BIO
Elijah Souza, CFP® is a Partner at Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management and a Santa Monica–based Wealth Advisor with over a decade of experience working with executives and entrepreneurs in the entertainment, sports, and technology industries. Recently, Elijah was named a Leader of Influence: Wealth Manager by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Serving clients across Los Angeles, Elijah works closely with studio executives, production leaders, athletes, founders, and tech leaders as they navigate complex compensation structures, equity awards, performance bonuses, and liquidity events.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Elijah provides full-service financial planning and investment management tailored to high-achieving professionals. Elijah is particularly experienced in advising entertainment industry professionals maneuver fluctuating income, backend participation, stock options, RSUs, and deferred compensation. His goal is to help clients reduce taxes, protect assets, and build long-term financial security while maintaining flexibility in dynamic careers. From there, he develops a customized plan and provides ongoing adjustments as careers and life circumstances evolve.
Elijah’s path to becoming a financial advisor in Los Angeles was shaped by a global and multicultural perspective. Born and raised in Hawaii with Portuguese and Filipino roots, he developed a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and financial journeys. As a competitive athlete, he paddled traditional Hawaiian canoes, played centerfield in baseball, and excelled as a defensive back in football, building the discipline and drive that now define his advisory practice.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Elijah shares, “When I saw people come to Hawaii from all over the world and buy their dream homes on the beach, I didn’t just wonder how they did it. I was inspired to understand the process and acquire the knowledge necessary to help others realize their financial dreams.”
Today, Elijah’s mission is to guide executives and entrepreneurs through strategic financial planning so they can achieve their long-term goals and live fully, without financial uncertainty.
A graduate of Loyola Marymount University and a resident of Playa del Rey, Elijah enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachelle, their two children Teddy and Evie, and their dog, Nala. Outside the office, you’ll often find him playing beach volleyball or planning his next international adventure, having traveled to more than 20 countries.
If you are navigating equity compensation, variable income, or a major liquidity event, connect with Elijah to build a strategy that turns complexity into clarity and confidence. Schedule a consultation today to take control of your financial future with a disciplined plan designed to grow alongside your career.
Designation Disclaimers
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
August 25, 2021
Asian American advisors see unmet potential for industry amid success
Financial advisors Marguerita Cheng and Elijah Souza share two things in common: They’re two of the thousands of Asian American or Pacific Islander wealth management professionals, and both say they didn’t even know their chosen line of work existed when they were growing up.
