Advisory Board Member Terraine Patman
Connecticut Financial Educators Council
Terraine Patman, APFISM, CFEI®, CFLP, is a financial wellness professional with a mission to deliver culturally relevant financial education that inspires individuals to build lasting economic well-being. With special focus on under-resourced communities, Patman takes an approach to financial education that is rooted in empathy, lived experience, and deep understanding of the communities she serves. With a background in Business Administration and Marketing, her professional career has spanned the retail, hospitality, and education management arenas. In 2024 she founded Cash Money Matters Academy (CMMA), an organization that delivers results-driven financial education programming to equip individuals with skills to build financial competency. Terraine is CMMA’s Executive Director.
The Connecticut Financial Educators Council (CTFEC) selects its expert partners based on their professional and educational backgrounds, passion for financial literacy, and devotion to community service. Advisory Board Member Terraine Patman adheres to top standards across all these areas. Her business enterprise, CMMA, is a mission-driven social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities across Connecticut. Patman holds credentials as an Accredited Personal Finance Instructor, Certified Financial Education Instructor, and Certified Financial Literacy Professional. She was involved in helping the state comply with the landmark Sheff v. O’Neill ruling that addressed educational inequality and economic justice in public schools. The CTFEC is looking forward to taking advantage of Terraine Patman’s expertise and energy as we move toward accomplishing our financial wellness agenda in the Constitution State.
Contributing Passion, Drive, and Energy to the Financial Wellness Cause: Terraine Patman
Terraine Patman credits her past personal struggles with money for her commitment to financial education today. Despite earning a six-figure income, she still found herself living paycheck to paycheck – finally reaching the horrifying discovery that she was financially illiterate. At that point she knew she had to do something about it. She started doing research, learning about compounding interest and how to use credit to one’s advantage. Her thought was, “If I’m like this, there must be a lot of people who make a decent living but are struggling to pay their bills.” This realization inspired her to pursue her Certified Financial Literacy Professional license, and eventually become a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) and Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFISM) through the National Financial Educators Council.
Terraine has a rich professional background in corporate America, government agencies, and educational service: she worked for the Capital Region Education Council as Assistant to the Director of Diversity Awareness, managing a staff of six. She wrote grants that were funded by the State Department of Education, one of which was an effort to facilitate state compliance with the Sheff v. O’Neill ruling aimed at reducing racial isolation in public schools. She served on the Board of Directors for an arts consortium; and conducted a value study with the Connecticut Commission on the Arts which also garnered grant funds. These experiences underscore Patman’s dedication to both advocacy and community service.
In 2024 Terraine launched her current business enterprise, Cash Money Matters Academy (CMMA). With the tagline “Financial literacy is a birthright,” the company provides evidence-based education to help people avoid lifelong money struggles. Currently the business is forming partnerships with Connecticut nonprofits and organizations to sponsor financial wellness education. For example, CMMA works with First World Mortgage and Caldwell Banker to provide education that helps people get prepared to qualify for a mortgage and buy their first home. Terraine Patman also works with the Connecticut State Treasurer’s office, writing proposals to fund financial wellness initiatives such as the Connecticut Baby Bonds Program and the CHET College Savings Program.
Terraine Patman’s experience, passion, drive, and energy combine to make her a highly-qualified and greatly appreciated member of the CTFEC Advisory Board. Their partnership is expected to yield many positive outcomes in the years to come.
Connecticut Financial Educators Council Board Details
The Connecticut Financial Educators Council Advisory Board Members drive our push to build sustainable, scalable economic empowerment programs that affect people’s lives at the community level. Our Advisory Board Members share their knowledge and expertise to guide financial wellness programs and donations to community members.
Our Board Members are professionals who have successfully passed a rigorous selection process and have proven their commitment to supporting the growth of sustainable financial wellness programming in their communities. Board members possess these traits:
Passion
A deep belief in the importance of promoting financial wellness and a desire to strengthen individuals, loved ones, and communities with financial education.
Participation
Individuals and organizations that can allocate time toward financial wellness initiatives and actively participate in Board communications.
Ethics
Individuals with a track record of providing service to their local communities with honesty and upholding the values of esteemed professionalism.
