Noah Kerner is the CEO and Chairman of Acorns, the largest subscription service in U.S. consumer finance specializing in making investing accessible to everyday Americans. Acorns is a global company with nearly 6 million subscribers and three distinct products across five countries, including GoHenry, a leader in money management and financial education for kids, and Pixpay, a leading European money manager for teens. To date, Kerner and Acorns have helped millions of everyday Americans save and invest over $19 billion. Kerner is a 5X entrepreneur, including as the founder of shareholder rights startup Say, music production company Soundproof, and the leading product development & marketing agency for the young adult market, Noise. By the time Noise was acquired, the agency had created hundreds of product and marketing campaigns, including Facebook’s very first application, Chase’s credit card to reward responsibility rather than spending, and Vice's music site Noisey. Kerner has advised and invested in a variety of fast-growing startups, including WeWork, where he also served as the company’s first Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer. An arts enthusiast with a passion for philanthropy, Kerner is the author of “Chasing Cool” with Gene Pressman, former CEO of Barneys New York and got his start as a teenager DJing in nightclubs across NYC and performing with artists like Jennifer Lopez. Noah was born in New York City’s East Village, where he still resides, and is a graduate of Cornell University.

What's been your best investment?

My apartment in New York City. I love it and it keeps appreciating. That's the best kind of value.

Best financial advice?

Try to never make decisions driven by fear. But since we all get afraid sometimes, I think it's good to just take a long walk in the sun before making a big investment decision.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I've always hoped investing allows me to get involved in things that bring me pleasure and/or create positive change in the world - whether it's an apartment for myself or a great company advancing society.

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

I don't really splurge. I've been wearing the same t-shirts since I was 18.

Disclosure: Answers to the Q & A are not meant as investment advice and should not be read as recommendations to buy or sell securities.

Prior to joining Acorns, David was the CEO of Simple Finance, a banking and personal finance app acquired by BBVA USA (now part of PNC Bank). Previously, David was a Director at Amazon for 12 years where he managed product, marketing, engineering, and operations teams across leadership roles in Amazon Global Payments, Amazon Web Services, and Amazon Advertising. David holds an MBA from Wharton School, an MS in Applied Physics from Cornell University, and a BS in Physics from MIT.

What's been your best investment?

By far my best investment has been in my education both formal, in the classroom, and informal, traveling the world and stretching my comfort zone. Investing in yourself is a no-regrets move!

Best financial advice?

Start investing as early and often as possible. It's so much easier to make mistakes or take risks and recover when you are younger than when you are older. However if you are older, it's also never too late to start investing!!

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

One of my dreams is to help my community in Hawaii, where my wife and I grew up. We recently moved back to help our family and raise our kids here and I would love to play a part in pushing Hawaii toward a sustainable economy and provide opportunities for folks growing up here to have more options to stay with fulfilling careers.

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

This is really tough. I had to ask my wife and she was quick to point out that I start a LOT of hobbies that I never finish. So the money to buy all those ukuleles, DJ equipment, and bicycles for every type of terrain could have been put to better use in my investments.

Marissa brings over 20 years of experience in Design, UX, Product and Research. She joins us from Shipt, where she was SVP of Design, Research and Experience Insights. Prior to that, she held design and product leadership roles at LinkedIn, Apartment List, and Adobe. Marissa graduated from Stanford with a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Human Computer Interaction.

What's been your best investment?

My graduate degree. I realized I didn't want to do exactly what I was studying for my undergrad, but instead of entering an unhappy career I decided to invest further in myself and find something I love.

Best financial advice?

When there is free money, take it! In particular, participate fully in your company's 401k, or at least as much as they match. Learn to budget for a quarter so you can fully participate in your company's ESPP plan. Open accounts that grow tax free. Learn that even the best colleges offer free tuition and/or full financial aid (the Ivy's do for certain financial situations) and apply for every scholarship out there.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I want to retire, travel until I'm bored, and then spend my time volunteering to help people live their best lives. Or maybe those last two together!

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

I honestly don't have a splurge I regret, but I do on occasion wish I hadn't sold my first house and would have kept it as an investment.

