Behavioral Finance Experts 2025

I am the Founder of Bountisphere, a personal money management platform designed to help Americans regain control of their money. My background is unique in Fintech: I hold a PhD in Classical Studies and have years of experience in AI and Behavioral Science. I realized that traditional budgeting apps fail because they ignore human psychology. That is why I built Bountisphere to turn the tangle of everyday money management into a simple Money Calendar. We combine behavioral insights with AI-powered coaching to help users stop looking backward at their expenses and start forecasting their future daily balances. Prior to Bountisphere: I was the inaugural COO at Memre.ai, bringing advanced learning algorithms to market. I served as Founding Editor of Westbrae Literary Group. I am available to comment on: The psychological shift from "Tracking" to "Forecasting." Why "Financial Peace of Mind" requires visualizing the future, not just budgeting the present. How AI is changing personal finance for Americans.

Dr. Trillion Small is a licensed mental health clinician, mental performance coach, and behavioral finance consultant with over 12 years of experience helping corporations, executives, and high-performance professionals close the gap between human behavior and business outcomes. As founder of Trillion Institute, she works with C-suite leaders, professional athletes, Olympians, and ETA searchers on cognitive performance, organizational resilience, and leadership development under pressure. She holds a PhD in clinical counseling and a Global Executive MBA from Duke University. She is a TEDx founder and international TEDx speaker. Dr. Small advises organizations on behavioral finance, psychological safety architecture, and cross-cultural leadership with an expanding practice focused on U.S.-Africa executive markets.

I am a U.S.-focused finance professional with over 10 years of experience in investment analysis, personal finance strategy, and accounting. I founded FinanceIdeas.org, where I publish real-world guides that help individuals and families solve complex financial problems; from retirement anxiety to market panic. My background blends academia, corporate finance, and consulting. I have served as a lecturer in accounting and as a financial analyst supporting strategic decisions in the investment sector. Today, I share my research-backed financial strategies in global media outlets and academic platforms like SSRN and ResearchGate. I specialize in topics such as investment psychology, risk-adjusted portfolio strategies, crypto investing, and behavior-driven financial planning. My goal is to translate timeless financial wisdom into actionable steps anyone can use to build long-term wealth. Need expert insights on crypto, investing, Accounting or financial panic-proofing? Contact me via FinanceIdeas.org or just e-mail me directly at kumartaposbanarjee@gmail.com

Nick is a fee-only financial planner and founder of ClearMind Capital, where he works with individuals and families navigating major life and financial transitions. He has spent 8+ years in the financial planning profession, advising clients on retirement planning, tax strategy, investment design, and long-term decision-making. Nick earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in April 2023 and also holds the ChFC® and CLU® designations. He is a founding member of the Integrative Wealth Advisor (IWA®) designation, a newly launched professional standard focused on aligning financial planning with broader life priorities and well-being. He is frequently sought out for his ability to explain nuanced financial topics...such as retirement readiness, Social Security planning, portfolio construction, and the behavioral side of money—in a way that is clear, grounded, and accessible. Nick brings real-world context and thoughtful perspective to personal finance, making him a trusted resource for journalists seeking clarity, insight, and meaningful analysis.

Dr Leanne Elich is an unshakeable optimist. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Leanne has devoted her professional life to helping advance a vision of the world. She is fascinated by the people and organisations that make the greatest and longest-lasting impact. Her work has uncovered remarkable patterns in how people think, behave, and communicate in the environments in which they operate at their best. Dr Leanne Elich is an award-winning Neuroscientist and Behavioural Economist, and a sought-after expert in psychology and neuroscience applied to business and high-performance teams. She is the CEO of Leanne Elich Consulting, an advisory firm that works with individuals, teams, and organisations, specialising in teaching tools, tactics, and strategies to ethically influence consumer behaviour. With a PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology and an extensive publication record, Leanne was awarded the 2023 Top 20 Women in Business and the 2024 Women in Impact Award, and was inducted into Forbes Women Australia. She is a graduate of the University of Sydney, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Medical School. Leanne’s unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership have attracted international attention. She regularly contributes to national and international media outlets, including ABC Radio, Sydney Morning Herald and Psychology Today. Her mission: Changing business, one brain at a time.

