My Story and Services

Drawing on more than 17 years of investing and wealth planning experience, Maria Ross serves as a trusted advisor to many of the team's clients.

Applying a comprehensive goal-based approach to wealth management, Maria focuses on advanced financial planning for prosperous families. Maria works closely with her clients' tax advisors and attorneys to help ensure their tax optimization and risk mitigation strategies are addressed unilaterally by the entire team working on behalf of each of her clients. She advises clients on complex retirement plan establishment and administration, which includes cash balance, floor offset defined benefit, and 401k plans.

In addition to financial planning, Maria oversees the team's portfolio allocation strategy efforts. In tandem with the development and maintenance of investment models for the group's U.S.-based clients, Maria has been involved in building an offshore model portfolio for those clients who maintain tax residency outside of the U.S. To assist the team's corporate executive clients, Maria also completed training in the areas of Restricted/Performance Stock Units, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, Employee Stock Purchase Plans and Rule 10b5-1 Plans.
Maria started her career as an Advisor at Morgan Stanley in 2006. Prior to returning to Morgan Stanley in 2014, to form AGS Wealth Management Group, she spent 6 years at UBS Wealth Management focusing on the needs and goals of private clients and corporations.

Maria holds a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and has completed advanced Portfolio Management Certification. She earned a Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA) from Long Island University CW Post, and spent a year studying at the European Business School London and Pole Universitaire Leonard de Vinci in Paris as part of the curriculum. She has a Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) from Lake Superior State University, Cum Laude.

Outside of the office, Maria is a member of the Board of Russian Children's Welfare Society and volunteers in the CFP Board Mentor Program as well serving as a judge for Invest Write, a program of the SIFMA Foundation. She enjoys global travel, golf and reading. Maria is fluent in English and Russian and resides in Weehawken, New Jersey.

Services Include
  • Pre-Liquidity Planning
  • Philanthropy Management
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Tax, Trust & Estate AdvisoryFootnote1
  • Corporate Stock Plans
  • 10b5-(1) Programs
  • Investment Management
  • Retirement & Pension Plans
  • Sudden Wealth Financial Planning
Securities Agent: SC, NY, TX, PA, CT, NH, NC, AZ, VA, PR, OH, NJ, IL, FL, MD, CA, MA, WA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1339283
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Our Credentials

Forbes Top Women Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2025
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 9/30/23-9/30/24

Century Club: An elite group comprised of Morgan Stanley's top advisors. The appointment recognizes consistent creativity and excellence in providing a wide range of investment products and wealth management services to clients.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) - The CFP® designation identifies those individuals who have met the experience and ethical requirements, have successfully completed financial planning coursework and have passed the CFP Certification Examination covering the following areas: financial planning, risk management, investments, tax-efficient investment planning and management, retirement, employee benefits, and estate planning strategies.

Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®)- The CEPA® designation is awareded by the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) to professionals who help business owners develop and execute exit strategies that mazximize the value of their businesses before selling or transitioning ownership.

Qualified Plan Financial Consultant - QPFC is the professional credential for financial professionals who sell, advise, market, or support qualified retirement plans. The QPFC program provides an understanding of general retirement planning concepts, terminology, distinctive features of qualified plans and the role of retirement plan professionals.

Insurance Planning Director - Recipients of the Insurance Planning Director designation have demonstrated a commitment to, and understanding of, holistic goals-based wealth management planning through the incorporation of insurance solutions into their practice as a foundational component of risk management.

Portfolio Manager – The designation is given to a select group of financial advisors. It allows them to offer portfolio management services directly to their clients, rather than delegating that responsibility to third-party portfolio managers.

Lending Specialist- This designation is given to advisors that complete a rigorous training program that focuses on evaluating liquidity solutions to complement your existing investment strategy.

Property and Casualty Insurance Specialist- A designation for a high level of understanding of homeowners insurances, personal auto policies, personal liability insurances, title insurance, commercial lines of insurance, and professional liability insurance.

