Story and Services

When someone asks me what I do, I tell them that I help people like you sort through the complexities of personal finance to make purpose-driven financial decisions. I build strong, comprehensive plans that align with your values and goals while considering the uniqueness and entirety of your life. Basically, I tell them that working with me should put you in a better financial position than you could put yourself.

I am a straight talker with a common sense approach, backed by my advanced training and skills as a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®). Having been a part of multiple startups in Silicon Valley, I have a unique perspective on risk and reward, concentrated stock positions and the understanding of balance sheets, profit and loss statements and capital structures. Being a parent also gives me the understanding of how those issues come into play at home and the importance of creating financial comfort through conscious planning.

New clients often find me when they’re facing an important life event. I look forward to working with you over many years through births and deaths, coupling and uncoupling, graduations, best ever vacations, retirement and re-entry. You can expect me to take a collaborative, transparent, and holistic approach to every issue we tackle because work, family and health all play an important role in any financial plan. I am particularly interested in in delivering confidence and freedom to women who are often so busy taking care of others that they don’t pay attention to this important part of their life. I call it the put your own oxygen mask on first advice.

I joined Morgan Stanley after spending twenty years as an entrepreneur. Working as a financial advisor feels like a culmination of all the skills and experience I have gathered over the years coming to together to be used to advise and service others. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University in Ohio, where I played three varsity sports. In 2018, I received a Certification in Financial Planning from Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business. In 2021, Casey Galdieri, Phil Cunningham and I combined our talents to form the 225 Group.

Outside of work, I am an avid enjoyer of the outdoors (rock climbing, backpacking, kitesurfing) and live in Palo Alto, California with my two sons and our cat, Tom.

Denison University, BA
Santa Clara University, Financial Planning Program
Services Include
Securities Agent: VA, AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY, OH; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1279192
CA Insurance License #: 0H98789
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Clients

I enjoying helping people just like you, in all stages of life.

I understand that your specific circumstances may require unique solutions. No problem: I’ll work with you to develop detailed wealth plans and concrete strategies.
My satisfied clients include:
  • Women
  • Corporate executives
  • High-net-worth young investors
  • Mid-career professionals and their families
  • LGBT Families

Women and Wealth

Whether you are a single woman or mother, a divorcee or widow, or a happily married woman in charge of the finances, we want to assist you in education, resources and planning to help you navigate all things financial.
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    MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT: The Evolution of Women and Wealth
    How can women achieve better outcomes for their portfolios, their families, their businesses and themselves? What does it really mean to empower women investors? Our Head of Private Wealth Management, Elizabeth Dennis, discusses these questions further, sharing experience and perspective on women and wealth.
    Learn more
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    The Morgan Stanley Interview with Jenny Johnson
    Franklin Templeton CEO, Jenny Johnson, explains why “bitcoin is the greatest distraction from the greatest disruption.”
    Watch the interview
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    Women, Work, and the Pandemic
    The pandemic upended the labor market and drove many women away from work. Read what Morgan Stanley's Chief U.S. Economist thinks needs to happen to get women back into the workforce.
    Learn more
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    What Kind of Retiree Do You Want To Be?
    Travel, volunteering, or exploring new hobbies? Whatever your pursuits may be in retirement, it’s essential to plan ahead for your spending needs. Here are some strategies to help keep you on track.
    Learn more

How We are Different

We are committed to sustainability, investing for the good of humanity and the future of the Earth. We've walked in your shoes and will take the weight from your shoulders.
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    We are committed to sustainability, investing for the good of humanity and the future of the earth. We believe smart investing that reflects the goals and values of the client is the best way to help build wealth.
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    We’ve walked in your shoes. Our team has experience in corporate leadership and a keen understanding of the ins and outs of complex compensation plans, RSUs and stock options. We understand the nuances of your career arc and financial situation.
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    We take the weight from your shoulders. We help you prioritize your financial action items to relive you of the mental burden. We fiercely protect your time by leveraging modern, digital tools to streamline your experience and make monitoring your money easy.
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    Our team is easily accessible. If you are ready to develop a purposeful wealth plan which defines your money values, clarifies goals, and builds a road-map forward, please contact our team today.

Customized Solutions

Laura leverages her experience and relationships to deliver innovative strategies that are tailored to your specific needs and goals. She looks forward to speaking with you to understand your challenges, so a mapped-out strategy can be built to help achieve your priorities and ambitions.
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    Financial Planning
    We're here to help manage the stress around financial decisions by offering knowledge and thoughtful guidance. As your life evolves, so do your goals: our approach allows you to look across your assets and liabilities to help you adapt your strategy in an effort to meet those changing demands. Whether it is saving for retirement and other expenses, securing retirement income, healthcare planning, taxes, education, or legacy planning, we're here for you.
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    Wealth Consulting
    Wealth consulting brings virtually all of the dimensions of your life together. We listen carefully to understand the connections across your personal life, your family, your career and your faith to develop an integrated strategy that is uniquely yours.
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    Portfolio Management
    We study investment trends and leverage the global resources of the firm to develop a personalized investment strategy. Through our oriented accountability we'll find a personalized portfolio to help you meet your requirements for growth, income or wealth constraints.
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    Retirement Planning
    Planning for retirement has never been easy, but in recent years, it's become increasingly difficult. We're here to help you create a well-rounded planning approach for retirement. We'll help you identify your personal goals and track your progress towards achieving them.
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    Estate Planning Strategies
    Delivering an estate to the next generation or favorite charity requires more attention than families often realize. We coordinate with your estate and tax professionals to align your legacy goals with the appropriate asset titling and beneficiary designation requirements, incorporating best practices to help enhance results.
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    Global Sports and Entertainment
    Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment is a highly specialized wealth management division, dedicated to serving the unique and complex needs of athletes, entertainers, creators and top professionals in the sports and entertainment industry. We're here to provide you distinctive financial strategies that match your lifestyle and career trajectory. Connect with us to learn more about our offerings to successfully serve you.
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    Socially Responsible Investing
    Many investors seek meaningful ways to create a positive impact through the investments they make in their portfolio. Socially responsible investing focuses on aligning financial goals which are driven by economic fundamentals with goals which are driven by personal values and faith based principals. We can help you integrate these themes into your investment strategy.
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    Endowments and Foundations
    Committees and administrators are faced with the complex task of developing appropriate investment policy statements, understanding how to assess performance and finding superior fund managers. We help you and your investment committee reduce risk and increase returns, so you can preserve principal and generate income to be used for your philanthropic endeavors.
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    Education Funding
    Helping meet the educational costs of children and grandchildren may be one of the most personal fulfilling investments you can make. We can help you access appropriate investment vehicles and determine the best possible strategies for helping achieve this goal.
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    401(k) Rollovers
    If you have a 401(k) from a previous job, we make it easy to consolidate your assets into one account so you can monitor your progress and investment results all in one place. This helps simplify your financial life, keeps you organized and helps make your money work harder for you.

Client Service Team

    Mary Keller - Senior Registered Client Service Associate
    Email:mary.keller@morganstanley.com
    CA Insurance License #: 0H69252

Location

225 W Santa Clara St
Suite 900
San Jose, CA 95113
US
Direct:
(408) 947-2241(408) 947-2241
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
Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse
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Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse

Financial planning after a divorce or death can be trying, but with the right approach and the right advice you can turn a difficult situation into empowerment.

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.

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
  • Reduce employee stress,
  • Improve retention and engagement, and
  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
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The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Laura Jarrell today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
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.

1Morgan 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.

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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.

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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, 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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5Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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6Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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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:
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 Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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)