My Story and Services

Carina Flores joined Morgan Stanley in 2019 and dedicates her time building long-term trusted relationships with clients and their families with the objective of providing them with peace of mind around the complexities of financial planning and investing. Before becoming an Investment Advisor, Carina was a relationship manager to the executive leadership of Fortune 500 companies with a global law firm. She then served as an advisor to her family’s small business while attending business school, implementing growth strategies to prepare for its acquisition. This experience prepared her to work with entrepreneurs to help them navigate the various financial decisions that come with running and exiting a successful business.

Carina was named to Morgan Stanley's Pacetter's Club for 2024, a group of the Firm's successful Financial Advisors who demonstrate the highest professional standards, first class client service, and set the standard of growth for early-stage Financial Advisors.

Carina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arizona and a Master of Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is a member of ACG Arizona Young Dealmakers to keep a pulse on the local economy and on the middle market landscape. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in Arizona's diverse terrain and practicing yoga.
Services Include
Securities Agent: FL, OR, MI, LA, GA, CT, CO, CA, AZ, AR, WA, PA, VA, WI, UT, NE, IA, NV, TX, NJ, IL, TN, ME, KY, NY, MA, DE, DC, OH; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2292946
CA Insurance License #: 4302538
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Who We Serve

I work with purpose-driven entrepreneurs, established business owners, retirees, and families who want to take control of their financial lives, optimize their business and personal decisions, and prepare for what’s next. I help bring a structured approach to tackling the next challenge on your horizon including: scaling, transitioning, or simply living with more financial confidence.

Whether you’re running a company, managing a household, or preparing for a change. My role is to bring clarity, guidance, and execution to that process. I believe in fostering a relationship with each client that allows me to build the optimal strategy, not just for where you are now, but for where you are going.

    Building an Enduring Partnership

    I provide personalized financial planning, strategic business advisory, and investment guidance that helps my clients align their financial strategies with their vision, values, and goals.

    I combine the analytical rigor of financial planning with the insight of a strategist and the heart of a coach. Clients come to me for clear thinking, calm presence, and the ability to see around corners. I’m not just here to manage assets—I’m here to help them build legacies, create optionality, and reclaim time and confidence in their decision-making.

    My clients walk away with more than a financial plan. They gain clarity, confidence, and a trusted partner who helps them navigate complexity, capture opportunity, and move forward with purpose.

    My approach blends holistic planning with high-level strategy. I start by understanding each client’s full picture—personal goals, business interests, financial realities, and long-term dreams. Then I build a tailored roadmap that’s dynamic, actionable, and designed to evolve with them. This often includes:
      Business and cash flow optimization
      Strategic investment management
      Tax-efficient planning
      Retirement income strategies
      Exit and succession planning
      Collaboration with estate planners, CPAs, and other key professionals

    Location

    14850 N Scottsdale Rd
    Suite 600
    Scottsdale, AZ 85254
    US
    Direct:
    (480) 922-7977(480) 922-7977

    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 Nikki Ranck

    Nikki Ranck is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in Arizona and New Mexico.

    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.

    Nikki began her career in financial services in 2006 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2022 as a Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Senior Client Service Associate at JP Morgan’s Private Bank. She also served as a Mortgage Banker and Branch Manager at JP Morgan Chase, and a Service Manager and Personal Banker at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

    Nikki lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her family. Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
    NMLS#: 1075581
    Private Bankers, Ultra High Net Worth ("UHNW") Specialists, PBG Market Managers, Lending Advisors, Mortgage Consultants, Regional Mortgage Specialist, Cash Management Specialists, Associate Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.

    Banking products and services are offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.

    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

    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
    A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup
    Article Image

    A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup

    Checking in on your retirement plan may make a lot of sense, especially when market volatility arises.

    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
    Rational Investing in an Age of Uncertainty
    Article Image

    Rational Investing in an Age of Uncertainty

    When it comes to investing, even the most savvy of us fall prey to bias and emotional trades. So what triggers should you watch for?

    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
    529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education
    Article Image

    529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education

    Though education costs continue to climb, starting to save and invest early can make a difference.

    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
    Article Image

    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
    Article Image

    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 Carina Flores 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.

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

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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 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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    5Morgan 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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    6Morgan 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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    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 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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    9Morgan 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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    10Alternative 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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    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.

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    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 | Morgan Stanley
    CRC 4665150 (8/2025)