My Story and Services

Chris is an Advisor with The Geiger Group at Morgan Stanley. He focuses on portfolio management, market analysis and implementing investment strategies.

Chris has been guiding seasoned business owners, corporate executives and other high net worth individuals and families through the wealth management process for over a decade. After taking time to understand a client’s unique needs and goals, he constructs strategies tailored to help meet their immediate and long-term objectives. Chris believes that creating a plan for a client’s financial future is key to their success, as is maintaining that plan as a client’s priorities inevitably evolve over the years.

Chris received his MBA from University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business in 2015 and holds a BA from University of Delaware in 2006. His long-running passion for investing and financial markets began during his undergraduate work, where he held a leadership role at the school’s investment club. During his graduate studies, he was the Portfolio Manager of the school’s Global Endowment Fund, where he managed a team of analysts and directed the fund’s investment decisions. In his free time, Chris enjoys a wide variety of sporting and physical activities – including golf, soccer, racquetball and paddle boarding.
Services Include
Securities Agent: PA, WA, TN, AL, CA, KS, MD, WI, KY, OR, VA, OK, MI, FL, AZ, GA, IL, IN, WV, MT, CO, NJ, NY, NH, AR, OH, SC, TX, MA, NC, DC, DE, NV; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 826517
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Beyond the Traditional

Alternatives are the investments that go beyond traditional stocks and bonds. They can open doors to unique opportunities to help grow and protect your wealth, and have long sought to offer enhanced returns, portfolio diversification, lower volatility, as well as potential tax efficiency.
    Icon Image
    Private Credit
    Private Credit investing is an essential component of Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s alternative investments platform. We manage a well-defined group of strategies and seek to deliver attractive returns to our investors by forging successful partnerships with our portfolio companies.
    Learn More About Private Credit
    Icon Image
    Private Real Estate
    Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI) is the global private real estate investment management arm of Morgan Stanley. With ~200 professionals in 17 offices across 13 countries plus decades of experience investing internationally, MSREI is uniquely positioned to execute core and opportunistic strategies globally.
    Learn More About Private Real Estate
    Icon Image
    Private Equity
    Our private equity teams invest in segments of the market that, in our view, are generally underserved by other providers of private capital. We invest directly in private businesses and also allocate capital to compelling fund managers, secondary market opportunities and co-investments on behalf of our limited partners. We seek situations where we believe our expertise, reputation and access to the unparalleled resources of Morgan Stanley will enable us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns.
    Learn More About Private Equity
    Icon Image
    Alternative Investments
    Our leading alternatives platform offers 160+ third-party and proprietary funds, including first look and exclusive opportunities, that may help qualified investors enhance returns, reduce volatility, manage taxes and generate income—while maintaining a goals-based approach for asset allocation.
    Morgan Stanley Alternative Investments

Our Financial Planning Process

Our wealth management approach focuses on you, your family and your career – where you are today and where you want to go. Working together, we develop the strategies to help get you there, navigating life’s challenges and helping you make more informed decisions about your wealth.
    Icon Image
    1. Introductory Call
    We begin with an informal conversation to understand your financial concerns and determine how we can add value. If we all agree to move forward, we’ll schedule our next meeting and request important financial information.
    Icon Image
    2. Discovery Meeting
    We continue the dialogue by fostering an in-depth conversation where we learn about the values that shape your decisions and identify any unique circumstances. We also review the documents you’ve prepared and define your priorities.
    Icon Image
    3. Analysis & Plan Development
    Here, we utilize proprietary financial planning tools to develop a personalized and detailed plan with recommendations to help you grow, preserve and transfer your wealth.
    Icon Image
    4. Implementation
    In this step, we present appropriate strategies that are designed to work together to achieve your goals. Upon your approval, we open new accounts for you at Morgan Stanley and initiate our investment recommendations. We’ll also begin to implement other strategies we’ve discussed. These often encompass tax minimization strategies, as well as risk management and estate planning techniques.
    Icon Image
    5. Plan Monitoring
    Holistic plans change over time as your personal and family situations change. We are here to revisit your plan regularly to make tactical changes to help meet the needs of our ever-changing situations and environment.
    Icon Image
    6. Ongoing Service
    Committed to premium service, we focus on developing a relationship that provides special value to you and your family. As we begin to execute each strategy, we’ll set up tools so you have immediate access to your account information. And because markets and personal needs evolve over time, we set up ongoing meetings to help ensure your plan remains on schedule to achieve your goals.

Investor Resources

At Morgan Stanley, we provide clients with resources meant to transform complex financial analysis and research into concise and easily digestible content.
    Icon Image
    On The Markets
    Detailed monthly market commentary from Morgan Stanley's Global Investment Committee on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
    Read this month's report
    Icon Image
    Portfolio Risk Platform
    Our Portfolio Risk Platform, backed by institutional-caliber analytics, assesses thousands of risk factors using a holdings-based approach to assess a portfolio’s exposures, analyze how securities behave together across portfolios and forecast how they influence risk and return moving forward.
    Portfolio Risk Platform
    Icon Image
    Morgan Stanley Online
    Morgan Stanley Online allows you to seamlessly and securely manage your investments and everyday finances in one place.
    Register for Morgan Stanley Online today
    Icon Image
    Digital Vault
    Digital Vault lets you easily and securely manage and share important documents such as account statements, authorizations, tax filings and other relevant documents with your Financial Advisor.
    Get started today
    Icon Image
    Security Center
    Learn about our latest security measures, how we are safeguarding your assets and personal information and find actionable insights and resources on important cybersecurity topics to enhance your own online security.
    Visit the Morgan Stanley Security Center
    Icon Image
    Morgan Stanley Reserved Insights
    Reserved Living & Giving is a tiered complimentary loyalty program that rewards Morgan Stanley's eligible clients. The program is designed to enhance your lifestyle and relationship with the firm beyond traditional wealth management services.
    Read more

Location

1650 Tysons Blvd
Suite 1000
McLean, VA 22102
US
Direct:
(703) 556-8197(703) 556-8197
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Mosaic

Explore ideas and inspiration with captivating, original lifestyle stories created exclusively for Morgan Stanley clients.
A Change of Greenery
Article Image

A Change of Greenery

Houseplants add oxygen, flair, and warmth year-round, and the right one in the right space can do just as much for a room as any painting or side table.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Chris McGrath today.
1Alternative 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.

Back to top



2Annuities are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Back to top



3When 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.

Back to top



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.

Back to top



5Morgan 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.

Back to top



6When 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.

Back to top



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.

Back to top



8Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

Back to top



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)