Brian Kozel, CFP - Partner and CIO

Brian Kozel, CFP®

Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer

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 Kozel, CFP®

When Bonds Make Headlines

When Bonds Make Headlines

September 4, 2026
Brian Kozel, CFP®
Earnings Are Catching Up

Earnings Are Catching Up

August 13, 2026
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Achieving Climate Goals in the Age of AI

Achieving Climate Goals in the Age of AI

July 10, 2026
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