Approach

Discovery Process
Investing the time to learn about you and your family; your assets and liabilities and the risk exposures, enables us to formulate strategies and customize the relationship to your needs.
Formulation of Tax, Trust and Estate Strategy
Working with your tax and legal advisors, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
Creation of Customized Strategic Asset Allocation
Your customized asset allocation reflects risk, opportunities and taxation across multiple entities, while integrating your investing and estate plans.
Integration of Tactical Asset Allocation
Short-term adjustments seek to capitalize on temporary market distortions. Before making adjustments, we analyze the impact of taxes and trading costs on potential returns.
Implementation of a Customized Wealth Strategy
After comprehensive due diligence and analysis of expected results across multiple market scenarios, strategies are chosen from our expansive investment platform.
Ongoing Assessment
In coordination with your other advisors, we can conduct ongoing reviews and comprehensive reporting to ensure that your strategy adapts to changing financial and family needs.

Valuable Tools and Resources

I believe financial education leads to better insights into our investment strategy and discipline, and ultimately, better long-term decisions. As a result, we at Morgan Stanley are commited to providing you with important information about managing your wealth more effectively in today's global markets.

I have assembled the following resources that reinforce the fundamental investment strategies and concepts of my practice. I've provided links to these materials, where available, and hope you'll reutrn often to learn more about the topics that impact your overall wealth.

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    Family Office Resources

    Family Office Resources (FOR) provides specialized technical expertise to ultra-high net worth advisors and clients across a broad range of family wealth management issues.

    Learn more about Family Office Resources
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    MS Reserved

    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.

    Learn more about MS Reserved
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    eDelivery

    Sign up for eDelivery today and start receiving email notifications as soon as your account documents are available on Morgan Stanley Online or the Morgan Stanley Mobile App. It's quick, convenient & secure.

    Enroll Today
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    Digital Vault

    Digital Vault lets you easily and securely manage and share important documents such as account statements, authorizations, tax filings and other relevant documents with your Financial Advisor.

    Get Started Today
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    Morgan Stanley Online

    Morgan Stanley Online allows you to seamlessly and securely manage your investments and everyday finances in one place.

    Register for Morgan Stanley Online Today
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    Security Center

    Learn about our latest security measures, how we are safeguarding your assets and personal information and find actionable insights and resources on important cybersecurity topics to enhance your own online security.

    Visit our Security Center
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    2025 Tax Tables

    2025 tax information for your easy viewing.

    Tax Tables
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    2025 Retirement Plans Quick Reference Guide

    A placemat that quickly breaks down information on popular retirement plans for 2025.

    Retirement Plans

Location

55 East 52nd Street 10th
Fl
New York, NY 10055
US
Direct:
(212) 692-2881(212) 692-2881
Fax:
(917) 778-0506(917) 778-0506

Meet My Team

About Irina Aristova

Joining Morgan Stanley in 2021 as a Business Development Associate, Irina has been working in the financial industry for close to 20 years in various roles. Since joining, she has been key in resetting the team’s operations processes and workflow, which has positively contributed to growth and client retention. Her passion for making clients experiences smoother makes her an integral member of the team.

Since graduating from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics & Strategic Research in 2005, her roles have included establishing relationships with international & institutional investors, negotiating capital market deals mainly in the Eurodollar market, and delivering custom solutions to private wealth clients throughout Europe and the United States.

Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, she is fluent in Russian and conversationally fluent in French. Her passions include reading, architecture, and hiking. In her free time, she supports independent publishing houses and art projects (music/literature/artists).

About Peter Prunty

Peter Prunty is the senior regional director for Alternative Investments at Morgan Stanley. He is responsible for investor education and business development on Morgan Stanley’s alternative investments platform; a platform that includes hedge funds, private equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and managed futures. He has over 25 years’ experience in financial services with leadership roles in both investment management and investment consulting. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2017 Peter was head of Institutional Consulting at UBS Wealth Management Americas.

Peter earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame majoring in finance and philosophy. He earned his MBA from New York University with a concentration in finance.
He is a CFA Charterholder and has also earned the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) from the CFA Institute. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of New York. He currently resides in Little Silver, NJ with his wife Nancy and his two sons.

The Power of Partnerships

By partnering with experienced individuals across wealth disciplines, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors can align specialized resources with your custom needs and deliver strategic guidance through the familiarity and trust of existing relationships

About Jane Tarnovsky

Jane Tarnovsky is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in New York.

Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.

Jane began her career in financial services in 2004, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2014 as an Interest Rate Derivatives Trade Support Director in Morgan Stanley’s ISG division. Prior to joining the firm, she was in Operations at JVB Financial and an Associate Manager at Prudential Financial.

