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 a Akron, OH fee-only financial planner that operates under a flat fee model. Forward Thinking Wealth Management provides comprehensive and objective financial planning to help clients 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.
I have a very different background than most financial planners. After finishing grad school at The Ohio State University I spent over a decade working for local cities in west Michigan in city management focusing on economic development. Eventually my wife and I wanted to move back to the Akron, Ohio area to raise our family and I made the shift to working in the financial services industry. I spent roughly a decade working first at Merrill Lynch and then at a small investment firm in the greater Akron area before deciding to launch my own firm. I created my own firm because I believe charging one flat fee is a better way to serve my fellow GenX members.
I currently live in Akron, Ohio with my wife and two sons. Outside of work I’ve served my community with past memberships of the Julie Billiart of St. Sebastian Parish Board, which is a Catholic grade school for children with special needs, and also the Village of St. Edwards Nursing Home, as well as the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Alumni Board. During my free time, I spend as much time as possible with my family, which mostly seems to involve swim meets.
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.
Contact Dan Johnson
Office Locations:
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1700 W Market St
#192
Akron, OH 44313