Ezra Berger, CFP®
JD Candidate at University of California, Berkeley - School of Law- Claim this Profile
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Spanish Limited working proficiency
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Credentials
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Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
CFP BoardJul, 2022- Oct, 2024 -
Certified Lean Green Belt
Haley & AldrichJan, 2017- Oct, 2024 -
Certified Lean Practitioner
Rona Consulting GroupJun, 2015- Oct, 2024
Experience
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University of California, Berkeley - School of Law
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United States
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Higher Education
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100 - 200 Employee
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JD Candidate
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Aug 2023 - Present
Extracurriculars: • Alternative Dispute Resolution Team • Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law Extracurriculars: • Alternative Dispute Resolution Team • Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law
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Kikoff
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United States
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Software Development
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1 - 100 Employee
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Product & Business Development
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Sep 2022 - Aug 2023
Kikoff is a leading fintech company and lender in the consumer credit-building space. I spearheaded the ground-up development of an automated debt settlement product (negotiating with creditors to achieve partial debt forgiveness on behalf of consumers). My duties included: • Created the business development strategy for Kikoff’s debt settlement vertical • Managed the product development life cycle of Kikoff’s automated, no-fee debt settlement service • Managed day-to-day debt settlement operations and customer support functions • Led business development efforts including gathering business intelligence, negotiating new partnerships with creditors and vendors, and managing existing partnerships • Coordinated with external legal counsel to craft innovative, compliant business processes • Served as Kikoff’s designated subject matter expert on consumer credit recovery and debt management strategies Show less
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International Rescue Committee
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Financial Coach
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Oct 2021 - Sep 2022
The International Rescue Committee is one of the primary refugee resettlement agencies in the US. My tenure at IRC coincided with the evacuation of Afghanistan and the largest resettlement of refugees within the US since the end of the Vietnam War. I had the immense privilege of working closely with many newly arrived Afghan families to help them establish the economic stability and financial literacy skills needed to survive and thrive in their new country. As Senior Financial Coach for San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties, I provided a variety of services to refugees, asylum seekers and low-income Americans: • Delivered individual financial coaching, group financial literacy classes, and affordable loan underwriting services. • Provided both short-term emergency financial counseling and long-term coaching and assistance to dozens of clients in the East Bay and San Francisco. • Developed relationships of trust and rapport with clients and their families, often working with interpreters. • Assisted clients with financial tasks like budgeting, credit-building, low-interest loan applications, car buying, debt management, insurance planning, debt negotiation, tax filing, job hunting, education planning, public benefit enrollment, and housing searches. • Supported clients in navigating consumer finance and legal challenges, including identity theft, bankruptcy, workers’ compensation, eviction, insurance claims, and financial scams. Show less
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Resolve
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United States
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Software Development
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1 - 100 Employee
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Operations Director | Consumer Debt Counselor
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Sep 2019 - Oct 2021
Resolve was a financial management platform created to provide affordable and unbiased help for people in financial distress. • Consulted with hundreds of people struggling with debt via phone, text and email. Helped them understand, evaluate, and select financial solutions appropriate to their situation. • Guided clients through the implementation of debt resolution strategies, usually over several months. Primary strategies covered included debt management (reduced interest rates), debt settlement (partial debt forgiveness), and bankruptcy (Chapters 7 and 13). • Leveraged inside knowledge of creditor policies and practices to help clients minimize lawsuit risk, reduce collections harassment, and secure maximum flexibility and debt forgiveness from creditors. • Served as the dedicated "debt expert" for our 8,000+ user base. Answered questions on personal finance and consumer debt-related topics. • Compiled a database of 200+ US banks and collectors and their consumer debt relief policies and practices. • Hired, trained, and managed 20+ credit counselors and debt negotiators. Show less
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Grove (acquired by Wealthfront)
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United States
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Financial Services
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Financial Planner
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Apr 2019 - Aug 2019
Grove was a fee-only investment advisor firm that focused on expanding access to high quality financial planning for the “High Earners, Not Rich Yet (HENRY)" demographic. The firm closed in August 2019. Prepared comprehensive financial plans for clients as part of an 11-member advisor team • Gathered and analyzed client financial data • Constructed personalized, cash flow-based saving and investment plans • Recommendations covered asset allocation and fund selection, education planning, employee benefits, insurance needs, home purchases, equity compensation, and estate planning Fielded calls from prospective clients to assess their fit, explain our service offerings, and promote conversion. Show less
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UC Berkeley Extension
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Higher Education
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100 - 200 Employee
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Financial Planning Student
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Aug 2018 - Apr 2019
• Student Advisory Board • Outstanding Student Award • Completed courses in Personal Financial Planning, Investments, Income Taxes, Insurance Planning, Behavioral Finance, Estate Planning, Employee Benefits, and Real Estate Investing • Student Advisory Board • Outstanding Student Award • Completed courses in Personal Financial Planning, Investments, Income Taxes, Insurance Planning, Behavioral Finance, Estate Planning, Employee Benefits, and Real Estate Investing
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University of California, San Francisco
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Management Consultant
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Oct 2016 - Aug 2018
• Conducted special projects for senior leadership as part of UCSF's internal management consulting team• Leveraged Lean methods to foster a culture of continuous improvement and strategic alignment throughout the organization. • Delivered group trainings and individual coaching on effective problem-solving to hundreds of UCSF staff.• Directly supported executive leaders through the annual strategic planning process.• Implemented Lean management systems with management and frontline staff.• Led multi-day, cross-functional business process improvement workshops (kaizen). Oversaw implementation of selected improvements across a wide array of operational areas.• Specialized in designing and facilitating critical business meetings for clients. Show less
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Management Consultant
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Sep 2014 - Oct 2016
Internal management consultant focused on business process improvement, group facilitation, and Lean transformation.
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EARTHWORKS
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United States
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Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Foundation Relations Officer
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Nov 2013 - Aug 2014
• Foundation research and grant writing at a national environmental advocacy organization with a $2M annual budget • Grants management for a 17-person team spread across seven US states, including financial reporting. • Authored and coordinated 13 successful grant proposals for a total of $660,000 in revenue over an eight-month period. Primary author of 21 grant proposals and 21 grant reports • Identified prospective new sources of foundation funding and stewarded relationships with existing funders Show less
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University of California, Santa Cruz
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Fundraising Analyst
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Feb 2012 - Nov 2013
• Primary assistant to Campaign Director during the quiet phase of the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, with a $300M goal.• Coordinated six executive roundtables in California and the East Coast to build preliminary campaign support among top-tier university donors. Created and maintained an internal campaign website to keep university insiders apprised of campaign progress.• Primary assistant to the Director of Foundation Relations. Authored and edited grant proposals and assisted with management of grants of up to $1M. Researched foundations for cultivation and solicitation and matched funders with eligible university programs. Identified and implemented best practices at a relatively young Foundation Relations Office.• Assisted Major Gift Officers with donor communications and solicitation documents. Show less
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Campaign Assistant
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Jul 2011 - Feb 2012
• Composed case statements to solicit donor support for specific projects. • Created marketing materials for broad university constituencies (factsheets, web pages, news articles, etc.).• Secured $25,000 grant to support scholarships for biomedical science undergraduates. • Assisted Major Gift Officers in various capacities (e.g., donor research, correspondence, strategic communication).
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Education
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2023 - 2026
University of California, Berkeley - School of Law
Doctor of Law - JD -
2018 - 2019
UC Berkeley Extension
Professional Certificate, Personal Financial Planning -
2007 - 2011
Brown University
B.A, Public Policy -
Pacific Collegiate Charter
High School Diploma
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