Chicago Tower Group at Morgan Stanley

Michael Gallagher, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, joined Smith Barney in 1990 and is a Director in the Corporate Client Group, focusing on institutional offerings to the corporate marketplace. He was formerly Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Equity Solutions for Morgan Stanley.

Michael has also been recognized as a member of Morgan Stanley’s Chairman’s Council, the top annual internal recognition within the firm for advisors. Michael focuses on providing publicly traded companies and their executives with support services in the areas of stock option, stock purchase and restricted stock plans as well as related executive services, education and financial wellness. He began his work in the corporate arena in 1993 and is dedicated exclusively to this market.

Awards & Recognition:

Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams
​Source: barrons.com (Awarded May 2024) Data compiled by Barron's for the period Jan 2023-Dec 2023.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2023-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in March of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State
​Source: Barron's.com (Awarded Mar 2021). Data compiled by Barron's based on time period from Sept 2019- Sept 2020.

Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors & Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded April 2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 6/30/22 - 6/30/23.

Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors
​Source: Barron's.com (Awarded Apr 2020). Data compiled by Barron's based on time period from Dec 2018 - Dec 2019.

With over 21 years of experience in financial services, Ben Katz works with a team of partners focused on advising select ultra-high net worth clients. As a former practicing Certified Public Accountant, Ben specializes in estate, tax, and financial planning. Additionally, Ben attained the Certified Equity Professional designation, which has put him in the unique position of working extensively with corporate officers and directors regarding liquidity and diversification strategies for concentrated stock positions.

During his tenure at Morgan Stanley, Ben has become a member of Morgan Stanley’s Chairman’s Council and was included on The Financial Times 2017 list of America’s Top 400 Financial Advisors. More recently, he was named to the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for a third year, and his team was also recognized as a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Team for 2024.

After graduating from Emory University, Ben began his career as an Associate for Arthur Andersen in New York. He then spent two years with Houlihan, Lokey, Howard and Zukin, working in their Financial Restructuring Group with a focus on distressed mergers and acquisitions before joining Morgan Stanley.

In addition to dedicating his time to his clients and their professional relationships, Ben also values giving back to his community as a tutor for Working In The Schools (WITS) and a resume coach for Year Up. Outside of work, Ben is a struggling golfer, excellent chef on taco night and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Awards & Recognition:

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2022-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors
Source: ft.com (Awarded Mar 2017). Data compiled by the Financial Times based on time period from 9/30/14 - 9/30/16.

As a Financial Advisor and Portfolio Manager, Eddie Katz not only prioritizes his clients' financial success, but also ensures that they are educated on and comfortable with all aspects of their financial lives. Eddie is a problem solver and enjoys helping others piece together their goals, financial and personal, present and future.

Eddie prides himself in providing a high level of communication with all of his clients, staying involved with more than just their investment and financial needs. His approach to working with his clients is one of being "on the same playing field." He wants his clients to feel equal and educated in their partnership.

Eddie started in the financial industry in 1981, when self-employment was a necessity. With hard work and dedication, he built and grew his practice and joined Morgan Stanley in 2013.

Eddie earned his Bachelor’s in Science from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, and his MBA from University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He has been married to his wife, Susie, who he met in nursery school, for almost 50 years. They have two children, Ben and Alex, and three grandchildren, Sydney, Simon, and Parker.

As a result of his children receiving scholarships for summer camp many years ago, Eddie and Susie have been major benefactors to the Jewish Federation for Greater Dayton. They also support two synagogues - one in Dayton, Ohio and one in Chicago, Illinois. Eddie has been insulin-dependent for 59 years, so he also spends his time focusing on his health and staying physically active.

Chris Munroe is an Executive Director and Financial Wellness Director responsible for corporate client relationship management and business development on behalf of Chicago Tower Group at Morgan Stanley. He focuses on executive services, employee education and compensation/benefit plan administration to help companies attract and retain their top employees.

Chris joined Morgan Stanley in 2013. He also works part-time as a Soccer Analyst/Color Commentator for the Big Ten Network and other soccer broadcasts.

He was a two-time NCAA championship-winning soccer player and graduate assistant soccer coach at Indiana University, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Awards & Recognition:

Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors & Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded April 2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 6/30/22 - 6/30/23.

Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Aug 2022) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21 - 3/31/22.

Zach Egli is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, where he helps companies execute strategies to help attract, retain, and motivate their employees.

Zach joined Morgan Stanley in 2007 and has been involved with equity compensation and supporting corporate clients and plan participants since joining Chicago Tower Group in 2007 as a client Service Associate. He then spent 5 years as Group Director, before becoming a Financial Advisor with the group in 2022.

Zach is a graduate of Drake University, where he was a member of the Men’s Basketball team and still an avid fan of the Bulldogs. He lives in Chicago and enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Zach is a Certified Equities Professional (CEP^®) and is Series 7 and 66 registered.

