Born in New York City’s east village, Noah Kerner is the CEO of the micro-investing app Acorns and co-founder of the shareholder rights startup Say. His background is colorful: 4X entrepreneur, Co-author of "Chasing Cool” with the former CEO of Barneys, and former DJ for Jennifer Lopez. In his 20s, Noah built the leading creative agency for the young adult market, Noise. Before being acquired by Engine, Noise developed hundreds of products and marketing campaigns for this generation including Facebook’s first application, the first credit card to reward responsibility rather than spending for Chase, Vice's music site Noisey, and the top branded game in the App Store. Noah has been recognized as one of Billboard Magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30,” AdWeek’s “Top 20 Under 40,” Fast Company’s “Innovation Agents” and “Impact Council” members, and as a judge for the Webby Awards. He has also advised and invested in a variety of fast-growing startups, including WeWork, where he served as the first Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer from 2013-2014. Passionate about educating today’s youth, Noah has lectured on entrepreneurialism, fintech, and media at NYU, UCLA, Stanford, and Columbia and currently serves on the Board of VH1's Save The Music Foundation. Noah is a graduate of Cornell University where he studied Psychology and Economics.

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.

Manning launched market-leading products and programs at JPMorgan Chase like Chase Sapphire, Chase Freedom and Chase Ultimate Rewards, and was named an Ad Age "40 Under 40." He spent four years in Beijing, China, as CMO of JPMorgan Chase's consumer team and while there, founded a local credit card business. During his 18 year tenure at Chase, Manning oversaw many departments including Branding, Advertising, Product Development, Marketing, Corporate Development, Innovation, Sales Strategy, and, lastly, as the Managing Director of Loyalty Innovation. He and his wife have three future Acorns investors.

What's been your best investment?

Walmart. I'm from Arkansas, and I've had Walmart stock since I was a teenager.

Best financial advice?

Identify the things you want to pay a premium for (for me it's dining) and then be hopelessly cheap on most everything else.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

It's really about being in a position where I can pursue my passions with a "!" instead of a "?"

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

Pretty much any Napa Valley wine club I ever signed up for…

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

Jasmine has over 20 years of experience in business and finance. Before joining Acorns, Jasmine served as the COO and CFO for all consumer products at PayPal leading strategy, product management, business operations, strategic partnerships, finance and analytics. Jasmine was influential in redefining the PayPal consumer strategy and creating an execution plan that became PayPal’s strategic priority. Jasmine also served as the CFO of Xoom, following the acquisition by PayPal, and led a successful integration to drive synergies and profitable growth. Jasmine spent the first 11 years of her career advising clients in M&A, restructuring, liquidity optimization and audit. She holds a Bachelors degree in Finance from the University of Florida and a Masters degree in Accountancy from the University of Virginia.

What's been your best investment?

PayPal stock I got back in 2013. It has tripled in value.

Best financial advice?

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Financial independence and freedom to enjoy retirement and invest in my passion projects.

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

Every formal gown I purchased for holiday parties.

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

Hugh is a technology executive, product leader, and architect who has built innovative technology at-scale for the world’s largest financial institutions. As Chief Architect and CTO for 14 years at JP Morgan Chase, he led the execution of strategic technology initiatives, including mobile banking, mobile payments, merchant acquiring, customer support systems, and big data. His mobile payments work has earned multiple industry awards, and 5 patents. Working with both large and small companies throughout his career, Hugh has a history of scaling platforms to new levels of potential. He has a BS in Computer Science and an MBA from the University of Delaware, and lives in Wilmington, DE with two future Acorns investors.

What's been your best investment?

My two kids. The financial investment is massive, but the returns are better than anything else I ever committed money to.

Best financial advice?

Just be comfortable living within your means.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

A beach house where I can open the windows and nap to the sounds of the ocean.

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

I worked in New York and I bought a lot of nice expensive suits. I don’t expect to wear a suit to work ever again.

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

An extremely versatile executive, Kevin has successfully navigated many industries including retail, financial services, entertainment, civil rights, and public relations. He has received multiple awards and accolades for his innovative, solutions driven approach to achieving outsized success.

Kevin attributes relationships as a key ingredient to his success - from connecting to celebrities while working on the People’s Choice Awards, the Critics Choice Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards, to invaluable time spent with some of the nation's most consequential leaders as a part of the Inaugural Presidential Leadership Scholars class, including Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman.

As President and CEO of the Las Vegas Urban League, the largest poverty fighting agency in Nevada, Kevin cites the intimate, ground level interaction and real time individual impact on his community as the driving force behind the affiliate’s accomplishments.

Kevin is the creator of the Ten Commandments of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a blueprint for building and maintaining a thriving corporate culture, and the proud recipient of Missouri Southern State University’s 2016 Outstanding Alumnus award — the school’s highest honor. 

What's been your best investment?

World travel…I have been to 5 of the 7 continents.  The amazing experiences, the incredible beauty and the opportunity to learn about other cultures has shaped who I am as an executive, as a leader, and as a human.

Best financial advice?

