David Lin, CFA®
My Mission Statement
Advising ultra-high-net-worth families on international structuring, institutional-quality portfolio construction, and access to additional firm resources.
ABOUT OUR TEAM
Our team is dedicated to advising entrepreneurs and multi-generational families across East Asia and globally who are navigating capital movement, diversification into U.S. markets, and long-term legacy planning. An institutional investment foundation, combined with a highly tailored advisory approach, supports a select group of relationships with complex cross-border considerations.
ABOUT DAVID
David spent his early career at Morgan Stanley in New York as an Equity Research Analyst, followed by multi-asset proprietary trading experience at an Asia-based investment bank, where capital was managed across asset classes and market cycles.
That institutional foundation now underpins the advisory framework—bringing a disciplined, investment-driven perspective to private clients, particularly global families navigating complex cross-border capital and portfolio decisions. A global background, including fluency in Mandarin and English and a Master's degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University, supports engagement with families operating across jurisdictions.
As an Executive Director, CFA®, Family Wealth Director, and Alternative Investment Director, the practice is structured to deliver highly customized advice to a limited number of relationships, ensuring depth, continuity, and alignment over time.
Family Wealth Director at Morgan Stanley—a designation held by approximately 5% of advisors—reflects a focus on serving ultra-high-net-worth families with complex, multi-generational and cross-border wealth requirements.
CLIENT PROFILE
The practice serves a select group of clients whose needs extend beyond traditional wealth management:
• Entrepreneurs, founders, and principal shareholders with ~$20MM to $1B+ in net worth, often with concentrated positions, liquidity events, or ongoing capital formation needs
• Global families with cross-border structures, navigating multi-jurisdictional tax, estate, and governance considerations across the U.S. and Asia
• International clients reallocating capital into U.S. markets, seeking jurisdictional diversification, institutional access, and long-term capital preservation
• Multi-generational families focused on legacy planning, intergenerational wealth transfer, and governance of complex family balance sheets
• Sophisticated investors seeking institutional-quality access to private markets, including private equity, hedge funds, and bespoke investment opportunities
NEXT GENERATION & GLOBAL FAMILIES
Many of the families served have next-generation members studying or building their careers in the United States.
The practice regularly engages with these individuals as a resource—providing perspective on U.S. financial markets, investment frameworks, and the broader considerations involved in managing global family wealth.
These discussions often evolve into broader family-level conversations around capital allocation, structural planning, and long-term strategy.
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote1
- Asset Management
- Business Succession PlanningFootnote2
- Business PlanningFootnote3
- Corporate Retirement PlansFootnote4
- Endowments and FoundationsFootnote5
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote6
- International Investing
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote7
- Retirement PlanningFootnote8
- Trust ServicesFootnote9
- Wealth ManagementFootnote10
NMLS#: 1767245
CROSS-BORDER WEALTH ADVISORY & APPROACH
Advising international families requires more than investment management—it necessitates coordination across jurisdictions, structures, and long-term objectives.
Core capabilities include:
• Facilitating U.S. market access for international families
• Structuring portfolios and capital across multiple jurisdictions
• Coordinating with external tax, legal, and trust professionals
• Implementing entity-based and trust-based investment frameworks
• Advising on liquidity events, business exits, and concentrated wealth
INVESTMENT APPROACH
The investment philosophy is grounded in institutional discipline, with an emphasis on long-term capital preservation and compounding.
Key pillars include:
• Global diversification across public and private markets
• Institutional-quality portfolio construction informed by Morgan Stanley research
• Active risk management and dynamic asset allocation
• Tax-aware strategies, including direct indexing and portfolio transitions
• Opportunistic positioning during periods of market dislocation
PRIVATE MARKETS & ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
A central component of the platform is providing access to private market opportunities typically reserved for institutional investors.
This includes:
• Private equity (buyout, growth, secondaries)
• Hedge funds (event-driven, multi-strategy, quantitative)
• Private credit and real asset strategies
• Opportunistic and thematic investments
These allocations are designed to enhance diversification and introduce differentiated return streams beyond traditional public markets.
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENT SITUATIONS
• Advising an Asia-based founder on diversifying a concentrated position into a globally balanced portfolio
• Structuring investments across multi-jurisdictional entities for a multi-generational family
• Transitioning legacy public equity exposure through tax-aware strategies while maintaining market participation
• Integrating private market allocations to complement public portfolios and reduce correlation
APPROACH
The practice operates as a long-term advisory partner rather than a transactional service model. The team serves as a central point of coordination across investment strategy, structural considerations, and generational planning—working alongside clients and their external advisors to align all aspects of the family's financial architecture.
Client Service Team
Location
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
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.
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.
4When 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.
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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
6Morgan 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.
7Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.
8When 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.
9Morgan 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.
10Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
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