My Story and Services

Adam J. Zipper joined Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in 2023 as Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, and co-lead of the ZD Group. Adam is intimately involved with all aspects of his clients’ financial lives, creating holistic solutions for a sophisticated group of high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, and institutional clients.

Adam has nearly three decades of investment experience in the financial services industry, building his career at firms such as First Republic Investment Management, J.P. Morgan Securities, Smith Barney and Bear Sterns. He has been recognized in a number of industry rankings, including Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisers, and Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors. He has also been featured as a member of one of Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams and Barron’s Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams.

After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in 1994, Adam began his career at Bear Stearns, then Smith Barney, where he was a member of the firm’s Director’s Council. Adam currently sits on Goizueta’s advisory board.

1. Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, 2018, 2020
2018, 2020 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018, 2020). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2. Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors, 2018-2019
2018, 2019 Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors
Source: ft.com. Data compiled by the Financial Times based the following time periods:
Awarded 2019; data 6/30/15 - 6/30/18
Awarded 2018; data 6/30/15 - 6/30/17

3. Forbes America’s Top Wealth Advisors, 2019
Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Sept 2019) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/18 - 3/31/19.

4. Barron’s Top Private Wealth Management Teams, 2022
Barron's Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams
Source: Barron's.com (Awarded Apr 2022) Data compiled by Barron's based on time period from Dec 2020 - Dec 2021.

5. Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, 2023
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21-3/31/22.
Capabilities
  • 10b5-(1) Programs
  • Retirement & Pension Plans
  • Corporate Stock Plans
  • Corporate Services
  • Consolidated Reporting
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Philanthropy Management
  • Cash Management & LendingFootnote1
  • Securities Based LendingFootnote2
  • Tailored LendingFootnote3
  • Tax, Trust & Estate AdvisoryFootnote4
  • Insurance SolutionsFootnote5
  • Hedging Strategies
  • Risk Management
  • Sustainable & Responsible InvestingFootnote6
NMLS#: 530478
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About PWM

Founded in 1977, Private Wealth Management is the division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management that is dedicated to serving the firm’s most affluent clients, including some of the world’s most accomplished entrepreneurs, executives and stewards of multigenerational wealth. Functioning as an exclusive investment boutique within a global financial firm, we deliver sophisticated solutions that leverage the intellectual capital and insight of Morgan Stanley’s substantial global resources. Drawing on a deep understanding of your financial life, our goal is to help you:
  • Manage investments with an unwavering focus on your financial strategy and personal goals
  • Create comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management plans based on your needs, challenges and the values that guide your life and legacy
  • Simplify financial complexity to help you achieve clarity and control
Private Wealth Management Highlights
  • Approximately 350 teams1 specialized in assisting individuals and families with $20MM+ in investable assets
  • Over $980 billion in AUM1
  • Comprising 23% of the Barron’s Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams for 2024
  • Direct access to ultra high net worth experts in philanthropy, family dynamics, wealth transfer, lifestyle advisory and other areas of interest to ultra high net worth families
1 Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, December, 2024

Source: Barron's.com (May 2024) 2024 Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams awarded in 2024. The teams are ranked on a variety of factors, including their size and shape, their regulatory records and credentials of their members, and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. The rankings are meant as a starting point for clients looking for an advisor—a first-pass vetting that can help investors narrow a search. Every advisor will have his or her own approach to investing, financial planning, and other services. Clients are encouraged to approach a search for an advisor the way they would a search for a doctor—interviewing multiple professionals and getting opinions from multiple third parties. Rankings are based on the opinions of Barron's and this ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with Barron's. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved.

Approach

Discovery Process
Investing the time to learn about you and your family; your assets and liabilities and the risk exposures, enables us to formulate strategies and customize the relationship to your needs.
Formulation of Tax, Trust and Estate Strategy
Working with your tax and legal advisors, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
Creation of Customized Strategic Asset Allocation
Your customized asset allocation reflects risk, opportunities and taxation across multiple entities, while integrating your investing and estate plans.
Integration of Tactical Asset Allocation
Short-term adjustments seek to capitalize on temporary market distortions. Before making adjustments, we analyze the impact of taxes and trading costs on potential returns.
Implementation of a Customized Wealth Strategy
After comprehensive due diligence and analysis of expected results across multiple market scenarios, strategies are chosen from our expansive investment platform.
Ongoing Assessment
In coordination with your other advisors, we can conduct ongoing reviews and comprehensive reporting to ensure that your strategy adapts to changing financial and family needs.
      2018 and 2020 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
      Source: Forbes.com (2018 and 2020). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
      2018 and 2019 Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors
      Source: ft.com. Data compiled by the Financial Times based the following time periods:

