I Read a Futurist’s Book. It Changed How I Think About Money.
While researching for Knomee, I came across The Future You by renowned futurist Brian David Johnson.
I expected a book on tech or strategy, not personal finance. What I found was a powerful exploration of how we relate to money, and more importantly, how we avoid envisioning our own futures.
That avoidance, Brian argues, leads to financial stress and dissatisfaction. And it resonated deeply.
Brian isn’t a financial advisor. He’s not a planner or fintech founder. He’s a systems thinker trained to help people build better futures.
His insight mirrored groundbreaking research from UCLA’s Hal Hershfield: most people see their future selves as strangers. And when we do that, we delay planning, avoid tradeoffs, and make short-term choices we regret later.
Static Planning Can’t Keep Up with Real Life
Advisors have long used visioning exercises and worksheets to help clients imagine their future selves. And they work, albeit temporarily. But these static tools get filed away and forgotten as life moves on. Priorities shift. Values evolve. Circumstances change.
What people need isn’t another worksheet or planning tool. They need something dynamic that evolves with them.
That’s Where Knomee Comes In
Brian’s book introduced a concept called futurecasting: envisioning the future you want, and working backward to build it. That’s exactly what we’re doing at Knomee.
I reached out to Brian because I realized I’d translated his method into software. Knomee is an intelligent discovery platform that helps people clarify their values, adapt their financial vision, and make confident choices…at scale.
We designed it with one guiding principle: start with self discovery.
The Real Problem Isn’t the Tech—It’s Belief
Brian said it best:
“My biggest concern isn’t AI itself. It’s when people give up control over their future because they don’t believe they have a voice.”
In financial services, we often see clients disengage because they don’t feel heard. They don’t trust the recommendations. They worry that automation is replacing attention. And we can’t solve that with a faster algorithm. We solve it by reconnecting humans to the process.
Traditional planning tools rely on superficial assumptions and impersonal data. They rarely reflect what people actually care about or the detail they envision for their future.
At Knomee, we took a different path. We created a discovery experience rooted in behavioral science, empathy, and real-time insight. One that gives clients a voice. And one that lets advisors scale personalized advice without sacrificing connection.
We’re aiming for sustainable connections that convert and cultivate trust.
Three Questions Every Innovator Should Ask
Brian laid out a powerful framework on the show: before any new technology is adopted, we need to ask three questions:
Is it technologically possible?
Do people want it?
Will they pay for it because it solves a real problem?
If you’re working with financial technology or considering how to integrate AI into your practice, this is your roadmap. Especially #3. The problems that people need solving are personal and solutions should be informed by relevance, clarity, and trust. AI can and will support trusted advisor-client relationships.
The Future of Advice Isn’t a Calculator
I agree emphatically with BDJ that human-centered innovation is the only innovation that lasts. BDJ’s work is rooted in storytelling. He believes we shape the future by telling ourselves new stories about what’s possible. When we reimagine how we want to relate to money, and how technology can empower important relationships, we evolve from selling to solutioning.
Clients don’t just want to know if they can retire. They want to know if they can:
Leave a toxic job
Buy a home on their own
Support aging parents
Stay aligned with what matters most
Futurecasting helps people navigate life decisions with clarity, confidence, and control. It should be done often because life and context are often changing.
🎧 Want to learn more?
Tune into Episode 8 of Knowing Me Knowing You to hear Brian David Johnson talk about futurism, AI, and how we can design financial advice that empowers people.
You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of:
How futurecasting works and how it applies to your financial life
Why trust is more important than ever in an AI-driven world
What advisors and institutions must do to earn and maintain trust
Why agency is the ultimate currency in uncertain times
The future is coming. Build it with intention.
Want to see how Knomee can help you connect deeper, earlier, and smarter with your clients?
👉 Book a demo
