My Story

Christopher Waltman is a Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Director, Portfolio Management Director, and Alternative Investments Director at Morgan Stanley. He has been with the firm since 1989 and is focused on serving his clients with forward-thinking financial planning and help provide tax-efficient wealth management advice by rigorously sourcing investments at a low cost with a goal of seeking an optimal risk-adjusted return.

Christopher’s objective is to create customized high-net-worth plans and manage assets that aligns with every client’s needs. His personal philosophy is to always be learning in the investment arena to help keep his clients’ portfolios up to date within the current tax and investing environment. Christopher and the Family Wealth Director group at Morgan Stanley have provided his clients with unique access to seasoned professionals, analysts, and investments that can be resourceful. He collaborates closely with his clients, their attorneys, accountants, and other advisors, to achieve their goals.

Christopher holds his Series 7, Series 66, and Series 65 financial securities licenses, and has received his Bachelor of Science in Business Finance from Indiana University in 1988. During his spare time, he volunteers at River North Residents Association and for youth hockey.
Services Include
Securities Agent: WY, WV, NH, NC, MT, KS, IN, IL, DC, WA, NV, DE, WI, SC, PA, OK, OH, NM, VT, VA, TN, CT, OR, ND, HI, AR, AL, RI, NE, MD, KY, VI, SD, AK, TX, MO, MN, GA, PR, NJ, MS, MI, CO, AZ, UT, ME, IA, CA, NY, MA, LA, ID, FL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1279220
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working With You

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My work with you starts with one or more in-depth, exploratory meetings. I need to understand your unique financial situation so I can offer you the best possible advice and solutions.
When you work with me, you can expect that I will:
Develop a comprehensive financial strategy based on your individual needs
Make disciplined, not emotional investment decisions
Adjust your holdings in response to new opportunities and risks
Maintain strict financial objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest
I can also coordinate my work with other key members of your financial team, including your:
Tax specialist
Trust attorney
Insurance professional
Family office

MY SERVICES TO YOU

I am committed to providing timely advice to help you achieve your financial goals.
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    Retirement Planning
    Planning for retirement has never been easy, but in recent years, it’s become increasingly difficult. I am here to help you create a well-rounded planning approach for retirement. I’ll help you create a well-rounded planning approach for retirement. I am here to help identify your personal goals, track your progress toward achieving them and work together to create a customized plan.
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    Wealth Management
    At Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, exclusive access to vast resources, combined with our unique capabilities, gives us the means to support your goals at every life stage. We provide a range of solutions to meet you where you are—no matter your starting point or preferred investing approach. We understand that as family or institutional wealth increases, the implementation of investment strategies becomes increasingly complex and portfolios require close monitoring to remain within intended parameters.
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    Workplace Advisors - Equity Compensation
    As the administrator of your company’s equity compensation plan, we pride ourselves on helping you manage your awards effectively. We are here to provide easy access to your account, answer questions about your awards and handle your transactions accurately and conveniently. We help build financial confidence through insightful advice, thoughtful education, and cutting-edge technology across a suite of workplace solutions.
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    Risk Analysis
    We take a holistic approach to managing your finances by identifying risk outliers and understanding the impact of market scenarios. We leverage Morgan Stanley’s Portfolio Risk Platform and the risk analytics integrated into their proprietary platform applications to leverage dynamic risk insights across thousands of risk factors. We can instantly analyze an entire portfolio, including assets held elsewhere, which helps identify and mitigate your risk.
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    Alternative Investments
    Christopher is a recognized Alternative Investments Director and Morgan Stanley Investment Management is a provider of alternative investment strategies with knowledge and experience that spans across private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, and managed futures markets. We are here to deliver exceptional portfolios and custom alternative investment programs.
    Learn More About Our Alternative Investments Offerings