Patrick Höfliger is the founder and CEO of a Swiss AI company applying advanced artificial intelligence to private-equity, M&A, and other high-stakes investment decisions. With more than ten years in investment banking and private equity, he brings first-hand experience from roles that demand trust, rigor, and accountability. He focuses on how AI is reshaping decision-making in finance beyond automation, emphasizing explainability, traceability, and reliability. Patrick is a frequent speaker and sparring partner on the real-world limits and risks of generative AI in professional settings. He is available to comment on AI, investing, and the future of automating complex decision-making.

I'm Dr. Sydney Ceruto, Founder and CEO of MindLAB Neuroscience. I created Real-Time Neuroplasticity™ because I got tired of watching brilliant people sabotage themselves with brains that were working against them. Here's the thing, traditional coaching or therapy talks at the problem. I rewire it. My method targets the neural pathways responsible for decision paralysis, dopamine dysregulation, and that mental fog that hits when stakes are highest. Whether you're leading in tech, building a startup, competing at the elite level, navigating a major life transition, or breaking through performance plateaus, my clients come to me when they've hit a ceiling that ambition alone can't break through. The results? A 40% average jump in decision-making speed. Permanent removal of the patterns that were holding them back. Not temporary fixes. My background is where clinical neuroscience meets real-world application. Dual PhDs in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience from NYU. Dual Master's degrees from Yale: Clinical Psychology and Business Psychology. I also completed Wharton's Executive Development Program and have been invited back as a guest speaker. The work speaks for itself: 4.9 stars across 316+ verified reviews. Over 25 years of practice since founding in 2000. In 2024, I received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Coaching Congress. In 2025, the Five Star Global Award. In 2022, the CREA Global Innovation Award. I'm an inductee in Marquis Who's Who in America. On the media side, I've been an Executive Contributor to Forbes Coaches Council since 2019 and serve as Senior Writer for Brainz Magazine. My work has appeared in Forbes, USA Today, Newsweek, Associated Press, Cosmopolitan, Business Insider, Fox Business, and CBS News. Simon & Schuster reached out to me about writing a book on dopamine. The Dopamine Code: How to Rewire Your Brain for Happiness and Productivity comes out in June 2026, with a workbook alongside it. For media inquiries, contact: media@mindlabneuroscience.com

I have over 20 years of experience helping successful families navigate the ever changing field of financial planning. New laws, new fads, and new "rules of thumb" are always coming out. My goal is always to help my clients sift through the noise and focus on the things they can control. I have always believed there are two E's of investing, economics and emotion. Handling both in a proactive, deliberate manner helps my clients to keep perspective of what is important on their financial journey

Harvard-trained I/O Psychologist and Assessor, 3X Founder helping leaders in VC/PE funds and in their Portfolio Companies (PortCos) elevate their leadership impact. I provide psychological insights to leadership effectiveness, give behavioral insights to drive top performance, and bring clarity to investment decisions.

Baruch Mann is an independent financial expert and commentator focused on consumer finance, investing, and personal wealth decision-making. He specializes in analyzing banking products, credit cards, investment platforms, and alternative assets, helping consumers understand costs, risks, and long-term trade-offs before making financial decisions. With years of hands-on experience reviewing financial products and market offerings, Baruch is known for breaking down complex financial topics into clear, practical insights grounded in real use cases and data. His work emphasizes transparency, fair comparisons, and consumer-first analysis rather than promotional narratives.

