James Dennard, CFA
Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor, Family Wealth Director
Phone:
(404) 949-4142(404) 949-4142
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Dennard & Taylor Team
Direct:
(404) 949-4100(404) 949-4100
Our Mission Statement
Our team provides highly customized investment strategies and estate planning solutions to help meet the complex needs of ultra-high net worth individuals, foundations and family offices.
Welcome
The Dennard & Taylor Team combines our own talents and experience with the vast resources of a global financial services firm to help address the complex 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 team works with a select number of clients so that we can dedicate the time, attention and resources each situation demands and is entitled to receive.
Our team is proud to have been named one of the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams for 2024. We are honored to be recognized among this group of outstanding professionals who continue to raise the standards in our industry.
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based for the period 3/31/22-3/31/23.
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.
Clients
Our team manages roughly 45 client relationships, all of which emanated from the sale or IPO of a closely-held business. We are very fortunate to have worked with some of the most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs in the country. Throughout our careers, we have learned that each ultra-affluent family is unique and requires highly customized solutions. Below are a few of the ways that clients have engaged our expertise:
Investment Management – We customize each client’s portfolio to help meet their specific goals and objectives by leveraging arguably the best open architecture investment platform in the world.
Pre-Liquidity Event Planning – Ahead of the sale or recapitalization of your family business, we develop estate planning strategies focused on three main objectives; asset protection, asset succession, and tax minimization.
Family Office Resources – We often find that the softer issues are the most important to our clients, so Morgan Stanley has developed tremendous resources to help address their needs through Philanthropy Management, Family Governance, and Wealth Education.
Investment Management – We customize each client’s portfolio to help meet their specific goals and objectives by leveraging arguably the best open architecture investment platform in the world.
Pre-Liquidity Event Planning – Ahead of the sale or recapitalization of your family business, we develop estate planning strategies focused on three main objectives; asset protection, asset succession, and tax minimization.
Family Office Resources – We often find that the softer issues are the most important to our clients, so Morgan Stanley has developed tremendous resources to help address their needs through Philanthropy Management, Family Governance, and Wealth Education.
Global Franchise
Morgan Stanley serves a global clientele of individuals, families, corporations, endowments, foundations, governments and others through three core businesses:
- Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
- Institutional Securities Group
- Investment Management
Our strength and synergies across each of these businesses not only contributes to the economic vitality and stability of the firm, but also expands the vast resources, expertise and global insight that we can offer you.
Morgan Stanley Franchise Power
- $5.1 trillion in AUM1
- Total Deposits $351 billion1
- Morgan Stanley reported full year net revenues of $54.1 Billion in 20232
- Morgan Stanley's Global employees approximately 80,0001
- The Tier 1 risk-based Capital Ratio under U.S. Basel III was approximately 15%1
- $314 billion in liquidity reserve1
1As of December 31, 2023, Morgan Stanley Quarterly Financial Supplement
2MorganStanley.com/InvestorRelations
Location
3280 Peachtree Road NE
Ste 2000
Atlanta, GA 30305
US
Direct:
(404) 949-4100(404) 949-4100
Meet Dennard & Taylor Team
Rodney Taylor
Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor, Alternative Investments Director
Phone:
(404) 846-1304(404) 846-1304
Mary Topping
PWM Portfolio Management Associate
Phone:
(404) 949-4444(404) 949-4444
Anna Paris
PWM Analyst
Phone:
(404) 949-4214(404) 949-4214
About James Dennard
Jed earned his BBA from the University of Georgia. Upon graduating, Jed worked in Equity Research with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Paine Webber before earning his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a Jenrette Fellow. Following graduate school, Jed worked with Bessemer Trust before joining Morgan Stanley PWM in 2006. In 2007, he received the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He also received the Family Wealth Director designation from Morgan Stanley in 2018.
Securities Agent: UT, CA, TN, MN, MA, DE, AR, VA, OH, NC, NV, KS, OK, IA, VT, CT, ID, KY, HI, TX, SC, NJ, MS, RI, NY, DC, AZ, LA, GA, FL, AL, OR, MD, CO, WY, WV, NE, MO, PA, NH, MI, IL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1364402
NMLS#: 1364402
About Rodney Taylor
After earning his BA from the University of Georgia, Rodney joined the Capital Markets team at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. He later moved to Dallas, TX to run southwestern U.S. operations for Taylor & Company, a Management Consulting firm focused in the financial services industry. Rodney earned his MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in 2015 before moving home to Atlanta to join Morgan Stanley PWM. In 2019, Rodney was selected by Forbes as a Next Gen Best-in-State Wealth Advisor. Rodney is also a member of the Alternative Investments Director program; a designation for Private Wealth Advisors with the highest level of expertise in the alternative investments asset class.
Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded June 2019) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/18 - 3/31/19.
Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded June 2019) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/18 - 3/31/19.
Securities Agent: AL, PA, NY, NC, MI, DE, WV, RI, MS, MD, HI, OH, NV, NE, CT, ID, UT, OK, VT, KS, TN, SC, MN, MA, LA, GA, OR, NJ, CO, CA, AR, FL, WY, IL, DC, AZ, VA, KY, TX, MO; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1589608
NMLS#: 1589608
About Mary Topping
Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a minor in Computer Science from the Culverhouse College of Business at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. After graduating, she moved to Atlanta, GA to pursue a career as an in-house Marketing Logistics Coordinator for the largest HeadStart data tracking company, ChildPlus Software. Realizing that marketing may not be her forever calling, she accepted a position as the receptionist at Morgan Stanley, which quickly led to accepting a support staff role with a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management team. After three years with the wealth management team, she joined the Dennard & Taylor Team. Mary currently holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses. She is also the communications chair for Women in Wealth of Atlanta.
Mary resides in Buckhead Village with her husband, Daniel, and her Siberian Husky, Marley. In her free time, you can find her taking Marley to local parks and hikes, enjoying a Barry's class, or having a slice of pizza with Daniel at Glide, her favorite spot on the Atlanta beltline.
Mary resides in Buckhead Village with her husband, Daniel, and her Siberian Husky, Marley. In her free time, you can find her taking Marley to local parks and hikes, enjoying a Barry's class, or having a slice of pizza with Daniel at Glide, her favorite spot on the Atlanta beltline.
About Anna Paris
Anna graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance. Upon graduation, she joined Truist Securities in the Investment Banking division on the Healthcare Coverage Team. At Truist, Anna worked on a variety of M&A, capital markets, and financing transactions within Healthcare Services sector. After her time in investment banking, Anna transitioned to PWM in order to build lasting relationships and help people find innovative ways to manage their wealth.
Anna is a proud lifetime Atlantan that enjoys frequenting old favorite spots and discovering new ones across the city with her husband, Jack. In her free time, you will find Anna working on one of her many hobbies such as needlepoint, woodturning, or sewing. On the weekends, Anna can usually be found at Lake Keowee in South Carolina with her family.
Anna is a proud lifetime Atlantan that enjoys frequenting old favorite spots and discovering new ones across the city with her husband, Jack. In her free time, you will find Anna working on one of her many hobbies such as needlepoint, woodturning, or sewing. On the weekends, Anna can usually be found at Lake Keowee in South Carolina with her family.
Contact James Dennard
Contact Rodney Taylor
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
Managing Significant Wealth
- Investment Management
- Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
- Cash Management & Lending
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Lifestyle Advisory
- Business Services
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.
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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We look forward to discussing your needs and goals, and the exceptional resources we can place at your disposal.
1Tailored Lending is a loan/line of credit product offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. A Tailored Lending credit facility may be a committed or demand loan/line of credit. All Tailored Lending loans/lines of credit are subject to the underwriting standards and independent approval of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Tailored Lending loans/lines of credit may not be available in all locations. Rates, terms, and programs are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. The information contained herein should not be construed as a commitment to lend. Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association is a Member FDIC that is primarily regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The proceeds from a Tailored Lending loan/line of credit (including draws and other advances) may not be used to purchase, trade, or carry margin stock; repay margin debt that was used to purchase, trade, or carry margin stock; and cannot be deposited into a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC or other brokerage account.
2Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates and their employees (including Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors) are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any statements contained herein should not be construed as tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their personal tax advisor or attorney for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving personal trusts and estate planning.
3Investing 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
2Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates and their employees (including Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors) are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any statements contained herein should not be construed as tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their personal tax advisor or attorney for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving personal trusts and estate planning.
3Investing 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
CRC 4237142 (02/2025)
