Alexa von Tobel,CFP®
Alexa von Tobel is a Certified Financial Planner, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most recognized voices in personal finance. She founded LearnVest, one of the first major fintech companies, which was acquired by Northwestern Mutual for nearly $375 million in 2015.
Today she is the Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Capital, an early-stage venture firm with approximately $900 million in assets under management that has backed nine unicorn companies.
She still believes what she believed at 24 when she dropped out of Harvard Business School in the middle of the Great Recession: financial planning shouldn't be a luxury. It should be a given.
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- Harvard College, AB in Psychology with Honors
- New York Times Bestselling Author
- Founder of LearnVest (acquired ~$375M)
- Founder & Managing Partner, Inspired Capital
- TED Speaker: “One Life-Changing Class You Never Took”
The Journey
- 2006
The Spark at Harvard
While a senior at Harvard College studying psychology, Alexa becomes obsessed with a question: why do smart, capable people have no idea how to manage their money? The idea for LearnVest is born.
- 2006–2008
Morgan Stanley & Drop.io
Begins her career on Morgan Stanley's Proprietary Trading Desk, then helps build Drop.io, an early-stage startup later acquired by Facebook.
- 2008
Drops Out of Harvard Business School
At 24, in the middle of the Great Recession, Alexa leaves Harvard Business School to go all-in on LearnVest, betting everything on the belief that financial planning should be accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy.
- 2009
LearnVest Launches
LearnVest debuts at the TechCrunch50 conference, quickly becoming one of the first major fintech companies focused on making financial planning software accessible to millions of everyday people.
- 2013
Financially Fearless Published
Publishes her first book, “Financially Fearless: The LearnVest Program for Taking Control of Your Money,” introducing the 50/20/30 framework. It becomes a New York Times bestseller.
- 2015
LearnVest Acquired for ~$375M
Northwestern Mutual acquires LearnVest in one of the decade's largest fintech acquisitions. Over 5 million people had used the platform to get their first real financial plan.
- 2015–2019
Chief Digital & Innovation Officer
Becomes Northwestern Mutual's first-ever Chief Digital Officer, leading product and technology strategy. Later promoted to Chief Innovation Officer, overseeing the company's venture arm.
- 2019
Founds Inspired Capital
Launches Inspired Capital, an early-stage venture firm, with co-founder Penny Pritzker. The firm backs the kind of founders Alexa wished she'd had in her corner, writing lead checks from pre-seed to Series A.
- 2019
Financially Forward Published
Publishes her second book, “Financially Forward: How to Use Today's Digital Tools to Earn More, Save Better, and Spend Smarter,” a guide to using modern fintech to upgrade your finances.
- 2024
Inspired Capital Fund III & Nine Unicorns
Inspired Capital closes its third fund, bringing total AUM to approximately $900 million across three funds. The firm has backed nine unicorn companies including Airtable, Chime, Lemonade, and MosaicML.
Awards & Recognition
Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship
Forbes Cover & 30 Under 30
Fortune 40 Under 40
Henry Crown Fellow, Aspen Institute (2016)
World Economic Forum Young Global Leader
Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 & BusinessWeek “Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs”
Published Works
Financially Fearless
The LearnVest program for taking control of your money. It introduced the 50/20/30 framework that has helped millions budget, save, and spend smarter.
Buy on Amazon
Financially Forward
How to use today's digital tools to earn more, save better, and spend smarter. A practical guide for the modern era of personal finance.
Buy on Amazon
