Bio and Credentials

     Mark DiGiovanni grew up in Rochester, NY, the son of a firefighter and a homemaker/part-time secretary.  After graduating from SUNY, Oswego in 1975, Mark moved to Athens, GA to begin his first career as a teacher.  There Mark met his future wife in 1978, fellow teacher and Georgia native, Beth Rainwater.  

     Mark and Beth were married in 1983 and moved to Atlanta soon after, when Mark began his career in financial services.  During the 1980's, Mark completed his MBA at Kennesaw State University and passed the CPA exam.  Mark and Beth ended the decade with the birth of their daughter Mara in 1989.

     Mark started Marathon Financial Strategies in 1995.  Mark began running in 1969, so the 'Marathon' name was a natural choice.  The name serves as a reminder that achieving worthwhile goals requires the same persistence and discipline as running a marathon.

     In addition to starting his business during the 1990's, Mark earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations. Mark also served in 2002 as President of the Georgia Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).  Mark was named a "Five Star: Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager" by Atlanta Magazine in 2009, 2010, and 2011.  In 2010, Mark was selected as one of only seven CFP Ambassadors in the U.S.  As a CFP Ambassador, Mark communicates to consumers the importance of personal financial planning and the need for a Certified Financial Planner professional. 

     Mark understands the importance of a healthy body, mind, and soul.  He still exercises daily.  He is a voracious reader and has written four books to date.  He has been a member of Saint Matthews Episcopal Church in Snellville since 1989, where he is active on the stewardship and finance committees.  Mark has been a Rotarian since 1996, serving as president of the Stone Mountain Rotary Club in 2003.  He also volunteers to speak at schools, churches, and to any groups that are interested in improving their financial IQ.