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Danilo Kawasaki, CPWA® CFP®

Vice-President & COO

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BIO

Danilo Kawasaki is the Co-Founder, Vice-President, COO, and Chief Compliance Officer of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management. He serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and Investment Selection Committee. In 2025, Investment News named him a Top Financial Advisor, adding to a long list of honors from ForbesLos Angeles Business Journal, and other industry leaders.

 

Born in São Paulo, Brazil during a time of hyperinflation, Danilo learned the importance of proper wealth management at a very young age. As a top-ranked junior tennis player, he moved to the U.S. as a scholar-athlete and three-time All-American and earned his BS in Business Administration from the University of Redlands. He later earned a Personal Financial Planning certification from UCLA and became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®. Danilo also earned a certificate in Wealth Management Theory & Practice from Yale School of Management and became a Certified Private Wealth Advisor®.

 

After the 2008 financial crisis, Danilo co-founded Gerber Kawasaki with a mission to shake up the industry. He believed clients deserved advice that was personalized, objective, and free from outdated institutional bias. By combining state-of-the-art technology and our personal touch, Gerber Kawasaki clients are offered a very unique experience.

 

Outside the office, Danilo enjoys spending time with his three kids, competing on the paddle tennis courts of the Jonathan Club, golfing at Bel-Air Country Club, and practicing yoga and meditation.

CA Insurance Lic:#0D68977

Designation Disclaimers

Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) certification is an advanced professional certification for advisors who serve high-net-worth clients. It's designed for seasoned professionals who seek the latest, most advanced knowledge and techniques to address the sophisticated needs of clients with a minimum net worth of $5 million. Unlike credentials that focus specifically on investing or financial planning, the CPWA® certification program takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.

 

Minimum qualifications to obtain and maintain the CPWA® certification include: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or one of the following designations or licenses: CIMA, CIMC, CFA, CFP, ChFC or CPA license; A satisfactory record of ethical conduct, as determined by IMCA's Admissions Committee; Five years of professional client-centered experience in financial services or a related industry; Six-month pre-study educational component; In-class program at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, or online program through Yale School of Management; Final exam for in-class portion (online, proctored); and continued education training of 40 hours every two years.

https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations/cpwa

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

 

For more than 30 years, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification has been the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals have met extensive training and experience requirements, and commit to CFP Board's ethical standards that require them to put their clients' interests first.

Candidates for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification must have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university and three years of full-time personal financial planning experience or the equivalent part-time experience (2,000 hours equals one year full-time). Designation training requirements for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification include completion of a CFP-board registered program, or hold one of the following: Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC); Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA); Ph.D. in financial planning, finance, business administration or economics; Doctor of Business Administration; or attorney's license. Following completion of the course requirements, applicants must complete a proctored final certification exam and continuing education of 30 hours every two years.

https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations/cfp

MEDIA

May 29, 2024

Danilo Kawasaki - Elon's Pay Package | Market Watch

Following Tesla’s recent shareholder meeting, Gerber Kawasaki VP, Danilo Kawasaki shares why he believes Elon’s compensation package was fair.

April 22, 2024

Danilo Kawasaki - Tesla Earnings | Market Watch

Over the weekend, Tesla cut prices for many of its vehicles in the US, China, and Europe and discounted the FSD software. How will this affect the future of the company? Co-Founder and COO Danilo Kawasaki shares his concerns with Market Watch.

April 22, 2024

Danilo Kawasaki - Unveiling Unique Approaches | What Matters Most Podcast

Co-Founder and COO of Gerber Kawasaki Danilo Kawasaki shares insights into the strategies driving success in the financial advisory industry on the What Matters Most podcast. From leveraging technology for efficient client communication to the importance of customized money management, Danilo offers a glimpse into our innovative approach. Tune in!

February 5, 2024

Danilo Kawasaki - Whatever Elon Wants | Market Watch

Following more controversial behavior from Elon Musk, such as the recent move from Delaware, GK’s VP Danilo Kawasaki shared his thoughts on why Elon seemingly believes he can act without repercussions from Tesla’s board.

December 27, 2023

Danilo Kawasaki - Improve Your Financial Shape In 2024 | Gerber Kawasaki

At Gerber Kawasaki, we believe in the importance of financial goal setting. Check in with VP Danilo Kawasaki to find out how you can improve your financial shape in 2024!

October 20, 2023

Danilo Kawasaki - 5 Cures For A Lean Wallet | Gerber Kawasaki

VP Danilo Kawasaki, a self proclaimed “natural-born spender”, shares his five most important tips for saving money. Find out how you can cure your lean wallet and improve your budgeting skills.

November 2, 2022

70th Anniversary of the UCLA Economic Forecast!

In addition to quarterly economic forecasts for the United States, California and Los Angeles and topical reports, the Forecast applies its expert econometric modeling and analytic techniques to a wide-variety of projects in partnership with both public and private entities. These projects feature the same independent analysis that users have come to rely upon from the Forecast.

We are proud to be continuous sponsors of UCLA Anderson Forecasts and find all of their research extremely valuable. We had the opportunity to attend their 70th anniversary recently. Check out the pictures and their content page!

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