preferences, personality traits, and life goals that make up who you are. Their approach helps to ensure that all of the factors important to you are integrated when building your road map.