Eliminate personal debt. I have experienced all sides of debt. True freedom can only be obtained when you eliminate debt.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize? 

That the American dream is real and available to anyone.

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

Far too many to name…

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

James has a proven record of scaling businesses across multiple industries in the Fortune 50, Fortune 200 and at start-ups. Most recently, as Chief Marketing Officer, James helped build the performance marketing and brand teams at Upstart, the leading AI lending platform. Before Upstart, as Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing Officer of Metromile, the leading usage-based car insurance business, James helped scale the business from $1.5M to over $100M in revenue. Prior to joining Metromile, James was Chief Marketing Officer at DISH Network, the $14B in revenue telecommunications giant, where he built the customer acquisition team to help accelerate subscription and ARPU growth. James started his career at Procter & Gamble where he led many brands including Old Spice, Gillette, Prilosec OTC, and Vicks.  James was named ADWEEK “Grand Marketer of the Year” for his work leading the Old Spice “Smell like a Man, Man” campaign.

James lives in Moraga, California with this wife and three daughters.

What's been your best investment?

Hands down the best investment has been my college education. It made me curious and passionate about learning.

Best financial advice?

Start saving early for your kids' college. Just a small amount every month compounds over time and I have been surprised how quickly it adds up. My father in law suggested I start early and now my three daughters will have the opportunity to go to college.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I love to travel and explore. My dream is to travel the world on a boat with my family.

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

I bought a hot tub when I was in my 20’s and didn’t contribute to my IRA for several years because I was making payments on the hot tub. If I was thinking long-term I never would have made that decision. 

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

Jennifer began her financial journalism career as the foreign exchange columnist for The Wall Street Journal. She has since been Personal Finance Editor at CNBC Digital, Editor-in-Chief/Senior VP at DailyWorth and a General Manager at Hearst Digital, where she oversaw four magazine sites. The co-author of two personal finance books—with a third coming out in April 2021—Jennifer's written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, Worth, Money and Newsweek, where she was a staff writer and editor for seven years. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two future Acorns investors. Follow her @JBarrettNYC.

What's been your best investment?

Back in mid-2008, I got an advance for a book I co-authored and put almost all of it into the stock market. It took a lot of willpower not to pull that money out as the market continued to drop for months, but then it hit bottom and turned. In the years since I invested that money, the value has more than tripled. It was a great reminder that if you can ride out the dips and downturns, you can be rewarded over time.

Best financial advice?

Pay yourself first.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Investing has already helped me realize one of my dreams: being able to buy the home in NYC where I live with my husband and two sons.

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

A certain tattoo I got in my 20s. It cost 10 times more to have it removed than it did to get it. And it's still visible if you look closely. It serves as a good reminder to think twice before buying anything I might later regret.

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

Patricia has dedicated 20 years to creating engaging workplaces. Patricia was the first HR hire for Acorns and during her time she has built a values-based culture focused on growth and talent development. Prior to Acorns, she held multiple roles at Experian, including overseeing HR Operations. Patricia earned a bachelors degree in Psychology from UC Berkeley. She currently resides in Irvine with her two future Acorns investors.

What's been your best investment?

My home. Not only does it continue to appreciate in value, it's also the home I plan to raise my family and create many lasting memories in. 

Best financial advice?

Start contributing early to a 401(k), but don't stay so laser focused on saving that you forget to enjoy the life that you earned.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

The ability to provide a nurturing and fulfilling life for my children and also live a comfortable retirement.

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

Every handbag in my closet, whether a splurge or inexpensive, because I use the same one every day.

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

Jessica honed her communications skills during her tenure at Point72, where she led communications for the firm’s venture capital arm — Point72 Ventures — in addition to serving as Vice President of corporate communications of the hedge fund. She then went on to found Bevel, a leading public relations consultancy that works with venture capital funds, tech and fintech brands. Prior to Point72, Jessica had multiple sales and marketing roles at Moody’s, which included Head of Marketing Communications and Director of Global Sales, managing a book of $12.5M. She started her career at a mid-sized PR agency in NYC at the beginning of the financial crisis in 08’. Her clients included OppenheimerFunds, RBC, RBS, and Jefferies. Jessica has received multiple awards for her work including PR News “Rising Stars 30 under 30” and Moody’s “Rising Star Award.” She holds her MBA of Finance from Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where she studied Public Relations. She currently serves on the Board for Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation and volunteers a significant amount of her time doing public relations for non-profits focused on pediatric cancer.

What's been your best investment?
Although at the time I wasn’t happy, investing in my future by pursuing my MBA in Finance while working full-time. It advanced my career at a young age and I’ve applied what I learned to a career in financial communications.

Best financial advice?
Don’t wait to invest. The worst decision you can make is doing nothing at all.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?
The first time I stayed in Laguna I fell in love with the views and calmness of the water. I’ve always hoped to own a vacation home in the Hills so I can surf every morning.

What splurge do you wish you could take back (and invest instead)?
A Lululemon sweater crop top that was more than $150. Sweaters that are crop tops don’t make any sense. Also crop tops that are more than $20 should always be reconsidered.

