🔎 Firm Focus

Tax-Focused Financial Planning for High-Income Physicians

Real Financial Planning for High-Stress Physicians

25 Certified Advisor Reviews™

Akron, OH | Tax-Focused Financial Planning for High-Income Physicians

Introductory Call

20+

Years of Experience

10+

Years as a CFP Professional

Dozens

Physician Clients

100%

Fee-Only Planning

Ideal Client Profile

Who we serve

We work best with high-income physicians who are successful in their careers but recognize that managing taxes, investments, retirement, risk, and the rest of their financial lives has become too complicated to do alone. My flat-fee approach brings those pieces together into one coordinated plan focused on their Lowest Lifetime Tax Bill.

Physicians

High-income physicians who have built significant wealth and want a coordinated plan for the financial life ahead.

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Get to know us

Tax-Focused Financial Planning for High-Income Physicians

Forward Thinking Wealth Management was founded in 2016 with a simple idea: financial advice should be based on the knowledge, experience and service an advisor provides—not on how much money a client has.

Today, I primarily work with high-income physicians who have built significant wealth and want help coordinating the many pieces of their financial lives. My approach is built around Your Financial Life as a Whole—looking at taxes, investments, retirement, insurance and estate planning together rather than as separate decisions.

A major focus is proactive tax planning, with the goal of helping clients work toward their Lowest Lifetime Tax Bill over the course of their lives.

I am a CFP® professional and Enrolled Agent (EA), and Forward Thinking is an independent, fee-only firm. Clients pay a transparent flat fee for ongoing financial planning and investment management.

The goal is simple: help successful physicians make informed decisions with their wealth so their money supports the life they want to live.

(330) 835-6205

Website

What Our Clients Are Saying

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Dan helps me set clear personal financial goals and tailors his advice to meet those goals instead of offering generic recommendations. Most importantly, he cares about his clients' long-term success. I highly recommend FTWM to anyone seeking an advisor for comprehensive financial planning.

Michael Katz, February 2026

I always come away from conversations with Dan feeling better informed and more capable of making wise financial decisions. Our partnership with Dan has contributed greatly to my peace of mind and sense of security about the future.

Linda Wilkins, February 2026

Most importantly, Dan takes the time to explain everything. There is no such thing as a “dumb question” with Dan. We feel informed, not overwhelmed, and confident about the road ahead.

Maureen Fearon, February 2026

Testimonials provided by current Forward Thinking Wealth Management clients and may not be representative of the experiences of other clients. The clients were not compensated, nor are there material conflicts of interest. ↗️ View a complete list of reviews on our Wealthtender profile.

What We Do

Services

Comprehensive financial planning designed to bring your financial life together.

  1. Tax Planning

    Proactive tax planning designed to help you make better decisions today while working toward your Lowest Lifetime Tax Bill over time.

  2. Retirement Planning

    Build a clear roadmap for turning your accumulated wealth into sustainable retirement income while preparing for taxes, market changes and the unexpected.

  3. Investment Management

    Investment management built around your goals, tax situation, risk tolerance and overall financial plan—not simply a portfolio benchmark.

  4. Wealth & Financial Planning

    We coordinate the many moving parts of your financial life—including cash flow, estate planning, insurance and major financial decisions—so they work together rather than in isolation.

  5. Risk Management

    Review your insurance and other risks to help protect the wealth you've worked hard to build, including opportunities that may be overlooked in a traditional financial plan.

Schedule a Call

Watch

Doctors Playing Catch-up for Retirement Savings

Quick tips for physicians hoping to outperform the market as they attempt to catch-up on their retirement savings.

Get in touch

Conversation

In conversation with Daniel P. Johnson, CFP®, EA

Founder and Financial Planner

WT

Wealthtender

What makes your approach different?

Dan Johnson

I don't believe your investments, taxes, retirement, insurance and estate plan should be viewed as separate pieces. I look at Your Financial Life as a Whole and help clients understand how decisions in one area affect the others. I also work on a flat-fee basis, so my advice isn't driven by the amount of money you have invested with me.

DJ
WT

Wealthtender

What does your planning process look like when you first begin working with a client?

