Kochis Fitz

 

Michael is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Kochis Fitz and serves on the firm's Managing Committee. He brings over 20 years of broad-based business experience in finance, human resources, technology, operations, taxation, regulatory environments, and strategic planning. More than six years of this experience has been in the investment advisory industry. At Kochis Fitz, Michael has participated in the successfully managed growth of the firm from 18 employees and $420 million under management to 32 employees and more than $2 billion under management today.

Michael began his professional career as an Olympic Village Accountant in the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles while he was still in college. He spent more than five years in Price Waterhouse’s tax department in San Francisco, where he worked primarily with high net worth individuals and small businesses. Michael has published work in the Journal of Taxation and has spoken at local and national conferences on a variety of topics.

Michael received his CPA license in 1991, and shortly thereafter joined Gap, Inc., as the Manager of Research and Planning in the tax department and was later promoted to International Tax Manager, providing planning and compliance support to local operating companies and expatriates in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong, and Japan. After leaving Gap, Inc., Michael worked as the Deputy Director at Project Open Hand, a large institutional social services agency. In recognition of his efforts, March 31, 2000 was proclaimed Michael Kossman Day in San Francisco by Mayor Willie L. Brown.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1986 where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.