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

Hasrat is a people-first engineering leader with a proven track record of building and scaling multiple engineering organizations, and delivering company-impacting products. At Acorns, he leads our software engineering organization. Prior to Acorns, Hasrat spent almost 7 years at Uber, building their engineering teams for Uber Elevate and UberPool, also growing UberPool from the ground up to a global product. As a software engineer, Hasrat built some large scale distributed systems at Microsoft, helping them deliver on product goals for Windows Live and Bing. He received a Masters in Computer Engineering from UT Austin and now lives in Chino Hills with his wife and one Acorns Early investor.

What's been your best investment?

College education. Moving to the United States for further education after high school. I attribute a lot of my success to being in “the land of opportunity”.

Best financial advice?

Measure and track performance regularly. Think long-term. Invest with purpose. Diversify.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I would love to work on my passions without the need to get paid.

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

I am not a splurger, so no regrets here.

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

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.

Ashley has over 18 years of legal experience, including 13 years leading in-house legal, regulatory and compliance teams at private equity and venture backed companies. Her business experience in executive roles as Chief Growth Officer of a social commerce startup and Chief Sales Officer at Arbonne, a global health and wellness company, offer her invaluable insight to the needs of her business partners and the customers we serve. While Chief Legal Officer at Arbonne, Ashley was named General Counsel of the Year - Private Company by the Orange County Business Journal and Top 20 Leading In-House Counsel by the Los Angeles Daily Journal.  Prior to going in-house, Ashley started her legal career at the global law firm Latham & Watkins, LLP where she focused on securities matters, public company representation, corporate finance transactions and mergers & acquisitions.  Ashley attended Duke University School of Law (Juris Doctor), Stanford University Graduate School of Education (Masters in Education) and Stanford University (Bachelors in Human Biology).

What's been your best investment?

Education. Law school is a serious financial investment. It was a proud moment for me when I was able to pay off all my student loans.  With my legal degree, I've created a career path with a rich variety of fulfilling professional and personal opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise.  

Best financial advice?

Make a budget and stick to it so you don’t live beyond your means. Having a plan can help reduce stress and allow you to thoughtfully focus on your personal priorities.  

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

The freedom to travel the world with my family and discover its rich diversity of landscapes and cultures.

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

I don’t splurge unless I’ve saved and planned for it, so they feel more like rewards for hard work than regrets.  

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

Pete serves as the Chief Data Officer for Acorns. Throughout his career, Pete has made it a mission to drive the business with fast actionable analytics and insights.  Prior to Acorns, Pete was Vice President of Advanced Analytics & Marketing Technology for the AT&T Consumer Group. He sits on the Georgia Tech Business Analytics Council, the Facebook Global Measurement Council, patented an algorithm on graphically rendering data and once served with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Pete obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Troy University and his MBA in Technology Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also obtained a certificate in Artificial Intelligence 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 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 saving.  Even a small bit saved when you’re young, has the chance to compound and grow so much larger than a large investment when your older.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

The time and freedom to pursue my passion of backpacking and climbing in remote areas. Perhaps a less popular Himalayan peak ascent.

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

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

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

Imad has 19 years of experience developing and leading global information security programs as a Chief Information Security Officer, Executive of Information Security and a Senior Manager for a Big 4 consulting firm. He has a collaborative leadership style with the ability to build consensus and champion security initiatives across the organization. Imad has a BS and an MS in Computer Science from CSU Long Beach and lives in Southern California with his wife and two future Acorns investors.

What's been your best investment?

Investing in and flipping foreclosed homes.

Best financial advice?

Take a calculated risk. Invest when no one else is investing.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Financial independence and comfortable retirement.

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

Buying a larger home than what is needed to live comfortably.

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

Babak has over 17 years experience in business development and advertising sales helping world-class companies build revenue-generating partnerships across various media and business platforms. Before joining the Acorns’ leadership team as Vice President of Business Development, Babak spent over five years at Apple helping to spearhead the advertising sales and partnerships efforts in the western region. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, with an emphasis on Entrepreneurial Studies, Babak currently resides in Southern California with his wife and three beautiful daughters.

What's been your best investment?

Without a doubt, it was buying my first home. Fast forward 4 years, three kiddos later, and we were able to sell it and use the profits as a down payment to buy an even better home for our family where we can live for many years to come.

Best financial advice?

Three points: 1. Life moves pretty fast, so start investing as soon as you can. Even if it’s just small amounts. (Oh, how I wish Acorns was around when I was in my 20's). 2. If your company offers a 401k, do it! No matter what! 3. No risk, no reward. In life, you need to take chances to change your future for the better.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

To help my daughters through college and give them beautiful weddings, take my family on an African Safari adventure, and be able to retire early enough for my wife and me to travel the world together, and spend time with our daughters and grandchildren without worrying too much about money.

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

I don’t splurge often on myself, but I do enjoy spending time with friends and family over dinners/drinks. While it can add up, I believe that time with family and friends is the most important in life and I just try to be as responsible as I can in other areas.

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