Alex Johnson – Author at TheFinanceTree.com

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

CFP® · Tax-Smart Investing & Retirement Planning

CFP® · B.S. Finance, University of Texas · 12+ Years Experience


About Alex

Alex Johnson is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Texas. With over 12 years of experience, Alex helps young professionals and families build wealth without sacrificing joy.

A former corporate accountant turned full-time writer, Alex specializes in tax-smart investing, retirement planning, and side-hustle strategies. When not crunching numbers, Alex enjoys hiking with their rescue dog and mentoring first-generation college grads on financial independence.


Areas of Expertise

  • 💚 Tax-Smart Investing
  • 💚 Retirement Planning
  • 💚 Economic News Analysis
  • 💚 Side-Hustle Strategies

Credentials

CFP® — Certified Financial Planner™
✅ B.S. Finance, University of Texas
✅ Former Corporate Accountant
✅ 12+ Years Experience

Articles by Alex Johnson (53 articles)

AI Hiring Boom Is Over — Now the Layoffs Begin

AI hiring is slowing as tech firms shift from rapid expansion to discipline. Here’s what the cooldown means for jobs, la…

Economic News
February 27, 2026

Infrastructure Wake-Up Call: The System Is Failing Faster Than Expected

America is pouring trillions into infrastructure, but cracks are widening. Here’s how failing roads, power grids, and po…

Economic News
February 20, 2026

The Compounding Breakdown

High interest rates turned compounding from a wealth builder into a debt trap. Here’s how small money choices now snowba…

Savings & Investment
February 13, 2026

Smart Savings: Simple Ways to Cut Everyday Costs

Even if you feel you need a service, you’re likely spending too much for it and can usually negotiate lower costs …

Savings & Investment
February 1, 2026

How Retirement Contributions Affect Taxes

Putting money into, or taking money out of retirement accounts, can affect your personal federal income taxes….

Savings & Investment
January 22, 2026

Crypto 101: The Top 10 Coins to Watch This Summer

Discover Summer 2025’s top 10 cryptocurrencies for new investors….

Savings & Investment
January 14, 2026

Navigating Self-Employment and the Gig Economy in Today’s Tech-Driven World

The more familiar you are with the basics of self-employment, the easier it will be for you to plan decisions and select…

Economic News
January 2, 2026

Climate vs. Weather: Understanding the Big Picture of Our Planet’s Changing Conditions

There are many scientists who study the climate by analyzing historical weather data, tracking temperature trends, and e…

Economic News
December 20, 2025

Investment Options Under Current Taxation Methods

Any investment takes patience, time, and research to get to any point that a person can be happy about….

Savings & Investment
November 19, 2025

Create An Appreciated Work Environment

The less stress that a person feels while they are working, the more that they will appreciate the job that they have an…

Economic News
November 13, 2025

How Tech is Transforming Lives for People with Disabilities

What were once significant obstacles are now being solved by clever apps, innovative devices and software making communi…

Economic News
November 7, 2025

How to Save Money Using Your Savings Account

Savings is hard, the efforts you make will be rewarded in the future….

Savings & Investment
October 29, 2025

9 Ways a Government Can Ensure Accountability to the People

Keeping public trust and efficient governance depends heavily on ensuring government accountability, which is a fundamen…

Economic News
September 27, 2025

Smartphones: Evolving from Basic Communication Tools to Tech Marvels

The advent of smartphones caused a radical change in how people communicate. Mobile phones have come a long way since th…

Economic News
September 9, 2025

Demographic Change: How Population Trends Shape Our Society

The demographic change is a reality that shapes every aspect of our lives, from economics to culture….

Economic News
September 3, 2025

Understanding Climate Change and Analyzing the Strategic Remedies to Mitigate Disasters

Climate change is a global problem resulting from human activities, mainly deforestation, and industrialization….

Economic News
August 21, 2025

How To Navigate The Stock Market

he stock market generally offers investors higher returns than risk-averse investment vehicles (such as savings accounts…

Savings & Investment
July 22, 2025

How The Growth of The American Infrastructure Is Boosting The Economy

Infrastructure investment creates economic growth by encouraging more businesses to shop within your sector. That increa…

Economic News
July 8, 2025

Beginners Guide to Investments and its Principles

Investments come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one goal: to provide a return on your money….