Disclosure: Answers to the Q & A are not meant as investment advice and should not be read as recommendations to buy or sell securities.

Seth Wunder, CFA, is the Chief Investment Officer of Acorns. As CIO, Seth is responsible for overseeing investment products, including product development, investment operations and compliance.  He also oversees the company’s legal, finance, and accounting groups. Previously, Seth founded Los Angeles-based black-and-white Capital LP as its sole Portfolio Manager in May 2016, with assets at peak greater than one billion dollars. black-and-white Capital’s investment mandate centered on innovation, including a concentration in software, internet, fintech, e-commerce and other disruptive trends. Before black-and-white Capital, Seth was a founding partner and portfolio manager at Contour Asset Management LLC, in New York. During the almost seven years of operating Contour, he led growth in assets from approximately $500mn to over $1.5bn. Seth started his career over two decades ago as an equity analyst at two mutual fund complexes: OppenheimerFunds and Morgan Stanley Investment Management. He holds a B.S. in Applied Economics and Business Management from Cornell University.

What's been your best investment?

Starbucks (SBUX), we love the brand and the product! In 2008, my wife owned it in her 401k, and we have continued to stick with it. The stock was below $10 then and it’s over $100 today.

Best financial advice?

It’s important to leave emotions out of investment decisions. I’ve found it helpful to write down a couple sentences on why to buy or sell an investment.  The process of writing down the decision brings clarity and discipline to your financial decisions.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Peace of mind in retirement.

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

I loved video games as a kid and owned EA stock at that time - I sold it and splurged on something (I can’t even remember what). If I had stuck with it, 25+ years later it would be worth dramatically more money - $100 then would be worth nearly $15,000 today.

Denise brings over 20 years of extensive Compliance experience with Investment Advisers and Broker Dealers. She was most recently Chief Compliance Officer at Forge Global. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Synovus Financial Corp and Legacy Advisory Partners. Denise earned her Bachelors of Science degree from St. John’s University and her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.

What's been your best investment?

My son's college education. He recently started the University of Southern California as a freshman.  As his mother, I carved out a path where his tuition is covered - without incurring debt, thus allowing him to fully focus on his studies.  There is the greatest and best investment I can make, in my child.

Best financial advice?

It's never too early to plan for the future.  Make a solid plan and stay on course.  Educate children at an early age, so they understand the importance and discipline it takes to strive for and achieve generational wealth.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I hope to get to a place where I stop, pause, look around and say... "Yes, I did it!"

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

I am methodical with my planning and spending, as a result there aren't any splurges that I would want to take back.

Disclosure: Answers to the Q & A are not meant as investment advice and should not be read as recommendations to buy or sell securities.

Prior to joining Acorns, Pete worked at AT&T where he was most recently the Vice President of Advanced Analytics & Marketing Technology for the AT&T Consumer Group. He has 20 years of experience leading data teams, including a team of 180 data scientists, data engineers, business analysts and marketing technologists to optimize customer acquisition, reduce retention and maximize CLTV for more than 70M Wireless, TV and Broadband customers. Throughout his career Pete has made it a mission to drive the business with fast actionable analytics and insights. He sits on the Georgia Tech Business Analytics Council, the Facebook Global Measurement Council and patented an algorithm on graphically rendering data. Pete also served in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Pete has an AS in Computer Science, a BSBA from Tory University, an MBA in Technology Management from Georgia Tech and a certificate in AI from MIT. Pete has 4 college aged kids he’s counting the days till they’re off his payroll.

What's been your best investment?

My best investment has been in my education. I enlisted in the Army out of high school and after being injured and medically discharged I was faced with the reality of having no job, no education and kids to take care of. I spent years in night school earning an Associates, Bachelors and eventually a Masters Degree. Life is a journey and investing in learning has opened up opportunities for myself and my family I would have never dreamed possible.

Best financial advice?

It’s never too early to begin investing. Even a small bit put away when you’re young, has the chance to compound and grow.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

To keep improving my alpine skills and pursue climbing around the world.

