My name is Marcus Lathan and I am the new Program Coordinator here at Financial Beginnings. Everyone needs money and everyone uses money, but no one is educated on how to manage their money. Financial Beginnings is a great organization that does precisely that. Now, more than ever, our youth need to understand how to manage their money. I was fortunate enough to have completed college debt free with the help of my family, scholarships and a part-time job. For the majority of college graduates this is not the case. School loan debt now exceeds credit card debt in the nation, and society is beginning to think these debts are just a normal part of life. Education on the correct management of money is the key that opens the door to a  successful and debt-free life.

For the past three years I have been working retail at a Portland Best Buy store and worked several various retail and construction jobs prior to that. I am also a model and work on various television shows, fashion events, as well as video and photo shoots in the Portland area. In my spare time I play basketball and soccer in recreational leagues in Portland and Vancouver. This past spring I received my B.A. in Finance from Washington State University as well as a Professional Sales Certificate. I look forward to helping Financial Beginnings continue to thrive and educate.