Jim Northam started in the financial services industry in 1988 as an agent with Northwestern Mutual Life in Rochester, MN. He moved into operations with Northwestern Mutual in 1990 and was responsible for all operational, financial and reporting functions for the Southern Minnesota General Agency of Northwestern Mutual and for Southern Minnesota Employee Benefits Specialists.

The College Bound Company was established in 1995. College Bound, Inc. is a Third Party Administrator of Employer Educational Assistance Plans. The College Bound Program is a qualified plan under code section 127 of the internal revenue code that allows employers to provide educational assistance benefits to employees. College Bound, Inc. is the administrator for these employer plans. The College Bound Program is one of the few plans in the country designed to bring this tax exempt benefit to high school and college age employees. College Bound student employee participants have been paid over 1.5 Million dollars in qualified plan tuition payment or reimbursement benefits to date. Jim is responsible for all aspects of managing and developing the College Bound Program.