Financial Beginnings

Melody Thompson was inspired to start a financial literacy nonprofit after years of working in collections and as an insurance claims adjuster, repeatedly dealing with individuals who had failed to properly protect themselves financially, leaving them little money for savings and personal security. Her work helping others who had fallen behind on their obligations allowed her to see the lack of practical finance education and how that lack of knowledge can lead to personal and professional ruin. Every day she dealt with people who were struggling to make ends meet due to decisions that they likely would not have made had they been provided even a nominal amount of information during their formative years.

This realization inspired Melody to create Financial Beginnings in an effort to level the fiscal playing field and provide information to those who need it when parents, guardians, and society at large were often unable or unwilling to provide it. Financial Beginnings was founded in 2005 and classes were first provided to schools in 2006. Financial Beginnings works in partnership with schools, community centers, and other nonprofits to deliver sound financial literacy education programs.

The broad goal of all of Financial Beginnings' programs is to teach age-appropriate financial literacy education to equip participants with the knowledge they need to be personally and professionally successful.

Financial Beginnings' programs are successful because they engage students with fun activities and relate lessons to real life finance-related milestones such as purchasing a car, opening a savings account, applying for a credit card and managing personal bank accounts. Said one recent student: "I’ve already started to use the information I received in class in my outside life. It’s something that most high school students don’t think they need to learn, but actually it’s one of the most real lessons I’ve been taught through my high school experience.

Melody Thompson

Melody Thompson is the Executive Director of Financial Beginnings. She is an Oregon native. She grew up in the small town of Banks, Oregon and graduated high school in three years. At 17 she began her career in Finance working in collections while putting herself through college. Her work helping others who had fallen behind on their obligations allowed her to see the lack of finance education and how that lack of knowledge can lead to heartache. It was her work in collections and desire to educate others to become financial stable that led her to majoring in finance at Portland State University. Melody obtained a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Finance from Portland State University. She then moved on to work in financial sales and insurance finding just as much need for financial literacy in these areas, working with several individuals who failed to properly protect themselves and save for their futures. In 2005 she co-founded Financial Beginnings, but the research and passion for it began long before that. In 2007 Melody obtained her Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and Public Administration.

Kari McClellan

Kari moved to Oregon in 1994 and started her career in collections in 1995. Kari has since been in the industry for 10 years. During her time as a collection representative and manager Kari had first hand experience working with young adults and realized our youth are not educated in credit and how it works. Kari is currently working to obtain her Bachelors degree in Business Management. Kari joined Melody in 2005 and helped create Financial Beginnings.

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