My Mission Statement
Experience, intellectual capital and dedicated personal service to help you meet your life goals
My Story and Services
After graduating from UCLA in 2021 with a degree in Mathematics and Economics, I started my career as an analyst in tech investment banking with Mizuho Securities in San Francisco. In this role, I contributed to both sell-side and buy-side processes, providing support to deal teams in various transaction stages with a focus on the semiconductor industry. Having spent 3 years in the fast-paced world of investment banking, I honed my skills in financial analysis, market research, and investment strategies. After 3 years, I decided that I wanted a job that where I could work more closely with individual clients as opposed to massive corporations. A natural transition was to join my mother, Hongmin Lu, at Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor. After all, I had grown up hearing stories about how she helped her clients and the strong relationships she developed with them. I realized many of the functions and advisory roles my team and I were in while I was an analyst at an investment bank were the same roles that Hongmin served for her clients. The only difference was that at an investment bank, the clients were large corporations as opposed to single individuals.
The exact role where I could continue utilizing and developing my analytical financial background while making the personal connections and impacts on families and individuals that I was looking for.
My desire at Morgan Stanley is to help understand your life goals and needs and translate those into a goal-based financial plan. I truly believe that the money we make in our life is merely a tool to make our life dreams come true, and not the dream itself. The best way to utilize this tool is to create a written, date-specific, dollar-specific, long-term investment plan and asset allocation model. As I develop a relationship with you and as life throws different curveballs, together we will adjust and update your plan accordingly. My ultimate goal is to help you maximize your long term returns.
Together with Hongmin Lu, we provide our clients with planning, behavioral coaching during periods of financial stress, convenience, peace of mind, and force to maintain discipline all with the backing and massive resources of Morgan Stanley. As a multi-generational team, we leverage a unique blend of experience and expertise to foster collaboration. I understand the importance of embracing diverse perspective and harnessing the collective wisdom of different generations to drive success.
The exact role where I could continue utilizing and developing my analytical financial background while making the personal connections and impacts on families and individuals that I was looking for.
My desire at Morgan Stanley is to help understand your life goals and needs and translate those into a goal-based financial plan. I truly believe that the money we make in our life is merely a tool to make our life dreams come true, and not the dream itself. The best way to utilize this tool is to create a written, date-specific, dollar-specific, long-term investment plan and asset allocation model. As I develop a relationship with you and as life throws different curveballs, together we will adjust and update your plan accordingly. My ultimate goal is to help you maximize your long term returns.
Together with Hongmin Lu, we provide our clients with planning, behavioral coaching during periods of financial stress, convenience, peace of mind, and force to maintain discipline all with the backing and massive resources of Morgan Stanley. As a multi-generational team, we leverage a unique blend of experience and expertise to foster collaboration. I understand the importance of embracing diverse perspective and harnessing the collective wisdom of different generations to drive success.
Securities Agent: KS, FL, PA, MN, WA, UT, HI, CA, KY, CT, CO, MO, MD, IA, IN, NJ, AR, RI, IL, ID, OR, TX, NY, ME, MA, MT, AZ, TN, NV, NC; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2566066
NMLS#: 2566066
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Location
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd
Ste 350
Cupertino, CA 95014
US
Direct:
(408) 861-2134(408) 861-2134
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup
Article Image
Investing
Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Iran Conflict: Seven Takeaways for Investors
Article Image
Family
Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education
Article Image
Business Planning
Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business
Article Image
Philanthropy
Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Karen Zhu today.
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.
Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.
The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.
Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.
The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.
The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.
*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.
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.
The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.
Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.
The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.
Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.
The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.
The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.
*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.
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.
The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.
Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
CRC 4665150 (8/2025)
