Dan Johnson
CFP®
Forward Thinking Wealth Management
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Dan Johnson
CFP®
Forward Thinking Wealth Management
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
My focus is simple. I help clients accumulate wealth, not fees. - Dan Johnson, CFP®
Fee-Only Financial Planner located in Akron, OH and serving clients across the country

Dan Johnson is an Akron, OH fee-only financial planner that operates under a flat fee model. Forward Thinking Wealth Management provides comprehensive and objective financial planning and investment management to help high income earners, hard working professionals, and their families organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Dan Johnson is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Hi there! I'm Dan Johnson, CFP® and I'm the Founder and President of Forward Thinking Wealth Management.
I run an independent fiduciary, fee-only, values-based financial planning and investment management firm. My firm is based in Akron, OH, but I work virtually with clients from all over the country.
I created Forward Thinking Wealth Management from scratch after realizing I wanted to operate under a flat-fee structure where I charge a select group of clients based on my knowledge and experience.
We emphasize financial planning to help guide our clients maximize their resources and live meaningful and purposeful lives.
A few nuggets about me:
I grew up in the house my grandfather built and my mom was raised in.
After finishing up grad school at Ohio State, I moved to Michigan. I think OSU beat Michigan twice in the 11 years I lived there. It was rough being an alum then.
I spent over a decade in local government management. This is probably why I charge a flat fee based on knowledge and experience, not on what I can sell you.
My wife is a nursing professor and our two sons are in college.
My Superpower: I listen. And I am good at it!
On weekends you can often find me on a local hiking trail around Akron. The Chuckery Trail is my favorite.
I love seeing live bands in smaller venues. My favorite band is Nine Inch Nails although the artist I most enjoy seeing live is Frank Turner.
Luigi’s Pizza is overrated. Come at me!
I like to stay active and try new things. Next on the list is hike Half Dome.
On the professional side, I've been a Certified Financial Planner since 2012, a member of the Fee Only Network since 2017, a member of the Financial Planning Association since 2020, and both the XY Planning Network and NAPFA since 2021.
Dan Johnson is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Our approach is simple—we focus on your entire financial life where investments are just one part of the whole financial picture.
My role as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is to look at your entire financial life, including items such as debt, risk mitigation, education, retirement planning, estate planning, taxes, and more. This also means I will work with the rest of your team (CPAs, Attorney's, etc) to manage your complete financial picture. This might include frequent conversations on your behalf to ensure we coordinate successfully.
TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL PLAN:
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A long-term approach to investing
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Controlling the taxes and fees you pay
By disclosing all fees and providing low cost investment products, you will have a better chance of earning success over time because you will control your costs. We always take in to account your complete financial picture, including where you are now and where you want to be in the future, not just what is happening in the world at this moment.
This approach allows us to constantly keep the focus on your long-term goals, and the result is a financial plan where investments are just one part of that plan.
FINANCIAL PLANNING MAY INCLUDE:
- Debt Management
- Retirement Planning
- 401k Advice
- Educational Goals
- Gifting
- Tax Management
- Estate Planning
- Liability Coverage
Whatever your unique goals, we build a comprehensive financial plan that suits your needs. Through our Flat Annual Fee, we help clients control the fees they pay to advisors, investment products, and taxes. We are dedicated to not only strengthening the financial planning relationship, but also improving the client's retirement picture.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- Tax Planning
- Socially Responsible Investing
- Special Needs Planning
Ideal Clients
- Generation X Professionals
- Physicians
- Accountants
- Attorneys
- Sales Professionals
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Dan Johnson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Dan Johnson is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Dan Johnson is a Member of the XY Planning Network
The XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
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Dan Johnson is a Member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)
FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
Contact Dan Johnson
Office Locations:
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1700 W Market St
#192
Akron, OH 44313