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

All the things I purchased on credit cards when younger; they seemed so necessary at the time but in hindsight were so costly.

Kennedy wasn’t looking for an in-house role when she took on Acorns as a client through her content and brand strategy consultancy. The mission and team changed her mind. Today, she works across the organization to bring our story, values, and vision to life. Previously, she started Kennedy Reynolds Consulting and partnered with clients from Under Armour to Microsoft on writing, content strategy and brand identity. Kennedy created the Brand and Storytelling Team at Zeno Group, a Daniel J. Edelman agency, while Vice President and Head of Digital Content in their New York Office. Her clients included Virgin America, Unilever, WeWork and the NFL. Prior, she was a Content Manager at Edelman, serving two of their largest global accounts.

Kennedy received her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of London, where she published a collection of short stories and poems written by her class. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature and Language at Harvard University.

What's been your best investment?

My passport!

Best financial advice?

You can live in the moment and save for later. The two aren't mutually exclusive. Invest a portion of your money regularly, however small, and let that be the pot you never, ever touch. Forget it's there. With the rest, carpe diem.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I hope my children get to see the world and I hope I get to see a bit of it with them.

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

Outside of travel, all of them.

Disclosure: Answers to the Q & A are not meant as investment advice and should not be read as recommendations to buy or sell securities.

Daniel brings over 25 years of software, hardware and system design experience to Acorns. Daniel joins Acorns from Amazon where he led product development in Amazon Web Services and Amazon Alexa. Prior to Amazon, Daniel spent over a decade at Dell and Quest Software where he led global teams across 7 countries, developing enterprise software including database management, information security and software developer tools. Daniel earned a B.A. in Physics from the University of California Santa Barbara where he studied as a Regents Scholar. During his time at the university he contributed to the development of the Planck Space Telescope and other projects within the experimental cosmology department. As an engineer, Daniel is named on multiple patents awarded in technology.

What's been your best investment?

Following my curiosity. Taking the time to explore the things I found curious led to exciting and rewarding opportunities in life, business and investing.

Best financial advice?

Stocks for the Long Run. I was already an active investor and trader when I was turned on to this book by a coworker. It taught me to trade less, but invest more.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I’ve always wanted to go to space. Space travel will become widely accessible in our lifetime. I would like to orbit the Earth, or perhaps visit the moon!

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

When I was younger, I splurged on an expensive investment club subscription so I wouldn’t have to research stocks on my own. To pay for it, I sold shares of Netflix. I knew it would be a successful company, but didn’t know just how successful. Had I not sold my original investment, it would be worth over $6M!

Disclosure: Answers to the Q & A are not meant as investment advice and should not be read as recommendations to buy or sell securities.

Shilpa brings over 15 years of experience in strategic marketing leadership. For much of her career, she has found herself at the intersection of data and creativity across the US, UK, India and Bangladesh. Prior to Acorns, at CarGurus, she doubled brand awareness making CarGurus the #1 most-visited car shopping site in the US, and the fastest growing car-shopping site in CA and the UK. At Procter & Gamble, she built classic brand marketing muscle with an emphasis on digital performance channels to accelerate growth, working across brands such as Gillette, Old Spice and Pampers. Prior to P&G, she worked on early-stage companies where she launched organic tea brand, Teatulia, and grew a small operation into a 10 store super-market chain, Meena Bazar. Shilpa holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a BA from Wesleyan University.

What's been your best investment?

My health - physical, mental & spiritual. From an early age, caring for my health was built into every aspect of life - whether it was eating well, staying active or meditating.  I am very grateful to my parents for instilling these practices. They continue to be a cornerstone of my life. 

Best financial advice?

Treat credit like debit - it’s just another way of saying ‘live within your means’ but it stuck with me.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Pursue an alternate career at a later age. I would like to be an arborist or a gardener who cares for the earth. 

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?

The baby items that I thought I needed for my kids and never used. Wish I had put that in their Acorns Early accounts!

Disclosure: Answers to the Q & A are not meant as investment advice and should not be read as recommendations to buy or sell securities.