Dan Johnson

When a new client joins us, we don't try to solve everything in the first meeting. Over the first two to three months, we take clients through a series of four meetings that I call Advanced Financial Planning. We spend that time getting to know the client, understanding their goals and thoroughly diagnosing their financial situation before we prescribe solutions. By the end of the process, we have a much clearer picture of how the pieces of their financial life fit together and where we can make the biggest difference.

DJ
WT

Wealthtender

How do you help clients feel confident about their financial future?

Dan Johnson

I think confidence comes from understanding, not from being told that everything will be fine. I help clients see how the pieces of their financial life fit together, what could go wrong, and what we can do about it. My job is to give them a clear plan and help them make informed decisions along the way.

DJ
WT

Wealthtender

What led you to create a flat-fee financial planning firm?

Dan Johnson

I was working at a traditional investment-focused firm I was expected to eventually take over. The turning point came when a client wanted to take money from their account to make a charitable gift. The lead advisor's response was, “I can't lose those assets.” That stuck with me. I didn't want my advice to ever be influenced by whether a client kept money with me. So in 2016, I left that firm and built Forward Thinking Wealth Management from scratch as a flat-fee firm. Clients pay for my knowledge, experience and service—not for how much money I manage.

DJ
WT

Wealthtender

Why do you specialize in working with physicians?

Dan Johnson

I like working with physicians because they tend to be good at delegating, they follow through, and they look at the big picture. They also appreciate the clarity of my flat-fee model—they know what they're paying without having to wonder whether my advice is influenced by how much money I manage. Those are exactly the kinds of clients I enjoy working with.

DJ
WT

Wealthtender

When does a successful physician really need a financial planner?

Dan Johnson

Usually, it's not because something is wrong. It's because their financial life has become complicated enough that the decisions start affecting one another. Taxes, retirement income, investments, insurance and estate planning can no longer be considered in isolation. At that point, having someone step back and look at Your Financial Life as a Whole can uncover opportunities and give you clarity about the decisions ahead.

DJ
Get to know Dan Johnson

Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we are most often asked.

Forward Thinking Wealth Management is a fee-only, flat-fee firm. Clients pay for financial planning and investment management based on the knowledge, experience and service I provide—not commissions or a percentage of assets under management.

Yes. I serve as a fiduciary, putting my clients' interests first when providing financial advice.

No. I don't require a minimum investment or minimum account size. My fees are based on the scope of the work and service required, not the amount of assets you have.

I primarily work with high-income physicians, particularly those who have accumulated significant wealth and are looking for help coordinating the many pieces of their financial lives.

We start with an introductory conversation to determine whether we're a good fit. If we decide to work together, our Advanced Financial Planning process begins with four meetings over the first two to three months, giving us time to thoroughly understand your situation before recommending solutions.

Yes. Investment management is included in my flat fee; we charge no separate fee for that service. I manage investments as one part of the overall financial plan rather than treating the portfolio as the plan itself.

Yes. Many of the physicians I work with have successfully managed their own finances and investments for years. They aren't looking for someone to simply take over their portfolio—they want a professional who can bring together the tax, investment, retirement and other financial decisions that become increasingly important as their wealth and career progress.

I work with physicians throughout Ohio and virtually with clients across the country. While many of my clients are in Northeast Ohio, geography isn't a barrier to working together.

Next Steps

Your Financial Life. As a Whole.

Get a clear plan for your taxes, investments, retirement and the financial decisions that matter most—working toward your Lowest Lifetime Tax Bill along the way.

Introductory Call

Forward Thinking Wealth Management, LLC is an Investment Adviser registered with the State of Ohio. Please contact us at 330-835-6205 if there is any change in your financial situation, needs, goals or objectives, or if you wish to initiate any restrictions on the management of the account or modify existing restrictions. Additionally, we recommend you compare any account reports from FTWM with the account statements from your Custodian. Please notify us if you do not receive statements from your Custodian on at least a quarterly basis. Our current disclosure brochure, Form ADV Part 2, is available for your review upon request. This disclosure brochure, or a summary of material changes made, is also provided to our clients on an annual basis.