Brian is a partner, senior advisor, and Chief Investment Officer at North Berkeley Wealth, helping his clients feel confident in their financial decisions. That may include building a retirement roadmap or crafting a legacy plan that fits the personal dynamics of their family, in addition to stewarding their savings and portfolio through the uncertainties of the market. He is an integral part of the firm’s leadership, heading North Berkeley’s Advisor Team and serving on the Investment Committee.
Before joining North Berkeley, Brian worked at State Street Corporation on pension fund management and accounting for mutual funds. He also served in roles at Merrill Lynch and a private investment management team in San Jose.
He serves on the Board of the UC Berkeley Extension Financial Planning Program. In his rare free time, Brian has volunteered with organizations that promote financial literacy education in local schools and promoted statewide personal finance curriculum.
Outside the office, Brian and his wife Ashley live in North Berkeley and try to keep up with their four active children and their plethora of activities.
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Education, Certifications, & Affiliations
- CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) certification
- B.S. in Finance and International Business, Santa Clara University
- Chair of the Advisory Board, UC Berkeley Personal Financial Planning program
- Member, Financial Planning Association (FPA)
The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
More About Brian
Outside of work I like to work with my hands. That can mean gardening, woodworking, or refurbishing parts of my old house (built in 1929!). Most of my workday is collaboration and strategy with clients, so I recharge by engaging in hands-on projects.
The best advice I ever received was that “A society grows great when old men plant trees, whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” I have the privilege of helping people think about their life, long-term investing, and their financial legacy – but we still must take action and plant the seeds in the present. It is this balance of deliberate planning and tangible actions that led me to financial advising and impact investing and keeps me learning still.
My favorite part about being an advisor is the opportunity to build relationships with a wide range of clients and help them as their lives evolve. Each client has their own story, and our work with them is tailored to match their current life stage as new questions arise, and that keeps each day interesting.
Articles by Brian
New Frontiers for Energy Resilience
The future of energy production, especially with the demands of AI and cloud computing, hinges on a balanced and sustainable mix of sources. As established technology companies partner with nuclear startups, new sustainable solutions could help meet the rising demand without further exacerbating climate concerns.
Investing and Elections: What History Tells Us
Throughout US history, presidents generally receive too much credit or blame for economic conditions during their administration. A larger driver of stock performance is the business cycle, which is influenced by a multitude of factors ranging from technological revolutions to globalization.
Market Patterns and Heat Waves
Q2 2024 Market Commentary
Markets have been experiencing a heat wave recently, with stronger than usual growth over the past twelve months. While that growth continued in the third quarter, patterns shifted and a new array of sectors helped lead the broad market higher.