Barbara Gilman
Senior Registered Associate
Phone:
(404) 266-6483(404) 266-6483
Elizabeth Porter
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management,
Financial Advisor
Direct:
(404) 266-6496(404) 266-6496
Toll-Free:
(800) 688-6002(800) 688-6002
My Mission Statement
Experience, intellectual capital, and dedicated personal service to help you meet your life goals
My Story and Services
For me, retirement planning means more than providing our clients with investment advice. It means helping them maintain the financial independence they've worked their whole lives to achieve.
My consultative process begins with an in-depth discussion of your current finances and future objectives. We'll address issues you might have overlooked and determine how we can help you adjust your investment strategy to accommodate changing conditions and meet any unforeseen expenses and income demands that may arise during retirement.
My consultative process begins with an in-depth discussion of your current finances and future objectives. We'll address issues you might have overlooked and determine how we can help you adjust your investment strategy to accommodate changing conditions and meet any unforeseen expenses and income demands that may arise during retirement.
Securities Agent: MO, AL, MI, OH, CA, NY, SC, OK, NC, CO, MD, TX, GA, OR, WV, KY, FL, VA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1262073
NMLS#: 1262073
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Beth brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, and founding partner of The Merriwood Group. With nearly 40 years of experience, she strives to empower clients to live a better life and aims to be their first call for anything financial. Her extensive background enables her to provide a broad array of services – from college funding and retirement planning to investment management and long-term care insurance. She loves building relationships with clients, understanding their particular challenges and strategizing together to help achieve their goals. For Beth, professional achievement is measured in terms of client well-being and goal achievement.
Born in Pennsylvania, Beth moved to Brussels with her family at an early age. After graduating from the International School of Brussels, she returned to the U.S. to pursue a double major in Finance and Management from Virginia Tech. After earning her degree, she immediately began her career as an Account Executive Trainee at Prudential Bache Securities, which led to new and expanded responsibilities over time that included Account Executive, Financial Advisor and Vice President at Bank of America Securities. Beth joined the Morgan Stanley family in 2001.
Today, Beth draws upon her vast industry knowledge to provide clients with customized financial plans and tailored investment portfolios. She enjoys helping solve problems with clients and sharing insights from others who have experienced similar challenges in life and business. Above all, she excels at simplifying the complexities of wealth management, effectively articulating each recommendation in a way her clients can easily understand.
Beth believes balance is vital to a happy life. She and her husband, Phil, have been married for 36 years and have two adult children. A long-time advocate of supporting and helping children grow and learn, Beth chaired multiple committees, and was co-Vice President, co-President and Board Advisor for the Wesleyan Parent Club. Beth is also a former member of the Junior League, the National Charity League, and currently supports various charities, many of which focus on children. Outside of the office, Beth enjoys a broad array of activities that include exercising, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Born in Pennsylvania, Beth moved to Brussels with her family at an early age. After graduating from the International School of Brussels, she returned to the U.S. to pursue a double major in Finance and Management from Virginia Tech. After earning her degree, she immediately began her career as an Account Executive Trainee at Prudential Bache Securities, which led to new and expanded responsibilities over time that included Account Executive, Financial Advisor and Vice President at Bank of America Securities. Beth joined the Morgan Stanley family in 2001.
Today, Beth draws upon her vast industry knowledge to provide clients with customized financial plans and tailored investment portfolios. She enjoys helping solve problems with clients and sharing insights from others who have experienced similar challenges in life and business. Above all, she excels at simplifying the complexities of wealth management, effectively articulating each recommendation in a way her clients can easily understand.
Beth believes balance is vital to a happy life. She and her husband, Phil, have been married for 36 years and have two adult children. A long-time advocate of supporting and helping children grow and learn, Beth chaired multiple committees, and was co-Vice President, co-President and Board Advisor for the Wesleyan Parent Club. Beth is also a former member of the Junior League, the National Charity League, and currently supports various charities, many of which focus on children. Outside of the office, Beth enjoys a broad array of activities that include exercising, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Location
3280 Peachtree Rd NE
Suite 1900
Atlanta, GA 30305
US
Direct:
(404) 266-6496(404) 266-6496
Toll-Free:
(800) 688-6002(800) 688-6002
Fax:
(404) 266-7392(404) 266-7392
Meet My Team
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Elizabeth Porter today.
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
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)