Zachary Bainter, CFP®

Zach Bainter is a Managing Partner and Founding Member of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, where he works closely with individuals, families, and entrepreneurs to build customized financial strategies designed for long-term success. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Zach is known for his ability to combine detailed financial planning with highly personalized client relationships.

Zach has been recognized nationally as a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor and a Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor, distinctions that highlight his leadership, client retention, and growing impact within the wealth management industry. He has also been named a Leader of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal and recognized by InvestmentNews as one of the top financial professionals in the United States.*

Based in Santa Monica and living in Westchester, Los Angeles, Zach works with clients both locally and nationwide. He is especially well known as a financial advisor in Westchester, helping professionals, families, and business owners in the Westside Los Angeles area navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

Zach specializes in advising professionals in the technology and startup sectors, with a particular focus on equity compensation planning, including stock options and RSUs. His approach goes beyond investment management, helping clients align their income, equity, taxes, and long-term goals into a cohesive strategy.

A UCLA magna cum laude graduate, Zach earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science before further specializing in financial planning through Boston University. He began his career in wealth management early and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the youngest Managing Partners at the firm.

Outside of his work as an advisor, Zach is deeply committed to giving back. He and his wife founded the Parker H. Bainter Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families with children in the pediatric ICU by helping cover everyday expenses and providing meaningful support during incredibly difficult times.

Zach is also actively involved in his community and maintains a strong presence in the Westside Los Angeles area. When he is not working with clients, he enjoys endurance sports, including triathlons and long-distance cycling, reflecting the same discipline and long-term mindset he brings to financial planning.

*Industry-specific awards and is not an endorsement

CA Insurance Lic:#0G68359

​

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