My Story and Services

David is a Financial Adviser with Morgan Stanley. His focus is on advising families with a total wealth management strategy. Together he will help you identify and prioritize your needs, goals, concerns, risks and aspirations. David believes in a holistic approach to wealth management that incorporates virtually all aspects of financial life helping support families with investment decisions and lifestyle planning. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, David was a Managing Director with Guggenheim Securities, LLC where he was a sell-side analyst and provided equity research coverage of regional banks. With over fifteen years’ experience in working with institutional clients, his clients have included mutual funds and hedge funds. He is a CFA Charterholder with a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Wake Forest University.
Services Include
Securities Agent: AR, AK, DE, CA, CT, AZ, DC, HI, IA, ID, MI, ND, IN, ME, KS, IL, MO, LA, MA, NM, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NV, NE, NH, OH, OR, OK, SD, PR, RI, PA, UT, VI, WI, VT, WA, WY, WV, SC, NC, TX, NY, MS, GA, TN, VA, FL, CO, AL, KY; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1563188
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working with you

At Morgan Stanley, we believe that identifying financial solutions begins with a solid understanding of each client's situation, goals, objectives and risk tolerance. We follow a disciplined process that allows us to work with you to craft a solution that helps to meet your individual financial needs.
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    Step 1: Introductory Meeting
    Our relationship begins with an initial discussion aimed towards getting to know you, your lifestyle and your future goals.
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    Step 2: Discovery Meeting
    During the discovery meeting, we will work together to establish your financial goals by reviewing your current financial situation and developing an appropriate risk tolerance that can help you achieve the financial outcome you envision for yourself
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    Step 3: Financial Plan Presentation
    Financial plan presentations map out essential factors that play into your financial success such as your employee and employer contributions, liquidity events and insurance coverage. Examining relevant financial information provides a holistic asset allocation analysis for your accounts helping ensure a comprehensive financial plan.

    Disclaimer:
    Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.
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    Step 4: Action Items/Next Steps
    After the financial plan presentation, we will follow up with you regarding our analysis and recommendations, which may include adjustments to your financial plan. Investment allocation, company benefits and insurance coverage.
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    Step 5: Implementation Meeting
    The implementation meeting focuses on creating prospective strategies custom designed for your specific needs. Recommended changes could include logistics, tax impact, asset allocation adjustments and saving/benefit modifications.
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    Step 6: Monitoring & Performance Tracking
    Finally, we will be constantly monitoring your assets and analyzing your performance tracking data seeking to ensure your financial expectations are being met and adjusted accordingly. We will keep a high degree of communication with you to make sure your concerns and requests are always addressed.

Digital Tools

Our comprehensive suite of digital tools are designed to help enhance every aspect of your financial life. Here are a few of the technologies we have to offer our clients.
    Morgan Stanley Online (photo) - DO NOT EDIT CONTENT - MUST USE AS IS
    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
    Donor Advised Funds (DAF) - (icon) - DO NOT EDIT CONTENT - MUST USE AS IS
    Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
    A solution that may help you execute planned giving, offer an efficient way to donate complex and illiquid assets, and simplify charitable giving reporting while potentially mitigating taxes. Bring philanthropy into your wealth plan and help amplify the impact of your giving through the Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust (MS GIFT).
    MS GIFT

Articles and Research

Below are recent articles and research reports from Morgan Stanley.
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    The GIC Weekly
    The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
    Read The Latest Report
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    On The Markets Research Report
    Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
    Read The Latest Report

Financial Literacy Articles

    Location

    3102 West End Ave
    Ste 200
    Nashville, TN 37203
    US
    Direct:
    (615) 665-4739(615) 665-4739
    Wealth Management
    Global Investment Office

    Portfolio Insights

    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
    Rational Investing in an Age of Uncertainty
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    Rational Investing in an Age of Uncertainty

    When it comes to investing, even the most savvy of us fall prey to bias and emotional trades. So what triggers should you watch for?

    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
    529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education
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    529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education

    Though education costs continue to climb, starting to save and invest early can make a difference.

    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.
    Ready to start a conversation? Contact David Darst 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. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.

    For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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    2Alternative 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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    3Morgan 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.

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    4Investing 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. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.

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    5When 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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    6Investors should consider many factors before deciding which 529 plan is appropriate. Some of these factors include: the Plan's investment options and the historical investment performance of these options, the Plan's flexibility and features, the reputation and expertise of the Plan's investment manager, Plan contribution limits and the federal and state tax benefits associated with an investment in the Plan. Some states, for example, offer favorable tax treatment and other benefits to their residents only if they invest in the state's own Qualified Tuition Program. Investors should determine their home state's tax treatment of 529 plans when considering whether to choose an in-state or out-of-state plan. Investors should consult with their tax or legal advisor before investing in any 529 Plan or contact their state tax division for more information. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not provide tax and/or legal advice. Investors should review a Program Disclosure Statement, which contains more information on investment options, risk factors, fees and expenses and possible tax consequences.

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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 Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

    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 | Morgan Stanley
    CRC 4665150 (8/2025)