Expert Bio
Alexander Smith is an expert on behavioral economics (or the psychology of decision-making) and personal finance. Specifically, he seeks to help students and the public understand how interwoven behavioral economics and personal finance are. He can speak about how biases in judgment and decision-making, such as competing long-term goals and short-term rewards, can make it difficult for people to stick to the basic principles of personal finance and money management. His expertise was featured in the New York Times’ Frugal Traveler column in pieces on the use of buy-now-pay-later financing in the travel industry, and on the sometimes-confusing world of value-added tax refunds. He has also spoken with national media outlets including MarketWatch, USA TODAY, and WalletHub about individual choices and perceptions on taxes, investing, and money.
Smith works with students to provide them with advice on how to manage their money and navigate the challenges that might push them off-course from their long-term financial strategies. He suggests finding and utilizing commitment devices and tapping into internal and external motivation to stay on course. He outlines his six rules for building wealth on his personal finance website: FollowThe6.com
