My Story and Services

For more than 20 years, Brandon has had the honor of working with individuals, families, and institutions helping them to achieve their financial objectives. Brandon now brings his wealth of experience as a Senior Partner to The South Bay Group at Morgan Stanley. Brandon and his team focus intently on building long term relationships, striving to provide premium client service, and ultimately producing first-class overall results!

In his current roles as a Global Sports and Entertainment Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Vice President: Wealth Management, and as a Workplace advisor - Equity Compensation, Brandon epitomizes excellence in financial stewardship. He also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation from The College for Financial Planning.

In his capacity as a Global Sports and Entertainment Director, Brandon demonstrates his commitment in providing insightful financial advisor services to athletes, sports professionals, and entertainers worldwide. This esteemed designation highlights his dedication to understanding the unique financial needs and challenges faced by clients in the dynamic worlds of sports and entertainment.

As a Executive Financial Services Director Brandon focuses on helping Executives and Insider/Rule 144 Affiliate clients effectively navigate the complex landscape of insider trading regulations and reporting requirements. From 10b5-1 trading plans to Rule 144 form filing and tax mitigation strategies, Brandon provides hands-on support for your executives’ equity compensation plans.

Brandon comes from E*TRADE, where he spent 11 years as a Corporate Services Financial Consultant and Senior Financial Consultant, working with numerous ultra-high net worth clients from the corporate services and retail wealth management sectors. Throughout his career, Brandon earned the Circle of Excellence award three times during his tenure at E*TRADE.

Currently residing in Rancho Palos Verdes with his wife and two children, Brandon enjoys working out, playing golf, watching various sports, and exploring new restaurants in his free time.

Brandon earned a membership in the prestigious 2024 Pacesetter's Club, showcasing his outstanding dedication and leadership in the industry and at Morgan Stanley. https://mgstn.ly/48yHOEI
Services Include
Securities Agent: ND, FL, AL, NM, IN, WY, VA, PA, OK, MT, GA, CO, WA, VT, NV, MO, DE, CT, WI, TN, SC, RI, PR, NE, MI, KS, WV, AZ, TX, OH, MD, IL, AR, KY, ID, MN, DC, UT, OR, NJ, NC, MA, CA, SD, NY, HI; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2443880
CA Insurance License #: 0F42598
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Dedicated Equity Plan Specialists

For many, equity in their company is an important piece of their full financial picture and since everyone's situation is unique, we can help create a plan that caters specifically to your needs and goals. As Dedicated Equity Plan Specialists we are financial advisors who focus on company specific plans to serve our clients' needs.

Being designated advisors, we can help you determine how your equity compensation fits into your overall goals and financial strategy, through personalized financial plans and tailored strategies. We are positioned to service and educate on the full suite of workplace benefits and can help you address questions related to grants/awards, vesting events, restricted stock units, and more.
    Equity Compensation 101
    When you own company equity, you become a shareholder in your company. Equity programs vary widely, so it's important to understand the details and how it fits into your financial plan.
    Stock Options
    Stock Options give employees the right – but not the obligation – to purchase shares at a fixed price. If the value of the stock increased over time, the holder can earn a profit. The two types of stock options, Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) and Non–Qualified Stock Options (NQSOs), differ in their tax treatment.
    Restricted Stock Units (RSU)
    RSUs are usually given to reward employees for their hard work, giving ownership in the company they're helping grow. RSU is a promise to deliver stock to the holder on a specified event or date.
    Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP)
    An Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) is an optional benefit some companies offer. Through payroll deductions, employees may be able to purchase company stock at a discount to the current market price.

Global Sports and Entertainment

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As a Global Sports and Entertainment Director, Brandon Higa has the dedicated experience, continuing education and access to world-class resources needed to understand the complexities and pressures facing high-achieving professionals in the sport and entertainment industries, and to help them make smart choices about how they save, spend, invest, borrow, preserve and give. He is equipped in providing financial advising services to professionals in all areas of entertainment from athletes to artists, actors, content creators, and beyond.

Working in sports and entertainment, Brandon understands the unique demands that come with a career as a professional athlete, coach or industry executive. His experience understanding schedules, variability of income, and the demands that come from life inside and outside of a profession in sports gives him the ability to tap into a range of resources needed to address your unique immediate financial challenges, and to create comprehensive plans to help reach your long-term goals.
You're Unique and We Know Why
There's nothing common about you—not your talent, your drive, your achievements or even your challenges. From your variable income streams to your taxes, from your obligations to your aspirations, "typical" is not part of your vocabulary. You need distinctive financial strategies that can match your lifestyle and career trajectory.
Concentrated Experience in Capable Hands
Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment was developed to respond to the specific needs of sports and entertainment professionals at every stage of their careers. Both Patrick and Charlie understand your unique financial opportunities and challenges. They know how money flows from your work to your wallet and live in your world, day in, day out, crafting innovative financial strategies unique to you.
Tailored Advice to Help Meet Your Life's Goals
You can leverage the vast resources of Morgan Stanley, one of the world's largest and most respected wealth management firms, to address any objective, from building and preserving wealth to starting a philanthropic foundation and expanding your brand. Whatever aspirations you have for yourself, your family and your community, we present strategies, products and services customized to help you reach your goals, your way.
Embrace the Power of Team
You have a handful of people who have supported you, encouraged you and watched your back. Our team routinely works with other trusted advisors to guide financial decision-making. We support and respect your personal confidants, combining our strengths to help bring you greater success.
Regardless of what stage your life is in - moving ahead in your career, enjoying retirement, or somewhere in between - as your Financial Advisor, I can help you achieve your financial goals.