      Advisor to choose appropriate years/periods from list below: Awarded 2019; data 6/30/15 - 6/30/18, Awarded 2018; data 6/30/15 - 6/30/17Ð
      2022 Barron's Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams
      Source: Barron's.com (April 2022) 2022 Barron's Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams ranking awarded in 2022. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by Barron's during the period from Dec 2020 - Dec 2021.

    WORKPLACE FINANCIAL BENEFITS WITH MORGAN STANLEY AT WORK

    Our mission is to help your company elevate your workplace financial benefits—helping you to attract and retain top talent. Our end-to-end solutions support your company and employees at any stage of growth through a powerful combination of modern technology, insightful guidance, and dedicated service.

      Equity Solutions

      Equity ownership is a powerful motivator. Streamline equity management through our leading-edge technology and provide global audit-ready reporting and insights, alongside customizable participant experiences to engage and educate your employees on how to make the most of their benefits. Our global solutions support private and public companies at any stage of growth.

      • Equity Administration and Financial Reporting
      • Liquidity Events
      • 409A Valuation Services and Cap Table Management

      Learn more
      Retirement

      For your employees, retirement is more than a date in the future—it's a milestone that takes time, hard work, and the right tools. Through our consultative process, we strive to assist with the management of your fiduciary responsibilities and risk, simplify plan management, and help you improve retirement readiness for your employees.

      • Defined Contribution Consulting
      • Solutions-Oriented Plans
      • Fiduciary Investment Oversight

      Learn more
      Deferred Compensation

      Access a range of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plan services or pick the ones that best fit your needs. We provide recordkeeping and plan design, portfolio construction services, and plan education for your executive talent. We help you determine the appropriate plan design and inform a funding strategy through a needs-based assessment and consultative approach.

      Services include:

      • Recordkeeping and Plan Design
      • Portfolio Construction
      • Wealth Management Services
      Learn more
      Executive Services

      Our dedicated team provides concierge-level support for your executives' equity compensation plans, from 10b5-1 trading plans to form filing related to Rule 144 transactions, to access to wealth management and tax-optimization strategies, so helping them navigate their complex financial needs with greater confidence and certainty:

      • Equity Compensation Services
      • Equity Award Analysis
      • Specialized Solutions
      Learn more
      Saving and Giving

      Saving and Giving benefits can make a real difference in your employees' lives as they can support the things that matter most to them—like saving for education and repaying student loans. Show that you are committed to your employees' priorities with leading-edge solutions that help them chart a path toward financial well-being.

      • College Savings
      • Student Loan Repayment and Refinancing
      • Charitable Giving
      Learn more
      Financial Wellness

      We offer Financial Wellness with every solution we provide. Through a powerful combination of education, digital tools and guidance, Financial Wellness is designed to address the unique needs of your employees and empower their financial journey at every stage. Give your employees the confidence to take charge of their finances.

      • Financial Education
      • Digital Tools
      • Financial Guidance

      Learn more

    Location

    55 East 52nd Street 10th
    Fl
    New York, NY 10055
    US
    Direct:
    (212) 503-1199(212) 503-1199
    Wealth Management
    Global Investment Office

    Portfolio Insights

    This is a video content

    Equity Compensation

    Helping you make the most of your equity awards and better understand how it may fit into your your larger financial picture – today and tomorrow.

    • Vesting events
    • Option expirations
    • Restricted stock units
    • Tax implications

    Managing Significant Wealth

    • Investment Management
    • Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
    • Cash Management & Lending
    • Family Governance & Wealth Education
    • Lifestyle Advisory
    • Business Services
    Compensation Practices of Investment-Focused Family Offices
    Article Image

    Compensation Practices of Investment-Focused Family Offices

    Competitive compensation is key to attracting and retaining the best talent for your single family office. Discover the latest trends on relevant pay, benefits and bonus structures in Morgan Stanley's 2025 benchmarking report.