Online Tools and Features Available To You

Morgan Stanley strives to ensure it serves clients on its technology platforms that are resilient, safe, efficient, and smart. As a part of our services, these resources are readily available to all of our clients. Learn more about each tool and feature to see how it can easily help you manage and secure your financial journey.
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    Morgan Stanley Online
    Beyond viewing your account balance and activity, Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) has a suite of features that allow you to manage your everyday finances from paying bills and sending money to transferring funds and authorizing transactions with eAuthorizations.
    Learn More About MSO
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    Total Wealth View
    It’s hard to see the complete picture with only half the details. As a Morgan Stanley client, you can now conveniently view your accounts from other financial institutions on Morgan Stanley Online or by using the Morgan Stanley Mobile App, giving you a more complete financial picture.
    Learn More About Total Wealth View
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    eDelivery
    eDelivery provides you with the ability to view statements and other Firm documents electronically in lieu of paper. Clients who are registered in Morgan Stanley Online may enroll in eDelivery to securely save, print, send, and receive documents at any time.
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    Online Security Center
    At Morgan Stanley, safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities. Learn about our security measures and use our resources and ideas to help protect yourself online.
    Learn More About Online Security
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    Morgan Stanley Mobile App
    Securely access your Morgan Stanley account from virtually anywhere. Simply download it on your mobile device and use your Morgan Stanley Online username and password to log in. From there you will have the resources of MSO on the go.
    Discover More With Our Mobile App
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    Portfolio Risk Platform
    Portfolio Risk Platform – Powered by Aladdin is a risk management platform that provides comprehensive risk estimation and reporting across a broad range of asset classes and security types. This platform provides a holistic view to better enable risk to be effectively monitored and managed.
    Watch Video on Portfolio Risk Platform
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    Goals Planning System
    As a Morgan Stanley client with a Goals Planning System (GPS) retirement plan, you can now access and view your plan’s status and progress on Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) and Morgan Stanley Mobile (MSM).
    Learn More about GPS on Morgan Stanley Online
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    Digital Vault
    Digital Vault lets you easily and conveniently manage and share life’s most important documents, such as wills, deeds and estate plans, as well as financial statements and tax filings.
    Watch Video on Digital Vault

Upcoming Firm Events

We hope you will join us for this upcoming event.

U.S. Policy Pulse: Trump 2.0 and the Markets

DATE: February 25, 2025 at 4:15 p.m. ET

Join Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett, on Tuesday, February 25, for a conversation with Chief Economic Strategist and Global Head of Thematic and Macro Investing, Ellen Zentner, and Head of U.S. Public Policy, Monica Guerra, on the top policy and regulatory actions that could impact investors in the months ahead.

CRC4192005 02/2025
Online

Client Service Team

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    Alexis N. Schmidt
    Phone:
    (312) 419-3401(312) 419-3401
    Email:Alexis.Schmidt@morganstanley.com
    Alexis Schmidt is a Wealth Management Associate at Morgan Stanley. She recently joined the firm in 2021 and is focused on supporting her team to help people meet their financial goals.

    Alexis holds her Series 7 and Series 66 financial securities licenses and received her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of Idaho. During her undergrad, she was part of her university D1 swim and dive program.

Location

233 S Wacker Dr
Ste 8600
Chicago, IL 60606
US
Direct:
(312) 419-3541(312) 419-3541
Toll-Free:
(800) 621-2842(800) 621-2842
Fax:
(312) 419-3515(312) 419-3515

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 William Davern

Will Davern is a Planning Associate at Morgan Stanley providing dedicated financial planning support to Financial Advisors and their teams. Operating as an extension of the FA/Team, he collaborates with clients to discover and define the goals that matter most to them. Leveraging state of the art technology, he will evaluate various options and their potential outcomes to help clients confidently choose the appropriate course of action. Will provides expertise across a wide suite of Morgan Stanley planning tools designed to assist in the areas of investment accumulation, retirement, education, major purchase, cash flow, risk management, tax efficiency, and wealth transfer planning.

He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degree from Mercy University and received the Financial Planning Specialist® designation from the College for Financial. Will is originally from Carmel, NY and currently resides in New Fairfield, CT.
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.

Mosaic

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

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 Christopher Waltman today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
1Morgan 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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2When 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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3Alternative 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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4Morgan 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.
Morgan 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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5Structured 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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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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7Morgan 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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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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9Investing in futures and options on futures contracts entails significant risks. Prices of futures and options on futures contracts may be affected by a variety of factors at any time, including but not limited to, (i) changes in supply and demand relationships, (ii) governmental programs and policies, (iii) national and international political and economic events, war and terrorist events, (iv) changes in interest and exchange rates, (v) trading activities in the underlying assets or commodities and related contracts, (vi) pestilence, technological change and weather and (vii) the price volatility of a commodity or asset. In addition, the futures markets may be subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including lack of liquidity, participation of speculators and government intervention.

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10GlobalCurrency is available to clients of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC with an eligible brokerage account. Before undertaking foreign exchange transactions, clients should understand the associated risks.
Engaging in foreign currency transactions entails more varied risks than normally associated with transactions in the domestic securities markets. Attention should be paid to market, credit, sovereign, and liquidity risks. The foreign exchange transactions and deposits discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all clients. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy depends upon a client’s particular circumstances and objectives. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice.

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11Morgan 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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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)