Using a suite of tools that includes goal-specific analysis, I can work with you to create a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of your financial life, including your investments and cash management needs.

We can create your personal roadmap to help achieve and protect your goals — a framework that makes the connection between your life goals and your financial resources, and provides a baseline for future discussions.
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    2025 Tax Tables
    This helpful resource outlines the 2025 tax rate schedule, education and health savings account limits, retirement contribution and deduction limits, among other information. With tax season seemingly always right around the corner, it's best to be as informed as possible.
    2025 Tax Tables
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    Manage Debt
    We thoroughly review your mortgage, car loans, credit cards, and any other debts that you may have in order to help determine where you can save on interest and create a timeline for your debt payments by prioritizing which ones should be paid off first.
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    Insurance
    We take an extremely close look at your financial profile to decipher what type(s) of insurance most fit your needs, and determine if your current insurance policies are best suited for you and your goals.
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    Retirement
    Leading up to and through retirement, Cornerstone Capital helps you identify the most appropriate ways to obtain the income you need and help ensure that you are on track to achieve for financial goals.
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    Estate Planning Strategies
    Regardless of your current financial circumstances, it is crucial to have a backup plan for your money. We regularly review your finances with you and coordinate with your estate attorney to help ensure that your wishes are met in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
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    Managing Investments
    We take care of your retirement accounts and other investments based on your comfort level with risk and your current tax circumstances, tailoring your financial strategy to your unique situation, needs, and goals.

Location

609 Deep Valley Dr
Ste 400
Rolling Hills Est, CA 90274
US
Direct:
(310) 544-3681(310) 544-3681

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 Joy Quiza

Joy Quiza is an Associate Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in California.

Associate Private Bankers partner with Private Bankers and 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.

Joy began her career in financial services in 2007, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2021 as a Associate Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Premier Banker II at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Joy is a graduate of Centro Escolar University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. She lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband. Joy is the founder of Alexis Louise Quiza (ALQ) Children’s Foundation, and past president of the Filipino American Business Association of Glendale – Greater Los Angeles from 2018-2019. Outside of the office, Joy volunteers in various community events serving the AAPI community. She and her husband love to travel and enjoy the joy their daughter and three dogs bring in their lives.
NMLS#: 642535

About Molly Sakahara

Molly Sakahara is an Assistant Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in the Los Angeles area. She is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.

Molly began her career in financial services in 1999 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2015. Prior to her current position, she held positions in wealth management and private banking with an emphasis on helping individuals achieve long term life goals and understanding client’s value system in relation to their wealth.

Molly graduated from UCLA and holds her Certified Financial Planner® designation, California insurance state licensing, and Series 7 and 65. She currently resides in South Pasadena, California with her spouse and two children. Outside of work, she is a squash coach at PlayLA, a committee volunteer with UCLA Chancellor’s Society, is the founder and administrator of Buy Nothing Group for her local city, and serves on the Board of Directors for SoCal Squash Association.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Financial Advisers can conduct their business in several ways: individually, as a member of a team of Financial Advisors, or through the formation of a Strategic Partnership with another Financial Advisor or team of Financial Advisors. A Strategic Partnership is an arrangement between a Financial Advisor or a team of Financial Advisors with another Financial Advisor or team of Financial Advisors that has a unique focus or knowledge regarding a specific business concentration, product area, and/or client type. If your account is with an individual Financial Advisor, that Financial Advisor services all facets of your account. If your account is with a Financial Advisor who is a member of a team, any Financial Advisor on the team can service your account. If your Financial Advisor is part of a Strategic Partnership, his or her role in that Strategic Partnership may be limited to a specific business and/or product area and may not cover all facets of your account. The use of the terms “Partner” or “Strategic Partner” and/or “Partnership” or “Strategic Partnership” are used as terms of art and not used to imply or connote any legal relationship.

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
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

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.

Wealth Management for Athletes and Entertainers

Understanding the unique financial challenges of athletes and entertainers and how they differ from one profession to the next, we deliver the experience and resources you need to help create and implement a comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management plan based on your needs, values and aspirations.
  • Investment Management
  • Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
  • Private Banking Solutions
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Lifestyle Advisory
You are your Own CEO: Build a Dream Team for Your Career
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You are your Own CEO: Build a Dream Team for Your Career

Assembling a team of trusted professionals to manage your career—and your money—is essential to help best position you to thrive. Here’s how.

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
  • Reduce employee stress,
  • Improve retention and engagement, and
  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
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The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Brandon Higa today.
1Morgan 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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2Morgan 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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3Morgan 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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4Morgan 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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5Morgan 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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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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7When 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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8Morgan 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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9Morgan 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.

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10Morgan 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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11Morgan 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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12Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.

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13Morgan 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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14Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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15Municipal 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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16Structured Investments are complex and not appropriate for all investors. An investment in structured investments involves risks. These risks can include but are not limited to: fluctuations in the price, level or yield of underlying asset(s), interest rates, currency values and credit quality, substantial loss of principal, limits on participation in appreciation of underlying asset(s), limited liquidity, credit risk, and/or conflicts of interest. Many structured investments do not pay interest or guarantee a return above principal at maturity. Investors should read the security’s offering documentation prior to making an investment decision.

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17Morgan 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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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 Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024), 3582895 (6/2024)