Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Christopher Daifotis
Managing Director, Private Wealth Management,
Private Wealth Advisor,
Family Wealth Director,
Global Sports and Entertainment Director
Direct:
(212) 761-2594(212) 761-2594
My Mission Statement
Delivering the experience, resources and personalized service needed to help affluent families address their most complex wealth management issues.
Welcome
As Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisors, we combine our own talents and experience with the vast resources of a global financial services firm to address the planning, governance, liability management and investing needs of ultra high net worth families, their businesses and philanthropic enterprises. We take a holistic approach that is grounded in investment strategy, but covers virtually every aspect of your financial life: risk management, liabilities, trusts and estate structures and even family dynamics and lifestyle management issues. Our goal is to help preserve and grow your financial, family and social capital so that it can have the greatest positive impact today and for generations to come.
We look forward to learning more about you and your family, and discussing the resources we can place at your disposal.
We look forward to learning more about you and your family, and discussing the resources we can place at your disposal.
Capabilities
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Consolidated Reporting
- Retirement & Pension Plans
- Comprehensive Wealth Planning
- Investment Management
- Open-Architecture Platform
- Proprietary Investment Opportunities
- Sustainable & Responsible InvestingFootnote1
- Philanthropy Management
Securities Agent: PA, VI, VT, SC, AL, MA, OH, NV, ME, CT, CO, CA, AZ, IN, WA, WY, DC, DE, KY, NC, NY, WI, MN, LA, FL, MD, NH, OR, VA, MI, IL, ID, TX, TN, NJ, GA, MT; General Securities Principal; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1293921
NMLS#: 1293921
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
About PWM
Founded in 1977, Private Wealth Management is the division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management that is dedicated to serving the firm’s most affluent clients, including some of the world’s most accomplished entrepreneurs, executives and stewards of multigenerational wealth. Functioning as an exclusive investment boutique within a global financial firm, we deliver sophisticated solutions that leverage the intellectual capital and insight of Morgan Stanley’s substantial global resources. Drawing on a deep understanding of your financial life, our goal is to help you:
- Manage investments with an unwavering focus on your financial strategy and personal goals
- Create comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management plans based on your needs, challenges and the values that guide your life and legacy
- Simplify financial complexity to help you achieve clarity and control
Private Wealth Management Highlights
- Approximately 350 teams1 specialized in assisting individuals and families with $20MM+ in investable assets
- Over $980 billion in AUM1
- Comprising 23% of the Barron’s Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams for 2024
- Direct access to ultra high net worth experts in philanthropy, family dynamics, wealth transfer, lifestyle advisory and other areas of interest to ultra high net worth families
1 Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, December, 2024
Source: Barron's.com (May 2024) 2024 Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams awarded in 2024. The teams are ranked on a variety of factors, including their size and shape, their regulatory records and credentials of their members, and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. The rankings are meant as a starting point for clients looking for an advisor—a first-pass vetting that can help investors narrow a search. Every advisor will have his or her own approach to investing, financial planning, and other services. Clients are encouraged to approach a search for an advisor the way they would a search for a doctor—interviewing multiple professionals and getting opinions from multiple third parties. Rankings are based on the opinions of Barron's and this ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with Barron's. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved.
Approach
Discovery Process
Investing the time to learn about you and your family; your assets and liabilities and the risk exposures, enables us to formulate strategies and customize the relationship to your needs.
Formulation of Tax, Trust and Estate Strategy
Working with your tax and legal advisors, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
Creation of Customized Strategic Asset Allocation
Your customized asset allocation reflects risk, opportunities and taxation across multiple entities, while integrating your investing and estate plans.
Integration of Tactical Asset Allocation
Short-term adjustments seek to capitalize on temporary market distortions. Before making adjustments, we analyze the impact of taxes and trading costs on potential returns.
Implementation of a Customized Wealth Strategy
After comprehensive due diligence and analysis of expected results across multiple market scenarios, strategies are chosen from our expansive investment platform.
Ongoing Assessment
In coordination with your other advisors, we can conduct ongoing reviews and comprehensive reporting to ensure that your strategy adapts to changing financial and family needs.
Client Service Team
Christopher P. Daifotis - Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
Email:Christopher.Daifotis@morganstanleypwm.com
Christopher P. Daifotis
Managing Director
Private Wealth Advisor
Family Wealth Director
Chris joined Morgan Stanley in 1984 and began his career as a gold & silver, options and futures trader. During his years with the Firm, he also worked in Investment Banking and Global Capital Markets. Chris joined CS First Boston's Capital Markets Division in 1991 and was subsequently recruited by Credit Lyonnais Securities USA in 1994 to establish their Fixed Income/Capital Markets Division. In 1996 Chris joined the Capital Markets Division of Citigroup/Salomon Smith Barney. During his career Chris has worked with a large number and variety of companies throughout the U.S. and Asia Pacific.
Chris returned to Morgan Stanley in 2000 joining the Private Wealth Management Group, utilizing his extensive capital markets and investment banking experience to create tailored investment and financial plans for high net worth individuals and foundations. Morgan Stanley's global resources provide him with the tools and resources necessary to design and implement customized investment portfolios and financial solutions for families and foundations. Chris and his team share the common goal of providing individual clients with the same service, insight, advice and access as the Firm's largest institutional clients.
Born and raised in Wyoming, Chris graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Southern Methodist University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics/Engineering Systems Analysis. Following graduation he worked for two years at Arthur Andersen/Accenture and then continued his education earning his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1984. He and his wife have three children and live in Westfield, New Jersey.