Jere Salmisto is the founder of CalcFi, a free personal-finance calculator platform where every formula traces to a primary public source — IRS publications, Federal Reserve series, Treasury tables, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CFPB, and HUD. He also runs Autonomatica, a studio building quantitative-automation systems, backtesting pipelines and rule-based decision tools. Before CalcFi he was CEO at Topair Nordic (industrial sales and operations) and led B2B commercial execution across multiple companies. That operator background shapes how he writes about finance: numbers must reproduce by hand, sources are cited on the page, and tools are free forever. Available for commentary on consumer finance, paycheck/tax/mortgage math, retirement planning, systematic trading logic, finance-tool usability, and anything business and motivation-related. Independent researcher (ORCID 0009-0000-0916-8684). Curator of CalcFi Open Data — 34 free CC-BY-4.0 financial and macro time series mirrored daily from FRED, BLS, BEA, US Treasury, FDIC, EIA, World Bank, and CoinGecko. Archived with permanent DOIs at Figshare (10.6084/m9.figshare.32332290), Zenodo (CERN-backed), OSF, Kaggle, and Mendeley Data. A methodology paper on k-anonymized calculator-run aggregates is currently under SSRN review. Finnish/Estonian founder commenting on published IRS, CFPB, Fed, and BLS primary sources. Not a licensed US CPA or tax attorney.

I'm a specialist commercial finance broker with 16 years of experience helping Australian business owners access commercial property finance. As founder of Smart Business Plans, I've overseen $550 million in commercial finance across more than 3,300 clients, with a 92% approval rate working across a panel of 60+ specialist lenders. My expertise sits at the intersection of commercial property, business finance, and wealth strategy — particularly for small to medium business owners looking to buy their own premises, invest through their SMSF, or fund development projects. I work exclusively in the commercial space, which means I specialise where the major banks often can't or won't go. I'm also the author of The Premise Effect (2026), which makes the case for why Australian business owners are leaving millions on the table by renting rather than owning their business premises. I'm available to comment on: commercial property finance, SMSF borrowing, business lending, commercial mortgage rates, Australian property market trends, and small business wealth building.

Neil Datta is a seasoned investment professional with over two decades of experience across family offices, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, and institutional asset management. As Founder and Managing Partner of NKD Advisory, he advises ultra-high-net-worth families, sovereign investors, and entrepreneurs on how to navigate alternatives while also launching innovative private credit and multi-asset strategies. Over his career, Neil has personally reviewed 2,000 fund managers globally—giving him one of the most comprehensive perspectives in the industry. His expertise bridges institutional rigor with the personalized needs of family offices, making him a trusted voice on how wealth is created, preserved, and transitioned across generations. Family Offices & UHNW: Neil speaks frequently about intergenerational dynamics, governance, and how younger heirs are driving new allocations into venture, technology, and impact investing. He also highlights the lifestyle dimensions of wealth, from philanthropy and passion investing to structuring real estate, art, and sports holdings. Hedge Funds & Portfolio Management: With deep experience allocating to hedge funds, Neil offers insight into liquidity vs. performance trade-offs, the rise of multi-strategy firms, and the behavioral discipline required for long-term success. He emphasizes portfolio construction around risk exposures rather than rigid asset classes, backed by stress testing and scenario analysis. Venture Capital & Private Equity: Having founded a venture-backed fintech platform that raised $2M from institutional investors, Neil brings founder empathy to venture discussions. He comments on GP/LP dynamics, the boom in co-investments, and opportunities across fintech, healthcare, consumer, and sports/media. Institutional Asset Management: Early experience at Salomon Smith Barney shaped Neil’s institutional lens—governance, diversification, and balancing beta vs. alpha. He applies these lessons for family offices without the bureaucratic inertia of large institutions. Neil is known as a connector of people, capital, and ideas. His global network spans top hedge funds, private equity firms, and next-generation wealth leaders, and his perspectives are sought by media for their clarity and accessibility. He combines technical authority with the human dimension of wealth, offering not just financial insights but also a narrative of how money, meaning, and modernity intersect in today’s economy.

I work with busy successful individuals and families who are looking to take control of their financial future without getting bogged down in confusing details. With over 13 years of experience, I help high earners and those approaching retirement make smart, impactful decisions confidently. As a flat-fee fiduciary, my mission is clear: to provide you with honest, personalized guidance that brings peace of mind. If you're unsure about hiring a financial advisor, let’s hop on a call. I’ll guide you on the right questions to ask, so you can confidently find the perfect advisor for your needs, no strings attached.

