Born in New York City’s east village, Noah Kerner got involved with Acorns two months after launch as an adviser, investor, board director and then CEO. His background is colorful: 3X entrepreneur, Co-author of "Chasing Cool” with the former CEO of Barneys, and former DJ for Jennifer Lopez...all before 30. Noah built the leading millennial creative agency, 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 was featured as a "Top 30 Under 30" in Billboard Magazine, a Fast Company "Innovation Agent," and one of AdWeek's "Top 20 under 40." He also advises and invests in a variety of fast-growing startups, including WeWork, where he served as the first Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer. Passionate about educating today’s youth, Noah has lectured on entrepreneurialism 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.

For two decades, Jennifer has led organizations from early stage development to category leader, and cultural icon — leveraging her unique expertise in brand building, community, business development, and communications to generate more than $300M.

As Head of External Relations at Sundance Institute, Jennifer oversaw revenue generation, brand strategy, marketing, and communications. Her leadership inspired unprecedented growth. Doubling the organization’s operating budget allowed for the expansion of Sundance’s live event properties, global artist initiatives, and the brand’s evolution into an impactful, cultural juggernaut.

Prior to joining Sundance, Jennifer served as Chief Development Officer at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), directing revenue development while elevating MOCA’s position on the global stage. An experienced leader in CSR/philanthropy with a passion for contemporary art and culture, Jennifer serves on the Board of the Art + Practice Foundation and LA><ART. Jennifer received her B.A. in Political Science from California State University at Fullerton and her M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy.

What's been your best investment?

Relationships. Early in my career it became clear that peer mentorship with other women would be critical to my development as a professional and ultimately my career trajectory. Those same individuals have evolved into an important support network both personally and professionally. Girls Rule.

Best financial advice?

My father is from the South and shared stories of a childhood where he and our family worked as sharecroppers. Hard work, frugal spending and save for your family are the financial values he passed down.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Financial freedom and independence. See above.

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

I don’t live with regret around splurges although I have made many an unwise purchase - mostly fashion splurges. I actually think more about missed opportunity around art purchases that could have become significant assets within my investment portfolio.

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

Before joining Acorns as Chief Technology Officer, Jeff was Chief Technology Officer at edo Interactive, responsible for product management, engineering and analytics, and leading edo's international expansion efforts. Prior to edo, Jeff served as Vice President of Engineering and Vice President of Product Strategy at Orbitz Worldwide, where he developed long-term strategies for product marketing and distribution. Jeff helped design and build the global platform that powered websites such as Orbitz.com, Cheaptickets.com and eBookers.com, and was an early developer of the Orbitz hotel and private label systems. Jeff began his career in innovation as a technology consultant at Ernst & Young, specializing in Web and mobile technologies.

What's been your best investment?

My education.

Best financial advice?

Maximize your 401(k).

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

Being able to provide for my family — a comfortable retirement for my wife and me, as well as sending my kids to college.

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

Possibly hiring a videographer for our wedding, as we haven't looked at the video since.

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, 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 eight years since I invested that money, the value has grown by more than 50 percent. 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.

Smith is a digital product builder and strategist with over 18 years of experience in product management, execution and operations. He has built award winning product management and development teams across verticals, including digital marketing and media. Smith cut his teeth at GeoCities (acquired by Yahoo!), helped develop the world’s first personalized video over IP offering and launched Current TV — the global media network founded by Al Gore. In the agency space, Smith launched dozens of innovative client projects for Chase, Vice, Intel, GE, Coke and EA Sports. And like every parent at Acorns, Smith and his wife are raising 3 future Acorns investors.

What's been your best investment?

IVF, which gave my wife and me the family we always wanted.

Best financial advice?

No, really. Spend less than you earn.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

To travel the world with my family (and still be able to pay for college).

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

All those dinners out before we had kids! If I had invested that money instead, I’d be much closer to my investment goals! Every. Little. Bit. Counts.

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

Peter has worked in the securities industry for 30 years, and has been a compliance officer for more than 14 years. He joined Acorns after spending the past 17 years at Fidelity Investments. In his last position as Director of Business Oversight, he led risk management for Fidelity Brokerage Service’s $100B retail managed accounts program. From 2003 to 2010, Peter served as Vice President of Client and Supervisory Oversight at Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services (IWS), where he established, implemented and enforced compliance and sales practice procedures for the independent investment advisor custody and clearing platform. Prior to Fidelity, he worked at CIBC World Markets, Oppenheimer & Co., Bear Stearns and Dean Witter. Peter earned a BA in Economics from Georgetown University and an MBA in Finance from Seton Hall University.

What's been your best investment?

My daughter’s college education at Tulane. She will be entering Medical School in 2017.

Best financial advice?

Invest in yourself. Always look for value in financial instruments and remember that investing is a long-term endeavor.

What dream do you hope investing helps you realize?

I want to be able to afford a comfortable life in retirement with my family.

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

I somewhat regret purchasing a BMW sports car about 8 years ago.

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