Savings & Investment
June 27, 2025

Special
May 3, 2024

Special
April 25, 2024

Special
April 21, 2024

Special
April 13, 2024

Special
April 10, 2024

Special
April 2, 2024

Special
March 27, 2024

High Cost of Business School

A four-year business degree is one of those degrees that can take you just about anywhere. You can work in administratio…

Economic News
December 18, 2023

The High Cost of Law School

The decision to go to law school is a big one, and while you may like the idea of earning a generous salary and working …

Economic News
November 24, 2023

College Majors that Don’t Pay Well

Going to college may improve your future job prospects, However, the fact that you may have more opportunities than some…

Economic News
November 13, 2023

Easy And Simple Ways To Save Money As An Undergraduate

Everyone knows the rumor: “College kids are broke.” However, there are simple and easy ways to save money on a college c…

Savings & Investment
September 28, 2023

PrimeRates Market Talk: Facebook, Summers and PPI

In what was expected to be a week dominated by Syria, the markets pivoted almost as fast as Obama to new topics….

Economic News
September 24, 2023

Apple Legally Shelters Billions of Dollars Overseas

Apple is a huge company. While they have been around for nearly four decades; it is only since about the year 2000 that…

Economic News
August 14, 2023

Colleges That Offer the Best Return on Investment

College expenses can accumulate quickly, especially when no scholarships are involved. There are some schools that offe…

Savings & Investment
April 19, 2023

PrimeRates Morning Markets: CPI, Wal-Mart, Japan, Housing And Iron Man

While this time of the year tends to see light trading, there are a few things to keep an eye on. Wal-Mart will report t…

Economic News
January 1, 2023

Surprise! Google+ Is Only Behind Facebook In Social Media

Google+ is still a new player in the game with only two years under its belt, but it has already accumulated 135 million…

Economic News
October 7, 2022

Bracing For the Impact: Doubling of Interest Rates on Student Loans

There is a common question hovering around most college campuses these days. It usually goes, “Will my subsidized studen…

Economic News
March 19, 2022

Hey, What’s Going On With Sallie Mae?

The recent announcement that Sallie Mae is going to split into two companies has more than a few people puzzled. What ex…

Economic News
February 23, 2022

Great Student Loans: Federal vs. Private Borrowing Choices

Federal loans feature a low, fixed rate, and in most cases, repayment does not begin until after graduation. Federal aid…

Savings & Investment
January 11, 2022

Engineering Degrees Offer the Most Financially Rewarding Careers

The NACE compiles information on degrees in Business, Communications, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities & So…

Savings & Investment
December 22, 2021

The Bully Pulpit – Why Rex Reed Should Shut Up

Rex Reed has now come back into notoriety via his recent movie review of the new Jason Bateman/Melissa McCarthy film, Id…

Economic News
March 12, 2021

David v. Goliath – the Kelly Clarkson/Clive Davis Feud

It’s hard to imagine why Clive Davis, a legendary music executive, would find it necessary to single out Kelly Clarkson …

Economic News
March 7, 2021

Sir Richard Branson To Donate Half His Fortune to Charity

Truly a case of paying one’s good fortune forward. Well done, Sir Richard Branson and all the other Giving Pledge suppor…

Economic News
February 22, 2021

Lindsay Lohan Loses Litigation

Does Lindsay Lohan know what tremendous emotional distress it causes me to have to keep writing stories about her bad be…

Economic News
February 18, 2021

Taylor Swift Is Sued; Song To Follow

No matter what the outcome, I’m guessing we’re going to hear a song written about it by Taylor Swift sooner rather than …

Economic News
January 30, 2021

Case Solved: Patricia Cornwell Wins Big In Court

On February 5, we told you about the complicated case of Patricia Cornwell who sued her former financial advisers for re…

Economic News
January 21, 2021

Prince Michael Jackson and the Celebrity Child Syndrome

There are some celebrity offspring who have proven to be talented. But there are others who are probably being cast beca…

Economic News
January 17, 2021

Celebrity Perfumes and Why We Buy Them

Have you ever purchased a celebrity-endorsed perfume for yourself or someone else? And did you ever wonder how this phen…

Economic News
January 10, 2021

Mary J. Blige and Her Tax Woes

Just to show you that being rich and famous doesn’t mean you don’t have financial problems, the sad tale of Mary J. Blig…

Economic News
January 5, 2021

Charlie Sheen, the New Good Guy

The request made its way to Charlie Sheen and he wired $10,000 into the family’s bank account on Valentine’s Day to cove…

Economic News
December 27, 2020

Celebrity Gift Bags and the IRS

Celebrity gift bags are a series of products, services, and other amenities that are given to people who perform or pres…

Economic News
December 22, 2020

Universities Are Required to Publish Net-Price Calculators

Colleges are required to put net-price calculators on their sites. Students now have a much more accurate picture of how…

Economic News
November 30, 2020

All-Star Celebrity Apprentice Proves the Mayan Calendar Was Wrong

Now that we’ve had several seasons of Celebrity Apprentice, NBC has upped their game to launch All-Star Celebrity Appren…

Economic News
November 8, 2020

Setting Up a Savings Account For a Newborn

Establishing a savings account for a newborn represents a surefire ways parents can prepare for a child’s financial futu…

Savings & Investment
September 1, 2020

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

CFP® · Tax-Smart Investing & Retirement Planning

CFP® · B.S. Finance, University of Texas · 12+ Years Experience


About Alex

Alex Johnson is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Texas. With over 12 years of experience, Alex helps young professionals and families build wealth without sacrificing joy.

