

The Sain Wealth Management Group

My Mission Statement
My Story and Services
As a financial professional for more than 35 years, I've advised a diverse range of clients with an emphasis on those in the entertainment and real estate industries. I focus on helping high-net-worth individuals preserve and grow their assets, generate income and manage overall portfolio risk.
While many qualities comprise being a valued Financial Advisor, I feel these are the three most important. First, being able to truly understand a client's story, and accurately assess their needs, goals and values. Second, having an in-depth knowledge of investment types and products to facilitate making appropriate recommendations that align with the client's objectives. And, lastly, having the necessary experience. This encompasses multiple areas of client service from knowing the best ways to address different scenarios to executing trades to a client's advantage.
Throughout my lengthy career, I've been a high-achieving professional who's consistently ranked as a top producer at my firms, and who's been named in Barron's 2021 Top 100 Advisors in California and 2021 America's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors. However, I feel my biggest honor is the trust I've earned from clients over the years—especially those who've worked with me for decades.
I encourage you to learn more about what I offer to clients, and welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with you.
2021-Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State) Source: Barrons.com (Award 2021-). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.
NMLS#: 2357818
Financial Planning
Over the years, I’ve found that many new clients are either unhappy with their current plan or it’s outdated. In some cases, the client may not even have a plan. So, financial planning will be a point of emphasis during my first conversation with a client.
Depending on your specific circumstances and needs, we may discuss a range of topics, such as asset management, estate planning, alternative investments, lending products or business succession planning. With my extensive experience in fixed-income assets, we may also consider this as part of your plan.
But, in reality, each plan is different because each client is different. However, tax management should be a cornerstone of every financial plan—especially for those living in California with the highest state tax rates in the nation.
After we establish your plan, I’ll review it each year and we’ll meet annually to discuss your progress. As markets change and life evolves, adjustments may be needed to help keep your plan on track.
I’m happy to consult with your other trusted advisors—such as a CPA, attorney or business manager—to better ensure you have a cohesive, complementary plan that addresses your entire financial picture. Doing so may also relieve you of some of the burden of communicating any changes to each advisor.
ENTERTAINMENT CLIENTS
Perhaps it’s a married couple who both work on a project basis. While they may be doing well financially, they may go through lengthy periods without generating any income. And yet they still face many of the same pressures as salaried employees with steady paychecks, such as paying their mortgage, providing for their family, funding a child’s college education, dealing with high tax rates or financially assisting their elderly parents.
Or maybe it’s an affluent industry veteran who financially supports foundations, charities or other laudable causes who may occasionally face liquidity issues and need to sell some assets in a tax-efficient, fiscally responsible manner.
Or it could be an emerging talent who’s experiencing a large increase in income and is struggling with how to keep their current expenditures in check while prudently investing for the future.
With my extensive industry experience, I’ve successfully navigated entertainment clients through many wealth management scenarios. This often includes developing thoughtfully designed financial plans structured to take into account the variances involved with the industry, while creating workable budgets for the near term and long term. I advise both younger entertainment professionals as well as those nearing or in retirement.
Additionally, as a Global Sports & Entertainment Director at Morgan Stanley, I have access to customized resources and programs, including philanthropic and lifestyle advisory services, family governance and financial planning, investment banking services and private equity solutions to further support my clients in the industry.
Real Estate Clients
With my deep background in fixed-income investments, I’m well-experienced in diversifying assets through corporate bonds and tax-free municipal bonds—along with stocks and other suitable investment vehicles—to strategically spread risks while potentially generating income.
Location
Meet My Team
About Melinda Schad
A SoCal native, Melinda worked at a number of well-known financial firms before joining Morgan Stanley in 2022. Her experience included trading fixed-income securities at Oppenheimer, and working with Financial Advisors at Wells Fargo and AG Edwards where she provided clients with a wide variety of personalized administrative and operational services.
Melinda likes helping clients solve problems, and treasures the relationships she’s developed over the years. Many clients have become friends.
An accomplished equestrian who grew up with horses, Melinda enjoys working with animals, as well as hiking, exercising and spending time with friends and family.
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
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Wealth Management for Athletes and Entertainers
- Investment Management
- Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
- Private Banking Solutions
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Lifestyle Advisory
2Morgan 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.
3Morgan 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.
4Morgan 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.
5Municipal bonds may not be appropriate for all investors. Income generated from an investment in a municipal bond is generally exempt from federal income taxes. Some income may be subject to state and local taxes and to the federal alternative minimum tax. Capital gains, if any, are subject to tax.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) and its Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide any tax/legal advice. Consult your own tax/legal advisor before making any tax or legal-related investment decisions.
6Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
7Alternative 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.
8Morgan 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
9Participating in a new issue/syndicate is subject to availability. IPOs are highly speculative and may not be appropriate for all investors because they lack a stock-trading history and usually involve smaller and newer companies that tend to have limited operating histories, less-experienced management teams, and fewer products or customers. Also, the offering price of an IPO reflects a negotiated estimate as to the value of the company, which may bear little relationship to the trading price of the securities, and it is not uncommon for the closing price of the shares shortly after the IPO to be well above or below the offering price.
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