    Insights and Outcomes

    Thought Leadership for our ultra high net worth clients, which contains thought-provoking articles, authored by leading experts from Morgan Stanley Family Office Resources.
    Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s Playbook on Leadership and Values
    Article Image

    Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s Playbook on Leadership and Values

    The renowned NFL wide receiver shares insights on aligning your investments with your values.

    Private Wealth Management Podcast

    Bringing you engaging stories and key insights surrounding the complexities associated with significant wealth, including:
    • Intergenerational Planning
    • Philanthropic Giving
    • Non-Traditional Assets
    • Managing Family Wealth
    LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art
    Article Image

    LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art

    When a passion for collecting evolves into something of considerable value, new issues are raised. Hear what the professionals have to say about the best practices and pitfalls of collecting art and collectibles.
    We look forward to discussing your needs and goals, and the exceptional resources we can place at your disposal.
    1Morgan 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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    2Borrowing against securities may not be appropriate for everyone. You should be aware that there are risks associated with a securities based loan, including possible maintenance calls on short notice, and that market conditions can magnify any potential for loss. For details please see the important disclosures below.

    Securities based loans are provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association or Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A, as applicable.

    Important Risk Information for Securities Based Lending: You need to understand that: (1) Sufficient collateral must be maintained to support your loan(s) and to take future advances; (2) You may have to deposit additional cash or eligible securities on short notice; (3) Some or all of your securities may be sold without prior notice in order to maintain account equity at required maintenance levels. You will not be entitled to choose the securities that will be sold. These actions may interrupt your long-term investment strategy and may result in adverse tax consequences or in additional fees being assessed; (4) Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association or Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (collectively referred to as “Morgan Stanley”) reserves the right not to fund any advance request due to insufficient collateral or for any other reason except for any portion of a securities based loan that is identified as a committed facility; (5) Morgan Stanley reserves the right to increase your collateral maintenance requirements at any time without notice; and (6) Morgan Stanley reserves the right to call securities based loans at any time and for any reason.

    With the exception of a margin loan, the proceeds from securities based loan products may not be used to purchase, trade, or carry margin stock (or securities, with respect to Express CreditLine); repay margin debt that was used to purchase, trade or carry margin stock (or securities, with respect to Express CreditLine); and cannot be deposited into a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC or other brokerage account.

    To be eligible for a securities based loan, a client must have a brokerage account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC that contains eligible securities, which shall serve as collateral for the securities based loan.

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    3Tailored Lending is a loan/line of credit product offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. A Tailored Lending credit facility may be a committed or demand loan/line of credit. All Tailored Lending loans/lines of credit are subject to the underwriting standards and independent approval of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Tailored Lending loans/lines of credit may not be available in all locations. Rates, terms, and programs are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. The information contained herein should not be construed as a commitment to lend. Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association is a Member FDIC that is primarily regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The proceeds from a Tailored Lending loan/line of credit (including draws and other advances) may not be used to purchase, trade, or carry margin stock; repay margin debt that was used to purchase, trade, or carry margin stock; and cannot be deposited into a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC or other brokerage account.

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    4Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates and their employees (including Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors) are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any statements contained herein should not be construed as tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their personal tax advisor or attorney for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving personal trusts and estate planning.

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    5Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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    6Investing in the market entails the risk of market volatility. The value of all types of investments may increase or decrease over varying time periods. The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of sustainable or impact investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because sustainability and impact criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria.

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

    Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.

    Asset Allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.

    The securities/instruments, investments and investment strategies discussed on this website may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or investment strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. The views and opinions expressed on this website may not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). This website and its associated content are intended for U.S. residents only.

    Morgan Stanley and its Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Visitors to this website 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.

    Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers may only transact business in states where they are registered or excluded or exempted from registration. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers are not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.

    For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

    See the Financial Advisors Biographies for Registration and Licensing information.

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

    Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. owns the marks CIMA®, Certified Investment Management Analyst® (with graph element)®, and Certified Investment Management Analyst® .

    Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

    Life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance are offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC's licensed insurance agency affiliates.

    Lifestyle Advisory Services: Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.

    Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.

    Morgan 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

    Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
    CRC 4237142 (02/2025)