Men To Watch Awards 2026 honors Marcus Ford

Marcus Kiel Ford is a distinguished financial strategist with nearly two decades of expertise spanning institutional treasury management and private wealth advisory. His career is defined by a rigorous commitment to fiscal stewardship and a proven track record of navigating complex financial landscapes to drive intentional growth.

Marcus spent a foundational decade serving as a key architect for the treasury management of Texas Southern University. During his tenure, he was instrumental in crafting the investment policy statements that governed the institution’s endowed and non-endowed funds. His strategic oversight yielded extraordinary results: under his watch, the university’s endowment grew from $27.9 million to $62.1 million between 2009 and 2016—a feat achieved with only $1.5 million in new capital. This performance consistently placed the endowment within the top 300 of the 10,540 institutions in the NACUBO Universe.

Beyond asset growth, Marcus developed the critical cash management policies that enabled the university to navigate significant revenue volatility. Working alongside executive leadership, he provided the essential projections and debt-refinancing evaluations necessary for long-term institutional stability.

In 2017, Marcus transitioned his talents to the private sector with Increase Financial, LLC. Now serving as a Vice President, he leverages his deep background in investment, cash, and debt management to change the life trajectories of high-net-worth individuals and families. A former varsity football letterman at Florida State University, Marcus maintains a deep-seated passion for empowering the next generation of student athletes. He actively champions financial literacy for student-athletes through his work with the Florida Minority Baseball Association and the Bo Porter Future All Stars Baseball Academy, bridging the gap between athletic success and lifelong financial security.

Marcus holds the Sports and Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-

AWMA™) designation from the College of Financial Planning, as well as a Series 65 and Texas Life and Health licenses. He is a current member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. His professional pedigree includes past memberships with the Houston CFA

Society, and the Government Treasurers of Texas.