Our Story

The insight you use to achieve your goals can make a difference when it comes to your financial future. That’s why at Morgan Stanley, we emphasize that Advice Matters. From personalized wealth planning to offering a suite of investment options, cash management and lending, as well as online services—all underpinned by the Firm’s insights, global scope and core values.

This is the value we bring to the relationship—working hand-in-hand with you through market and life challenges—to help keep you on track with your goals.

As your wealth has grown, so has its complexity and the resources required to manage it. We offer a dedicated team of financial professionals to deliver a powerful combination of knowledge, skills and experience. Our objective is to help you plan for the future and manage your investments in order to meet your family’s goals and ambitions.

Whether your priority is achieving financial independence, maintaining your standard of living in retirement, or leaving a meaningful legacy, we work closely with you to develop an investment strategy focused clearly on your needs. Our highly thoughtful and disciplined approach to investing helps you manage complexity and optimize returns, while always aligning your investment decisions with your objectives.

A Data-Driven and Disciplined Approach to Investments

Our focus is to help you grow, preserve and pass on your wealth in accordance with your goals. We begin by talking to you about your lifestyle expectations, cash flow needs, risk tolerance and aspirations for your family. From there, we help you build a customized portfolio from the ground up, carefully selecting investments that are tailored to help meet your specific financial needs through our disciplined, data-driven approach.

Focused on the Financial Opportunities of the Future

When you look at wealth management from a long-term perspective, one thing becomes clear: it’s your future, not just your money. We are here to guide you through all the chapters of your financial life, helping you navigate the noise and distractions of challenging markets so you can focus on what’s most important—your progress toward your goals.

Our Clients

Making sound investment decisions can often be a difficult and challenging process. Our clients appreciate the value of professional advice in helping them successfully navigate today’s complex and volatile financial markets. They rely on us for objective guidance and trust us with discretion, understanding that we always have their goals and best interests in mind.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Our Process

Charting a prudent, confident course to your financial future requires a well-conceived, personalized plan with well-defined long-term goals. Our four-step investment process helps you develop a long-term perspective about your investments:

Step 1. Establish Your Financial Objectives
We work with you to establish a realistic set of objectives based on your financial goals, time horizon, liquidity needs and tolerance to volatility and risk.

Step 2. Define Your Investment Strategy
Based on your financial objectives, we develop an investment strategy designed to help produce optimal portfolio performance: the highest return potential consistent with the strategy’s level of risk.

Step 3. Evaluate and Select Investments
With your objectives in mind, we leverage both independent research and the global resources of Morgan Stanley to determine appropriate investments for implementing your strategy.

Step 4. Ongoing Review
We monitor your portfolio to track its performance relative to your goals—and to modify the portfolio, if necessary, as your life evolves or market conditions change over time.

Our Investment Strategy

“All stocks have everything to do with the future and nothing to do with past.”
                                                                 - Rafael de Vengoechea
 
Our Approach
We customize portfolios using an Earnings Revision Strategy that can be applied to Growth or Income & Growth portfolios. Our objective is to help you become a long-term investor with a sell discipline, so you have the potential to benefit from the long-term impact of earnings growth on stock prices over time.

Growth Strategy
The focus of the Growth Strategy is to buy and hold companies where profit projections are increasing as measured by analyst revisions. Stocks are sold when profit projections decrease to avoid fundamental deterioration, or if a stock trades at a premium to intrinsic value calculations. Clients in the Growth Strategy are looking for growth of principal and are willing to accept volatility to achieve results.

Income & Growth Strategy
The Income & Growth Strategy seeks to provide income by buying income-producing securities while capturing growth through changes in analyst’s earnings and dividend expectations. The Strategy seeks to provide a customized income stream to clients by investing in equities, fixed income and alternative investments. Clients in this strategy are looking for growth of principal with varying levels of income and are willing to accept volatility of principal to meet their income and growth objectives.

Our Analyst Selection

We manage our portfolios on the Portfolio Management (PM) platform at Morgan Stanley, which enables us to customize investment strategies for individuals, pensions or institutions on discretion. The PM structure allows us to manage your money in a customized and flexible manner to provide solutions for your specific needs. We are data-driven, and our process of research and security selection is labor-intensive, relying not only on Morgan Stanley insights, but also independent analysis.

