In the role of Chief Operating Officer, Zach oversees the day-to-day operations of Gilbert & Cook and aligns all departments to advance the firm’s strategic vision and growth.

Zach collaborates closely with the firm’s Founder to drive the company’s vision and leads the Leadership Committee in upholding core values, setting both short-term and long-term goals, and guiding the entire team toward shared success.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Simpson College, Zach worked as a Senior Tax Associate and earned his CPA. Committed to continuous growth, Zach became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner in 2020. After identifying there was an opportunity to build more value for our business owner clients, Zach earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation in 2022. Attaining the CEPA designation has helped provide clarity surrounding growth and exit strategies for business owners. In 2023, Zach became the third Gilbert & Cook team member to acquire the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) designation.

Zach is an active member of the AICPA (American Institute of Public Accountants) and ISCPA (Iowa Society of CPAs). He is also a member of the FPA of Iowa (Financial Planning Association of Iowa).

Zach, along with his wife Krista, lead a joyfully chaotic life raising two sons under the age of three.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.