PhD in behavioral science (London School of Economics). Passionate about understanding decisions and behavior, specifically in the context of health and healthcare.

Clinical psychologist, adjunct faculty (Emory University School of Medicine), and expert in a variety of topics in the field. I have published on bipolar disorder, trauma, suicide, relationships, and domestic violence. Here is my Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HqllYeoAAAAJ&hl=en I have expertise in mood, anxiety, personality, and trauma-related disorders. I am on the board of the International Bipolar Foundation, where I regularly give webinars and answer a monthly column, "Ask the Expert."

Rishi Upple, FCMA, is a UK based commercial finance leader with over 20 years’ experience shaping strategy inside global blue-chip organisations. With a BA in Economics and Fellowship of CIMA, he operates at the intersection of numbers, narrative, and decision-making. Known for bringing clarity where complexity dominates, Rishi focuses on commercial insight, performance optimisation, and helping leadership teams make better calls under pressure. His approach blends rigorous financial thinking with real-world pragmatism; grounded, human, and outcome-led. Beyond the spreadsheet, his work explores leadership resilience, personal performance, and how finance leaders can create momentum without burnout; commercially sharp, but culturally aware.

Director of Investment Research and Portfolio Manager at a Registered Investment Advisor with specific expertise in asset allocation, fixed income, equities, third-party manager due diligence, risk management, and financial planning. Well versed in ESG and mission-driven investing and analysis. Successful record of maximizing portfolio returns and profits through well developed financial research and quantitative analysis, project management, and client development. Experienced volunteer at nonprofit organizations. CFP certification and Wharton MBA.

I'm a mathematics education professor at UNC Pembroke and the founder of Debt Clarity Tools (debtclaritytools.com) — a platform I built to help everyday people understand and eliminate debt using real math, not motivation. My background is in STEM-Mathematics Education. I earned my PhD from NC State University, where my research focused on how people learn complex quantitative reasoning. I've spent years teaching math at the university level, and I became increasingly frustrated that the personal finance world was filled with hype, vague advice, and emotional appeals — but almost no actual mathematical clarity. So I built something different. Debt Clarity Tools offers free, math-powered calculators that help users see exactly what their debt costs them, when they'll be debt-free, and which payoff strategy saves them the most money. The site also offers digital guides and a comprehensive Debt Freedom Blueprint for people ready to create a real plan. My work sits at the intersection of mathematics education and personal finance literacy. I believe most people aren't bad with money — they just haven't seen the numbers clearly. When they do, behavior changes. Topics I speak and write about: Debt payoff strategies (snowball vs. avalanche — and when each works) The hidden math behind minimum payments Why financial literacy needs to go beyond budgeting How educators and academics can create accessible consumer tools The gap between personal finance content and actual financial math I'm available for expert quotes and media features related to personal finance, financial literacy, mathematics education, and content entrepreneurship.

CA Prateek Mittal is a seasoned financial expert and IBBI Registered Valuer with over two decades of experience in business valuations, corporate finance, and strategic advisory. As the Director of Valuations at [FinVal Research & Consultancy](https://finvalresearch.in), he specializes in delivering high-authority compliance and advisory solutions, including ESOP valuations, corporate guarantee valuations, and startup advisory. A thought leader in the evolving corporate landscape, Prateek frequently publishes insights on cutting-edge industry shifts, from integrating AI and Big Data into valuation practices to navigating ESG compliance risks and supply chain crises. Alongside his valuation expertise, he serves as a Virtual CFO, helping businesses optimize their financial strategies, secure fundraising mandates, and drive operational efficiencies. --- ### Key Media Angles & Topics I Can Comment On: * Regulatory & Compliance Valuations: Deep dives into ESOPs, Corporate Guarantees, and international accounting standards. * The Intersection of Finance & Tech: How AI, big data, and automated tools are transforming modern valuation models. * Startup Ecosystem & Fundraising: Strategic structuring, mid-market growth challenges, and investment readiness. * Risk Management: Evaluating ESG compliance risks and implementing Virtual CFO frameworks during economic volatility.