He's played 349 first-grade games but Steve Menzies' wealth of knowledge is not limited to the football field, writes Adrian Proszenko.

Steve Menzies, wearing his financial adviser cap instead of his trademark headgear, was addressing Titans players about how best to manage their money. Don't blow it on flash cars and jet skis, he told them. Think long term. Make the most of your salary as a professional footballer. And whatever you do, don't fritter and gamble it all away.

Menzies was about halfway through his spiel when one of the players spotted a lost TAB ticket on the floor.

It belonged to Menzies.

"I'm up there talking, saying this is what you should do, be wise with your money," Menzies laughs.

"And here I am, having a bet on a horse because this bloke rang up with a tip. Now that's bad advice!"

While that tip didn't pay off - a year later and the nag is yet to finish the race - the Beaver has plenty of useful tips when it comes to money.

Menzies is a partner in Imminent Wealth, a financial education company that advises footballers and other would-be investors on how to set yourself up financially.

In his 16 years in the top grade, the Sea Eagles great has seen plenty of footballers make squillions during their playing careers, yet hang up their boots with nothing to show for it. Concerned, he bought into the business three years ago and has been encouraging his colleagues to save and invest responsibly ever since.

"When I first came to grade everyone had an apprenticeship or a job," Menzies recalled.

"I was going to uni full-time [studying physical education] and would train once a day at 3pm. It's a lot different these days and it's made it a harder transition from a rugby league player to normal life.

"It's like being an accountant and then, after 10 years, you're told you can't use your skills as an accountant to provide for your family.

"That's basically what it's like for a sportsperson when they retire."

Aside from the aforementioned $25 wager, Menzies practises what he preaches. The 34-year-old has been preparing for life after football for years, building an impressive property and stock portfolio.

He has as much interest in the movements of the market as Manly's for-and-against record. And while most of his investments have been shrewd ones, some have been more successful than others.

Chatting to The Sun-Herald with partner Suyin Condon over an orange juice on Friday - "the first time I haven't had a beer or bourbon all week" - they laugh about the time they and some teammates bought into Aristocrat at the bargain-basement price of $1.65. By the time the shares hit $2.20, former Manly winger Scott Donald cashed in - to buy a scooter. Before long, the price hit $7.80. Condon convinced Menzies to sell. Six months later, they soared to $16.80.

"He's never let me forget it," Condon laughed. "He tells the story at the seminars, and people ask, 'Are you still with that girl?"'

Then there's the time he had a $20,000 cheque stuck on his fridge. For six months. "Zorba [Manly media manager Peter Peters] tells people I lost it down the back of the fridge and didn't even notice."

And while poker games at Club Menzies have become a Tuesday night institution, few get to see the colour of the Beaver's money.

"I do play a very tight, solid game," he quipped.

Jokes aside, Menzies's biggest contribution to the game may come after he finishes playing. His Imminent Wealth Academy is the only body endorsed by the players' union to work with NRL teams. It has worked with Super 14 sides and its seminars are part of the education process for under-20 league players.

So what advice would he give his teammates, who are entitled to a cut of the $400,000 Manly earned for winning the competition?

"If you get $5000 or $10,000, and you've got some other money saved up, you could put it towards a [home] deposit," Menzies said.

"You've got to put your money somewhere, so I'd say if you haven't got a property, get a unit somewhere.

"That would be a good place to start. If you already have a unit, I'm pretty fond of the share market, but do it at the right time."

And don't take tips on horses.