A former corporate accountant turned full-time writer, Alex specializes in tax-smart investing, retirement planning, and side-hustle strategies. When not crunching numbers, Alex enjoys hiking with their rescue dog and mentoring first-generation college grads on financial independence.


Areas of Expertise

  • 💚 Tax-Smart Investing
  • 💚 Retirement Planning
  • 💚 Economic News Analysis
  • 💚 Side-Hustle Strategies

Credentials

CFP® — Certified Financial Planner™
✅ B.S. Finance, University of Texas
✅ Former Corporate Accountant
✅ 12+ Years Experience

Articles by Alex Johnson (53 articles)

AI Hiring Boom Is Over — Now the Layoffs Begin

AI hiring is slowing as tech firms shift from rapid expansion to discipline. Here’s what the cooldown means for jobs, la…

Economic News
February 27, 2026

Infrastructure Wake-Up Call: The System Is Failing Faster Than Expected

America is pouring trillions into infrastructure, but cracks are widening. Here’s how failing roads, power grids, and po…

Economic News
February 20, 2026

The Compounding Breakdown

High interest rates turned compounding from a wealth builder into a debt trap. Here’s how small money choices now snowba…

Savings & Investment
February 13, 2026

Smart Savings: Simple Ways to Cut Everyday Costs

Even if you feel you need a service, you’re likely spending too much for it and can usually negotiate lower costs …

Savings & Investment
February 1, 2026

How Retirement Contributions Affect Taxes

Putting money into, or taking money out of retirement accounts, can affect your personal federal income taxes….

Savings & Investment
January 22, 2026

Crypto 101: The Top 10 Coins to Watch This Summer

Discover Summer 2025’s top 10 cryptocurrencies for new investors….

Savings & Investment
January 14, 2026

Navigating Self-Employment and the Gig Economy in Today’s Tech-Driven World

The more familiar you are with the basics of self-employment, the easier it will be for you to plan decisions and select…

Economic News
January 2, 2026

Climate vs. Weather: Understanding the Big Picture of Our Planet’s Changing Conditions

There are many scientists who study the climate by analyzing historical weather data, tracking temperature trends, and e…

Economic News
December 20, 2025

Investment Options Under Current Taxation Methods

Any investment takes patience, time, and research to get to any point that a person can be happy about….

Savings & Investment
November 19, 2025

Create An Appreciated Work Environment

The less stress that a person feels while they are working, the more that they will appreciate the job that they have an…

Economic News
November 13, 2025

How Tech is Transforming Lives for People with Disabilities

What were once significant obstacles are now being solved by clever apps, innovative devices and software making communi…

Economic News
November 7, 2025

How to Save Money Using Your Savings Account

Savings is hard, the efforts you make will be rewarded in the future….

Savings & Investment
October 29, 2025

9 Ways a Government Can Ensure Accountability to the People

Keeping public trust and efficient governance depends heavily on ensuring government accountability, which is a fundamen…

Economic News
September 27, 2025

Smartphones: Evolving from Basic Communication Tools to Tech Marvels

The advent of smartphones caused a radical change in how people communicate. Mobile phones have come a long way since th…

Economic News
September 9, 2025

Demographic Change: How Population Trends Shape Our Society

The demographic change is a reality that shapes every aspect of our lives, from economics to culture….

Economic News
September 3, 2025

Understanding Climate Change and Analyzing the Strategic Remedies to Mitigate Disasters

Climate change is a global problem resulting from human activities, mainly deforestation, and industrialization….

Economic News
August 21, 2025

How To Navigate The Stock Market

he stock market generally offers investors higher returns than risk-averse investment vehicles (such as savings accounts…

Savings & Investment
July 22, 2025

How The Growth of The American Infrastructure Is Boosting The Economy

Infrastructure investment creates economic growth by encouraging more businesses to shop within your sector. That increa…

Economic News
July 8, 2025

Beginners Guide to Investments and its Principles

Investments come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one goal: to provide a return on your money….

Savings & Investment
June 27, 2025

Special
May 3, 2024

Special
April 25, 2024

Special
April 21, 2024

Special
April 13, 2024

Special
April 10, 2024

Special
April 2, 2024

Special
March 27, 2024

High Cost of Business School

A four-year business degree is one of those degrees that can take you just about anywhere. You can work in administratio…

Economic News
December 18, 2023

The High Cost of Law School

The decision to go to law school is a big one, and while you may like the idea of earning a generous salary and working …

Economic News
November 24, 2023

College Majors that Don’t Pay Well

Going to college may improve your future job prospects, However, the fact that you may have more opportunities than some…

Economic News
November 13, 2023

Easy And Simple Ways To Save Money As An Undergraduate

Everyone knows the rumor: “College kids are broke.” However, there are simple and easy ways to save money on a college c…

Savings & Investment
September 28, 2023

PrimeRates Market Talk: Facebook, Summers and PPI

In what was expected to be a week dominated by Syria, the markets pivoted almost as fast as Obama to new topics….

