About David Finston
David believes that building wealth and keeping it are two very different challenges.
For many of the people David works with, wealth didn’t arrive according to a carefully constructed financial plan. It accumulated over time through their careers, often in the form of company stock, until one day they looked at their balance sheet and realized two things: they had become quite successful, and an outsized portion of everything they had built was tied to a single company.
That creates a dilemma David knows well. Holding a concentrated stock position can expose someone to more risk than they are comfortable taking. Selling it may reduce that risk but can also create significant tax consequences.
David specializes in helping individuals with concentrated stock positions navigate that tradeoff.
He joined the Montage Group as a Financial Advisor in early 2025. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley’s subsidiary, E*TRADE, as an Executive Relationship Manager, guiding clients through investment strategies and tax-efficient approaches to equity compensation.
A Marin County native, David spent many childhood summers at the City of Berkeley Family Camp – Camp Tuolumne – near Yosemite National Park. He was the fourth generation of his family to enjoy this culturally and economically diverse summer retreat, which helped shape his values and perspective.
David studied Environmental Science at Humboldt State University in Arcata, then served two years with AmeriCorps, tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth. His early career took him through a variety of roles – from working as a chemist at a water testing facility to selling motorcycles at Harley-Davidson, where he sharpened his relationship skills and discovered a love for connecting with people.
He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and a Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA).
He lives in Pacifica, where he surfs regularly – sometimes alongside dolphins or the occasional whale. He is an enthusiastic cyclist and enjoys traveling with his girlfriend Jessie, a biologist. Ask him about their ragdoll cat, Eros, and he’ll gladly share photos.
Securities Agent: NC, MO, IN, FL, WY, PA, NV, NM, HI, GA, DE, CT, WI, WA, VI, OH, ND, MN, VT, MA, WV, SD, RI, NY, NH, MI, ME, MD, AL, LA, KY, IA, CA, AK, MS, KS, PR, ID, AZ, AR, UT, TN, SC, OK, NE, MT, IL, DC, CO, VA, OR, TX, NJ; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1922581
CA Insurance License #: 0M85072