Advisor Background

Alex joined the Greenwich, CT office of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in January 2015, bringing with him extensive investment knowledge and wealth planning and experience.  He has been advising clients, ranging from hedge funds and other institutional money managers to ultra-high net-worth investors, through good markets and bad, for over 30 years. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Alex spent 12 years at UBS Financial Services in Manhattan and the first 10 years of his career in the New York office of Alex. Brown & Sons (acquired by Deutsche Bank AG). Alex joined the Greenwich (CT) office of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in January 2015, bringing with him extensive investment knowledge and wealth planning experience. He has been advising clients, ranging from hedge funds and other institutional money managers to ultra-high net-worth investors, through good markets and bad, for over 30 years.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Alex spent 12 years at UBS Financial Services in Manhattan and the first 10 years of his career in the New York office of Alex. Brown & Sons (acquired by Deutsche Bank AG).
Alex is a strategic thinker whose comprehensive wealth advisory practice at Morgan Stanley focuses exclusively on families and their multi-generational wealth-planning and investment needs. Drawing upon experience and knowledge gained over many economic and market cycles, he works collaboratively with clients and their other trusted advisors (tax and legal) to assure optimized and informed decision-making.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Alex currently resides in Darien, CT with his wife Carina, their identical twin sons and their dogs Kiwi, Biscuit and Bean. He is a past Chairman of the Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni Club of New York, The Darien Republican Town Committee and currently serves as President of the Delafield Island Tax District (Darien, CT). In his free time, he enjoys sailing gardening and spending time with his family.
Services Include
Securities Agent: ME, WA, TX, RI, NY, NM, NJ, MA, IL, GA, FL, CT, CO, CA, AZ, PA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1390897
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Experience

2003 - 2015: UBS Financial Services Inc.
Account Vice President, Wealth Management

1993 - 2003: Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown
Associate, Private Client Group

Education

  • Trinity School, New York, NY
  • Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT
  • Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
  • Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Registered Investment Advisor
  • Insurance Agent _x0016_ Life, Accident and Health in CT, GA, NY, NJ, PA

Associations

  • Past Chairman, Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni/ae Club of New York
  • Past Chairman, Darien Republican Town Committee (Darien, CT)
  • Member, Stamford Yacht Club
  • President, Delafield Island Tax District (Darien, CT)
  • Member, National Arts Club, New York

Working With You

My work with you starts with one or more in-depth, exploratory meetings. I need to understand your unique financial situation so I can offer you the best possible advice and solutions.
When you work with me, you can expect that I will:
Develop a comprehensive financial strategy based on your individual needs
Substitute discipline for emotion in the investment process
Adjust your holdings in response to new opportunities and risks
Maintain strict financial objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest
I can also coordinate my work with other key members of your financial team, including your:
Tax specialist
Trust attorney
Insurance professional
Family office

Client Service Team

    David Vilys - Registered Associate
    Phone:
    (203) 625-4685(203) 625-4685
    Email:david.vilys@morganstanley.com

Location

1 Fawcett Place
3rd Floor
Greenwich, CT 06830
US
Direct:
(203) 625-4855(203) 625-4855
Toll-Free:
(800) 243-5977(800) 243-5977
Fax:
(203) 661-4280(203) 661-4280

The Power of Partnerships

By partnering with experienced individuals across wealth disciplines, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors can align specialized resources with your custom needs and deliver strategic guidance through the familiarity and trust of existing relationships

About Julian Cho

Julian Cho is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in New Jersey.

Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.

Julian began his career in financial services in 2009, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2017 as an Associate Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Private Client Banker at JP Morgan Chase.

Julian is a graduate of Nyack College, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance. He lives in North Haledon, New Jersey with his family. Outside of the office, Julian enjoys billiards, surfing and kite boarding, fishing, skiing, and playing lacrosse.
NMLS#: 833560

About Dominique Hicks

Dominique Hicks is a Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in Western Long Island, New York. She is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.


Dominique began her career in financial services in 2015 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2022. Prior to her current position, she acquired a great deal of acclamation & recognition for her work in Private Client and Small Business at JP Morgan Chase Bank. She continued to grow as a resource and joined Merrill Lynch later as a Financial Advisor.

Dominique graduated from SUNY Old Westbury with a bachelor’s in accounting and holds her Certified Financial Planner® designation. Dominique lives in Stony Brook, NY and cherishes spending time with her loved ones. She is a loving mother of two, adores practicing yoga with her kids and volunteers as a mentor for young college women.
Wealth Management
From My Desk

Steps that May Reduce Your Taxes on Your Income and Portfolio


Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

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
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

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

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

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
Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse
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Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse

Financial planning after a divorce or death can be trying, but with the right approach and the right advice you can turn a difficult situation into empowerment.

Business Planning

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

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

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
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 
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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 Alexander Davidson today.
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1Morgan 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.
Morgan 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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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

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2Morgan 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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3Municipal bonds may not be appropriate for all investors. Income generated from an investment in a municipal bond is generally exempt from federal income taxes. Some income may be subject to state and local taxes and to the federal alternative minimum tax. Capital gains, if any, are subject to tax.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) and its Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide any tax/legal advice. Consult your own tax/legal advisor before making any tax or legal-related investment decisions.

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4When 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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5When 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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

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6Alternative 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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7Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or 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 legal matters.

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8Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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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.

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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.

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Awards Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)