Economic News
September 24, 2023

Apple Legally Shelters Billions of Dollars Overseas

Apple is a huge company. While they have been around for nearly four decades; it is only since about the year 2000 that…

Economic News
August 14, 2023

Colleges That Offer the Best Return on Investment

College expenses can accumulate quickly, especially when no scholarships are involved. There are some schools that offe…

Savings & Investment
April 19, 2023

PrimeRates Morning Markets: CPI, Wal-Mart, Japan, Housing And Iron Man

While this time of the year tends to see light trading, there are a few things to keep an eye on. Wal-Mart will report t…

Economic News
January 1, 2023

Surprise! Google+ Is Only Behind Facebook In Social Media

Google+ is still a new player in the game with only two years under its belt, but it has already accumulated 135 million…

Economic News
October 7, 2022

Bracing For the Impact: Doubling of Interest Rates on Student Loans

There is a common question hovering around most college campuses these days. It usually goes, “Will my subsidized studen…

Economic News
March 19, 2022

Hey, What’s Going On With Sallie Mae?

The recent announcement that Sallie Mae is going to split into two companies has more than a few people puzzled. What ex…

Economic News
February 23, 2022

Great Student Loans: Federal vs. Private Borrowing Choices

Federal loans feature a low, fixed rate, and in most cases, repayment does not begin until after graduation. Federal aid…

Savings & Investment
January 11, 2022

Engineering Degrees Offer the Most Financially Rewarding Careers

The NACE compiles information on degrees in Business, Communications, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities & So…

Savings & Investment
December 22, 2021

The Bully Pulpit – Why Rex Reed Should Shut Up

Rex Reed has now come back into notoriety via his recent movie review of the new Jason Bateman/Melissa McCarthy film, Id…

Economic News
March 12, 2021

David v. Goliath – the Kelly Clarkson/Clive Davis Feud

It’s hard to imagine why Clive Davis, a legendary music executive, would find it necessary to single out Kelly Clarkson …

Economic News
March 7, 2021

Sir Richard Branson To Donate Half His Fortune to Charity

Truly a case of paying one’s good fortune forward. Well done, Sir Richard Branson and all the other Giving Pledge suppor…

Economic News
February 22, 2021

Lindsay Lohan Loses Litigation

Does Lindsay Lohan know what tremendous emotional distress it causes me to have to keep writing stories about her bad be…

Economic News
February 18, 2021

Taylor Swift Is Sued; Song To Follow

No matter what the outcome, I’m guessing we’re going to hear a song written about it by Taylor Swift sooner rather than …

Economic News
January 30, 2021

Case Solved: Patricia Cornwell Wins Big In Court

On February 5, we told you about the complicated case of Patricia Cornwell who sued her former financial advisers for re…

Economic News
January 21, 2021

Prince Michael Jackson and the Celebrity Child Syndrome

There are some celebrity offspring who have proven to be talented. But there are others who are probably being cast beca…

Economic News
January 17, 2021

Celebrity Perfumes and Why We Buy Them

Have you ever purchased a celebrity-endorsed perfume for yourself or someone else? And did you ever wonder how this phen…

Economic News
January 10, 2021

Mary J. Blige and Her Tax Woes

Just to show you that being rich and famous doesn’t mean you don’t have financial problems, the sad tale of Mary J. Blig…

Economic News
January 5, 2021

Charlie Sheen, the New Good Guy

The request made its way to Charlie Sheen and he wired $10,000 into the family’s bank account on Valentine’s Day to cove…

Economic News
December 27, 2020

Celebrity Gift Bags and the IRS

Celebrity gift bags are a series of products, services, and other amenities that are given to people who perform or pres…

Economic News
December 22, 2020

Universities Are Required to Publish Net-Price Calculators

Colleges are required to put net-price calculators on their sites. Students now have a much more accurate picture of how…

Economic News
November 30, 2020

All-Star Celebrity Apprentice Proves the Mayan Calendar Was Wrong

Now that we’ve had several seasons of Celebrity Apprentice, NBC has upped their game to launch All-Star Celebrity Appren…

Economic News
November 8, 2020

Setting Up a Savings Account For a Newborn

Establishing a savings account for a newborn represents a surefire ways parents can prepare for a child’s financial futu…

Savings & Investment
September 1, 2020