Analyst Selection

We strive to use objective information in making investment decisions by focusing on top analysts who add value when making stock and industry decisions. Analysts are measured against their peers for revision accuracy in earnings per share (EPS), revenue and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) over a 2-year rolling period. Stagnant estimates are eliminated and more weight is placed on recent estimates for timeliness.

Location

800 Newport Center Dr.
Ste 500
Newport Beach, CA 92660
US
Direct:
(949) 717-5461(949) 717-5461
Toll-Free:
(800) 927-2292(800) 927-2292

Meet Harbor Island Group

About Rafael A De Vengoechea

With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Raf focuses on applying an institutional level of research to managing custom portfolios for highly successful individuals and families on a discretionary basis. He helps clients strive toward their goals with a disciplined money management strategy focused on changes in future expectations.

Raf began his financial services career at Merrill Lynch in 1999 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2007. He was accepted into Morgan Stanley’s Portfolio Management Group in 2008. Raf earned his Bachelor’s degree in international affairs with a minor in economics from the University of Colorado.

A native of Weston, Connecticut, Raf currently lives in Newport Beach, California, with his wife, Aleece, and their two children. His top priorities are family and work, and in his spare time, he enjoys fitness, traveling, golfing, hiking and skiing.
Securities Agent: GA, NC, MD, MA, KY, IL, HI, DC, CO, SC, NH, LA, ID, CT, OR, AZ, WV, UT, NY, NE, MN, ME, NM, FL, TX, NV, MO, MI, AR, WY, NJ, KS, IN, IA, WI, SD, DE, VA, PA, OK, CA, AL, WA, TN, OH; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1312622
CA Insurance License #: 0C84852

About Joshua Gelber

Joshua started his career in the financial services industry in 2014 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2018. He focuses on comprehensive financial planning and prides himself on the strong relationships that he builds with clients.

Joshua received his B.A. in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Joshua and his wife Lindsey and their two children live in Laguna Niguel, California. He enjoys playing tennis, hiking, traveling, and surfing in his spare time.
Securities Agent: WA, TX, NH, KS, CA, WY, VA, TN, NJ, MI, ME, CO, MN, LA, NC, IL, FL, DE, WI, UT, NV, MA, CT, PA, OH, NY, MD, IN, ID, HI, MO, GA, SC, OR, AL, AZ; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1491111
CA Insurance License #: CA Insurance License #: 0J07263

About Tammy L. Jau

Tammy joined the financial services industry in 2005, and has been working with Raf ever since. She focuses on relationship building, portfolio analysis and all aspects of client service. Her efficiency, organization and attention to detail help us earn the trust and confidence of our clients.

Tammy earned her B.S. in economics with a minor in management from the University of California, Irvine and her MBA in finance from California State University, Fullerton.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Tammy now lives in Ladera Ranch, California, with her husband and son. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and loves food, traveling and yoga.

About Andrea Vu

Andrea joined The Harbor Island Group in 2019. She is focused on client support, account administration, and relationship development. Andrea enjoys working directly with clients and strives to always provide an exceptional service experience.

Andrea is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Journalism.

Andrea was born and raised in Orange County. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking, golfing, and traveling.
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Retirement

Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
  • 401(k) Rollovers
  • IRA Plans
  • Retirement income strategies
  • Retirement plan participants
  • Annuities
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

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
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

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
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

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.

Philanthropy

Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
  • Endowments
  • Foundations
  • Donor Advised Funds
  • Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.

Mosaic

Explore ideas and inspiration with captivating, original lifestyle stories created exclusively for Morgan Stanley clients.
A Change of Greenery
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A Change of Greenery

Houseplants add oxygen, flair, and warmth year-round, and the right one in the right space can do just as much for a room as any painting or side table.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Harbor Island Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
1Morgan 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.

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2Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.

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3When 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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4Morgan 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.

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5Morgan 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.

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6Products 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.
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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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7Municipal 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.

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8Morgan 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.

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9Morgan 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

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10Alternative 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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11When 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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

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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:
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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.

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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
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)