Our Story

The 34 North Group is a team of dedicated professionals, with over 65 combined years of experience, who are passionately focused on helping affluent individuals and families achieve their financial goals.  We work with our clients to take a multi-generational wealth management approach, utilizing our team's experience and Morgan Stanley's intellectual capital and resources.  This allows us to customize solutions to help our clients with the growth, preservation and ultimate transfer of their wealth.  The focus of our practice is to assist our clients in achieving financial security so that they can enjoy the things that matter most in their lives.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheckLink Opens in New Tab.*

Experience

Steve Keener has been with Morgan Stanley since 1998. He is a Vice President and holds an MBA from the University of Florida. He also holds a CFP® designation.

Michael Hugghins has been with Morgan Stanley since 2014. He has worked as a Financial Advisor for over 18 years. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business where he received his BA in Banking and Finance.

Working With You

We work with our clients to take a multi-generational wealth management approach, utilizing our team's experience and Morgan Stanley's intellectual capital and resources.  This allows us to customize solutions to help our clients with the growth, preservation and ultimate transfer of their wealth.

Our Clients

Our clients are normal, everyday people. They are people who have worked hard to create wealth and are looking for a comprehensive approach to their financial planning. We help them achieve financial security so that they can enjoy the things that matter most in their lives.

Events

As a team we provide our clients and prospective clients several opportunities throughout the year to hear from outside industry leaders on various topics that may impact their financial lives. Upcoming Events:

Location

2400 Lakeview Pkwy
Suite 300
Alpharetta, GA 30009
US
Direct:
(770) 643-7622(770) 643-7622
Toll-Free:
(800) 229-4190(800) 229-4190

Meet 34 North Group

About Steve Keener

Steve began his career with Morgan Stanley in 1998 in Gainesville, Florida, and joined the Atlanta office in 2003. Steve currently works as the primary Portfolio Manager for the 34 North Group. Steve enjoys fundamental analysis of securities markets and manages portfolios with a focus on compounded returns.
Steve holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Florida (1998) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1992).  Steve also received the CFP designation in 2003.
Steve, his wife Christy, and children Lexy, Luke and Libby reside in Roswell, Georgia.  The entire family is involved with sports.  Steve enjoys playing ice hockey and golf and has helped coach baseball and ice hockey. 
Securities Agent: TN, AL, VA, NV, KY, SC, IL, OH, IN, PA, NY, MD, WA, MI, TX, MO, CA, MS, MA, CT, VT, NH, NC, GA, FL, CO; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1278843

About Michael Hugghins

Michael began his financial career in 2003 at BB&T Capital Markets specializing in corporate and tax-free municipal bonds. In 2014 he joined Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and is currently a partner of 34 North Group. Michael provides advice on retirement investing including income producing securities, retirement planning, long term care, life insurance policies, risk management and portfolio construction. He holds a degree in banking and finance from the University of Georgia and for over 20 years has helped his clients achieve financial success. Michael’s experience and expertise in fixed income markets sets him apart from other professionals. In his spare time Michael enjoys golf, fishing and coaching his son’s little league teams. He currently resides in Cumming with his wife and two children Jack and Benjamin.
Securities Agent: IA, WA, VT, LA, ID, TN, NH, IN, VA, PA, NY, NC, CA, MS, IL, AL, MA, FL, SC, GA, KY, MI, WV, TX, OH, MD; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1288239

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
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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
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

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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
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

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Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
  • Business Planning
  • Qualified Retirement Plans
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

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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
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact 34 North Group today.
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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

1Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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2Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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3Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.

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4Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

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5Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

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6Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

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7Morgan Stanley offers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a different type of relationship with different obligations to you. Please consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences or review our Understanding Your Brokerage and Investment Advisory Relationships brochure available at www.morganstanley.com/wealth-relationshipwithms/pdfs/understandingyourrelationship.pdf.

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8Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.

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9When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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10Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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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 Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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 DisclosuresLink Opens in New Tab
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)