Managing Director
Private Wealth Advisor
Family Wealth Director
Chris joined Morgan Stanley in 1984 and began his career as a gold & silver, options and futures trader. During his years with the Firm, he also worked in Investment Banking and Global Capital Markets. Chris joined CS First Boston's Capital Markets Division in 1991 and was subsequently recruited by Credit Lyonnais Securities USA in 1994 to establish their Fixed Income/Capital Markets Division. In 1996 Chris joined the Capital Markets Division of Citigroup/Salomon Smith Barney. During his career Chris has worked with a large number and variety of companies throughout the U.S. and Asia Pacific.
Chris returned to Morgan Stanley in 2000 joining the Private Wealth Management Group, utilizing his extensive capital markets and investment banking experience to create tailored investment and financial plans for high net worth individuals and foundations. Morgan Stanley's global resources provide him with the tools and resources necessary to design and implement customized investment portfolios and financial solutions for families and foundations. Chris and his team share the common goal of providing individual clients with the same service, insight, advice and access as the Firm's largest institutional clients.
Born and raised in Wyoming, Chris graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Southern Methodist University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics/Engineering Systems Analysis. Following graduation he worked for two years at Arthur Andersen/Accenture and then continued his education earning his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1984. He and his wife have three children and live in Westfield, New Jersey.
Securities Agent: PA, VI, VT, SC, AL, MA, OH, NV, ME, CT, CO, CA, AZ, IN, WA, WY, DC, DE, KY, NC, NY, WI, MN, LA, FL, MD, NH, OR, VA, MI, IL, ID, TX, TN, NJ, GA, MT; General Securities Principal; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
Alycia Adams Ingram - Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Associate
Phone:
(212) 761-9582(212) 761-9582
Email:alycia.adams@morganstanleypwm.com
Alycia joined Morgan Stanley in 2019 from UBS where she worked as a Client Service Associate. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of the team servicing and assisting clients with portfolio management and reporting, market research, risk and retirement analysis. Prior to becoming Assistant Vice President, Alycia served as the team’s Client Service Associate.
Alycia was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California and received her Bachelors of Science in Finance from University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. She currently resides in Manhattan with her husband.
Alycia was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California and received her Bachelors of Science in Finance from University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. She currently resides in Manhattan with her husband.
Pat Middleton, CFA - Client Service Assocaite
Phone:
(212) 761-2455(212) 761-2455
Email:pat.middleton@morganstanleypwm.com
Pat joined Morgan Stanley in 2020 from Wilmington Trust, where she worked with high net worth clients as a Senior Investment Advisor. Prior to that, she worked directly with the CFO of Hudson City Savings Bank (now part of M&T Bank – the parent of Wilmington Trust), managing their fixed income investment portfolio. In 2004, Pat earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Earlier in her career she was a foreign exchange trader with Chase Manhattan Bank in Toronto.
Pat was raised in Toronto, Canada, and earned a B.S. in Biophysics from the University of Toronto. She lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with her husband and has three grown children.
Pat Middleton brings nearly two decades of individual and institutional investing experience to the service of the team’s clients. She also has extensive experience in cash management, fixed income and risk mitigation.
Pat was raised in Toronto, Canada, and earned a B.S. in Biophysics from the University of Toronto. She lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with her husband and has three grown children.
Pat Middleton brings nearly two decades of individual and institutional investing experience to the service of the team’s clients. She also has extensive experience in cash management, fixed income and risk mitigation.
Location
1585 Broadway
21st Fl
New York, NY 10036
US
Direct:
(212) 761-2594(212) 761-2594
Fax:
(212) 507-0629(212) 507-0629
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
Private Wealth Management Podcast
Bringing you engaging stories and key insights surrounding the complexities associated with significant wealth, including:
- Intergenerational Planning
- Philanthropic Giving
- Non-Traditional Assets
- Managing Family Wealth
LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art
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Managing Significant Wealth
- Investment Management
- Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
- Cash Management & Lending
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Lifestyle Advisory
- Business Services
Funding Climate Action: Pathways for Philanthropy
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Insights and Outcomes
Thought Leadership for our ultra high net worth clients, which contains thought-provoking articles, authored by leading experts from Morgan Stanley Family Office Resources.
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
We look forward to discussing your needs and goals, and the exceptional resources we can place at your disposal.
1Investing in the market entails the risk of market volatility. The value of all types of investments may increase or decrease over varying time periods. The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of sustainable or impact investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because sustainability and impact criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.
Asset Allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.
The securities/instruments, investments and investment strategies discussed on this website may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or investment strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. The views and opinions expressed on this website may not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). This website and its associated content are intended for U.S. residents only.
Morgan Stanley and its Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Visitors to this website 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.
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers may only transact business in states where they are registered or excluded or exempted from registration. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers are not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
See the Financial Advisors Biographies for Registration and Licensing information.
Certified Financial Planner™ Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with flame logo)® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP® Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. owns the marks CIMA®, Certified Investment Management Analyst® (with graph element)®, and Certified Investment Management Analyst® .
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance are offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC's licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Lifestyle Advisory Services: Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.
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
Awards Disclosures
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.
Asset Allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.
The securities/instruments, investments and investment strategies discussed on this website may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or investment strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. The views and opinions expressed on this website may not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). This website and its associated content are intended for U.S. residents only.
Morgan Stanley and its Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Visitors to this website 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.
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers may only transact business in states where they are registered or excluded or exempted from registration. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers are not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
See the Financial Advisors Biographies for Registration and Licensing information.
Certified Financial Planner™ Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with flame logo)® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP® Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. owns the marks CIMA®, Certified Investment Management Analyst® (with graph element)®, and Certified Investment Management Analyst® .
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance are offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC's licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Lifestyle Advisory Services: Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.
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
Awards Disclosures
CRC 4237142 (02/2025)
