Helen Zhao Headshot Image

Helen ZhaoHelen Zhao, CFP ®, CFA®
Wealth Planner

About Helen

Helen Zhao is an Executive Director and Wealth Planner covering Orange County and the LA Coastal region for J.P. Morgan Wealth Management’s Wealth Planning and Advice team. 

Helen partners with advisors and their clients to deliver comprehensive wealth planning guidance. She is passionate about helping clients navigate a wide range of planning topics—from retirement and estate strategies to pre- and post-transactional planning, equity compensation, concentrated stock positions and philanthropic giving—so they can move forward with confidence and clarity. By leveraging her deep understanding of advisor-client dynamics and coordinating with clients’ external estate attorneys and other advisors, she helps integrate actionable planning strategies aligned with each client’s personal and financial goals.

Helen joined J.P. Morgan in 2025 and brings over 15 years of experience to her role, including more than a decade at Morgan Stanley, where she served as a Financial Planning Director in Los Angeles County. Earlier in her career, Helen was a practicing CPA at Deloitte Tax and Ernst & Young, allowing her to build a strong technical foundation and develop a broad perspective on wealth planning.

Helen holds an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder. She also teaches in UCLA Extension’s CFP® exam preparation program and is fluent in Mandarin. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and rollerblading.

CFP Board owns the marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the U.S.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute

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