Joseph Caughman, CRPC®
My Mission Statement
My Story and Services
Joe's approach employs a goals-based strategy, helping him understand what his clients aim to accomplish for different life events. This method is designed to support his clients as they work towards their goals, while providing guidance along the way. Drawing from his past experience in the hospitality industry, Joe prioritizes client service, striving to truly delight his clients.
He began his career in the financial services industry in 2014 with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and joined Morgan Stanley in January of 2026. Joe holds the CRPC designation, showcasing his commitment to professional excellence.
Outside of his professional life, Joe is deeply committed to his community and enjoys spending time with his family. He lives in Charleston with his wife Molly, their two sons, John and Daniel, and their dog, Sergeant. Joe is an avid inshore fly fisherman, often exploring the creeks and estuaries of Charleston with his sons and close friends. He also loves traveling with his family, recently visiting India to expose his children to different cultures and perspectives.
Joe’s educational background includes a BA in History with a minor in Architectural Design from Tulane University. He grew up in Columbia, SC, and has called Charleston home for the past 20 years. His personal and professional experiences have shaped him into a knowledgeable financial advisor who is deeply committed to understanding and supporting his clients needs.
SETTING YOUR FOUNDATION WITH A FINANCIAL PLAN
Joe's wealth management process begins with you, your investment objectives and your financial goals. Holistic in its approach, it may encompass all the elements of your financial life, making sure they align with your goals and wealth management plan.
The following resources below will introduce you to a few of the tools that Joe uses. Please click to learn more about topics impacting your wealth.
LifeView is a suite of planning tools that includes goal-specific analysis that Joe can use with his clients to create a realistic, integrated strategy that incorporates the various aspects of an individual's financial life, including investments and cash management needs.
Goals Planning System (GPS) is Morgan Stanley's own integrated planning tool. Built on the Firm's intellectual capital and capabilities, GPS is an intuitive and efficient platform used to quickly assess whether a client is "On Track" to achieving their financial goals.
One way to manage savings is by using Morgan Stanley's Spending and Budgeting Tool. This tool helps advisors monitor cash flows across both internal and external accounts. It also tracks spending patterns and produces an income and expense analysis to help clients achieve their goals by adjusting their spending behaviors when necessary.
It's important to determine how much money you may need to save for a comfortable retirement. Here are five common myths about retirement planning.
Building wealth is a means to an end. Taxes can eat up a significant portion of your assets upon withdrawal. This is why it is vital to look at your entire portfolio and coordinate liquidation to help reduce the impact of taxes and potentially improve investment results.
TAX EFFICIENT STRATEGIES
Discover strategic tax efficient planning solutions tailored to your financial goals. Joe's personalized approach to minimizing tax liabilities with a focus on long term growth empowers you to make the most of your earnings.
Establishing a tax management strategy for your investments may help you keep more of your returns.
A wealth management tax services strategy designed to help keep more of your returns with a tax-managed investment portfolio.
The tax decisions you make today can help you save for years to come. Consider these tax-smart strategies for your financial plan.
Tax acts as a drag on your investments performance that can be heavier than any fee you pay. But they might also be the easiest to reduce, with the right strategies in place.
Cash Management and Lending
Morgan Stanley helps you make the most of your cash while keeping your goals in focus. From managing liquidity to exploring lending solutions, we offer flexible strategies designed to support your evolving financial needs – whatever they may be.
At Morgan Stanley, we offer unique cash management and lending solutions to complement your investments and help simplify your finances.
Most people borrow during the course of their lives. But it's important to be as strategic about borrowing as you are with the other areas of your financial life.
Designed as a modern alternative to banking with the capabilities to help you access, move, and manage cash when you need it while enjoying exclusive benefits.
High home prices and mortgage rates are putting the dream of homeownership out of reach for many would-be buyers. Learn how you can help a loved one break into a tough market.
Once you open a Morgan Stanley Brokerage Account, you can potentially grow your wealth with our competitive fixed rate Preferred Certificates of Deposit (CDs) offerings.
Once you open a Morgan Stanley Brokerage Account, you can make the most of your idle cash with our competitive Preferred Savings Program.
MODERN WEALTH TOOLS & RESOURCES
Morgan Stanley's comprehensive suite of digital resources has been carefully designed to help enhance each and every aspect of your financial portfolio and life. Learn more about some of the Modern Wealth Management Tools that we offer to our valued clients.
Beyond viewing your account balance and activity, Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) has a suite of features that allow you to manage your everyday finances from paying bills and sending money to transferring funds and authorizing transactions with eAuthorizations.
View all your external financial accounts directly in Morgan Stanley Online or the mobile app. By linking your accounts, you'll benefit from more informed wealth planning, secure data access and convenient connectivity.
Digital Vault allows for easy sharing and convenient access to your most important documents from wills and deeds to financial statements and tax fillings. Easily manage your encrypted financial records all in one place.
eDelivery provides you with the ability to view statements and other documents electronically in lieu of paper. Clients who are registered in Morgan Stanley Online may enroll in eDelivery.
Reserved Living & Giving is a tiered complimentary loyalty program that rewards Morgan Stanley's most valued clients. The program is designed to enhance your lifestyle and relationship with the firm beyond traditional wealth management services.
At Morgan Stanley, safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities. Learn about our security measures and use our resources and ideas to help protect yourself online.
Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
This document outlines the 2025 tax rate schedule, education and health savings account limits, retirement contribution and deduction limits, among other information.
This document outlines the 2026 tax rate schedule, education and health savings account limits, retirement contribution and deduction limits, among other information.
Location
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
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2When 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.
3Morgan 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.
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.
5Alternative 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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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.
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