Justin brings a modern approach to his clients' Wealth Management experience. He focuses heavily on technology, analytics, and data when making investment decisions with the goal of minimizing risk and cost. This, paired with this background in risk management, allows Justin to assess each situation from multiple perspectives, and give the best advice to his clients.

Justin also prioritizes understanding all aspects of his clients' lives, both financial and personal, both quantitative and qualitative. It is important that his clients know what to expect out of their relationship with Justin and in the services he provides. His approach allows his clients to be engaged and a true partner in all aspects of their relationship.

Justin is a problem-solver. Currently, his practice focuses on creating strategies for families of corporate executives and board members to thoughtfully manage their exposure to concentrated stocks. He understands the complexity of his clients’ financial situations and enjoys ensuring that each aspect fits into the client’s overall financial picture and goals.

Coming from a humble background, Justin is passionate about educating those who are not as familiar with investing and financial strategies. He takes pride in being a resource and helping to change the narrative in his community.

Justin began his career in the financial industry in 2010 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2014. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and started a youth development program in his hometown called EPIC. It is structured around travel basketball with a focus on social-emotional learning and college prep. EPIC works to instill confidence in young men, with a goal of helping them increase their future (and their families') financial well-being.

Additionally, outside of work, Justin enjoys traveling to different countries and tries to go on 2 to 3 trips per year. Thailand is next on his list. Justin is on the board of the Carroll Family Foundation as well as the associate board of Cara Collective. He also values time with his family, particularly his grandmother and his EPIC "sons."

Jordan has spent most of his career helping corporate executives understand and maximize their equity compensation. What he enjoys most about his day-to-day is helping executives form a unique strategy around their equity compensation which aligns with their long-term goals.

As a Certified Estate Planner (CEP^®), Jordan is experienced in working with both legal and tax advisors to ensure that all aspects of his clients' lives are incorporated into his strategies, helping his clients achieve both their long-term and short-term goals. His goal is to ensure that every estate plan is prepared and designed to preserve, protect, and be passed on in the way his clients envision.

Jordan is also passionate about educating, learning new things every day, and helping others. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he worked as a high school math teacher in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Today, he continues to educate his clients by sharing his knowledge of the financial markets an tailors his approach to each unique situation.

Jordan earned his B.A. in Political Science from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, and started in the financial industry in 2003. In addition to strengthening his client relationships, Jordan values being an active member in his community and is a member of the Oak Park River Forest High School Scholarship Board.

Jordan currently lives in Oak Park, IL, with his wife and five children. He comes from a family of seven, so family activities keep him busy outside of work. He enjoys coaching youth soccer and basketball, and plays basketball on Tuesday nights. Jordan also enjoys the outdoors and goes skiing in Colorado and camping, fishing, and hiking in Wyoming.

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Terrence works with corporate executives to help them preserve and grow their wealth with customized financial solutions.

Terrence has extensive experience with individuals who have a significant portion of their net worth invested in one security, working with them to monetize that security by sale. With many different methods to achieve this, Terrence takes the time to understand his clients and their goals to create the most personalized and efficient action plan. He applies his experience and knowledge to holders of concentrated equity positions, particularly when they are exposed to unexpected company and market events, economic cycles, and tax liabilities that can inhibit personal cash flow.

Terrence believes his relationships with clients, his experience, his team, and the resources available to him are what set him apart from other advisors. He has been working with, and creating plans, for corporate executives for over 15 years. The conversations he has transition from one about liquidity to, eventually, one about wealth management and financial planning. Terrence enjoys seeing the progression of these relationships and conversations, hitting on all aspects of his clients’ financial lives.

Terrence started in the financial industry in 1990 at Smith Barney in Beverly Hills, CA, which merged with Morgan Stanley in 2009. He started in the mail room of Smith Barney by day and was a musician at the clubs on the Sunset Strip by night. He soon realized that, while he had a passion for music and performing, he was more interested in pursuing a career in finance.

Terrence married his wife, a librarian at his local library, in 1991, and they have a fantastic 26-year-old son together. Outside of work, Terrence is on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit music school and teaches guitar. He also enjoys music, golf, literature, and history.

Tom is a Managing Director, Executive Financial Services Director, and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. He enjoys building long-term partnerships with his clients by developing solutions that enhance the employee and executive experience. Tom’s focus on delivering a great corporate client experience is how he became involved with the corporate institutional and stock plan side of Chicago Tower Group.

Tom received his BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined Morgan Stanley, then Smith Barney, in 1999 and completed the CEP program in 2002.

Tom lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and four sons. Outside of work, he enjoys distance running and doing volunteer work.

Nicole is responsible for managing corporate client relationships for Chicago Tower Group at Morgan Stanley. She focuses on providing participant education by bringing awareness to employee stock plan benefits while simultaneously delivering a well-rounded experience to clients through other Morgan Stanley offerings.

Nicole currently holds both her Series 7 & Series 66 licenses, and became a member of Chicago Tower Group in 2020 after working at TD Ameritrade. She graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Finance and minors in Marketing and Mathematics.