Jane is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Finance. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. Outside of the office, Jane is involved in her community and enjoys working out, cooking, traveling, gardening, and photography.
NMLS#: 2226056

About Angelo Loumbas

Angelo is the Family Office Resources Generalist for Family Office Resources in the New York Metro and New England regions. Angelo provides specialized knowledge to ultra-high net worth clients and their Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors across a broad range of family wealth management issues, including family governance/dynamics, wealth education, strategic estate and financial planning, philanthropy management, lifestyle advisory and customized asset allocation and portfolio construction. Angelo has over twenty-five years experience advising wealthy families, business owners, and philanthropic organizations.

Originally from Chicago, Angelo practiced law for 15 years and represented ultra-high net worth clients and the businesses they owned, as well as major philanthropic organizations. Angelo is admitted to the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He has spoken on topics such as “Conditions Suggesting a Management Buyout” before the Chicago Bar Association Corporation and Business Law Committee, “Tax Consequences of Intra-Family Loans,” before the Chicago Bar Association Trust Law Committee, and “Conversations about Wealth and Philanthropy with Prospective Donors” before the Chicago Council on Planned Giving.

Prior to rejoining Morgan Stanley in his current position in 2018, Angelo advised wealthy clients in the financial services industry for 10 years, first as a Wealth Strategist with US Trust in Chicago, then a Wealth and Estate Planning Specialist within Family Office Resources in Chicago, and finally as a Senior Wealth Planning Strategist for the Wells Fargo Private Bank in Greenwich, Connecticut. Angelo earned his B.A. from DePauw University, his M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and his law degree from Indiana University at Bloomington. He is Series 7, 66 and 24 licensed. Angelo served as President of the Rotary Club of Chicago (“ROTARY/One”), the world’s first Rotary club, in 2009-2010, and now lives in Armonk, New York with his wife, a native New Yorker, and their two children.

About Kyle Witte

Kyle Witte, CFP® is a Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in Midtown Manhattan. He is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.

Kyle began his career in financial services with Morgan Stanley in 2012. Prior to his current position, he worked with the financial planning product development team.

Kyle graduated from Florida State University and holds his Certified Financial Planner® designation. He lives on the West Side of Manhattan and appreciates all the perks of a walkable city. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with friends, reading, football, soccer, and fundraising for a community golf tournament held annually in Florida.

About Andrew Eng

Andrew Eng is a Planning Associate at Morgan Stanley providing dedicated financial planning support to Advisors and their teams. Operating as an extension of the FA/Team, he collaborates with clients to discover and define goals that matter most to them. Leveraging state of the art technology, he will evaluate various alternatives and their potential outcomes to help clients confidently choose the appropriate course of action. Andrew provides expertise across a wide suite of Morgan Stanley planning tools designed to assist in the areas of investment accumulation, retirement, education, major purchase, cash flow, risk management, tax efficiency, and wealth transfer planning.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University and received the Financial Planning Specialist® designation from the College for Financial Planning. Andrew is originally from Ridgewood, New Jersey and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Financial Advisers can conduct their business in several ways: individually, as a member of a team of Financial Advisors, or through the formation of a Strategic Partnership with another Financial Advisor or team of Financial Advisors. A Strategic Partnership is an arrangement between a Financial Advisor or a team of Financial Advisors with another Financial Advisor or team of Financial Advisors that has a unique focus or knowledge regarding a specific business concentration, product area, and/or client type. If your account is with an individual Financial Advisor, that Financial Advisor services all facets of your account. If your account is with a Financial Advisor who is a member of a team, any Financial Advisor on the team can service your account. If your Financial Advisor is part of a Strategic Partnership, his or her role in that Strategic Partnership may be limited to a specific business and/or product area and may not cover all facets of your account. The use of the terms “Partner” or “Strategic Partner” and/or “Partnership” or “Strategic Partnership” are used as terms of art and not used to imply or connote any legal relationship.

Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Managing Significant Wealth

  • Investment Management
  • Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
  • Cash Management & Lending
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Signature Access
  • Business Services
Funding Climate Action: Pathways for Philanthropy
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Funding Climate Action: Pathways for Philanthropy

Share a new report in collaboration with the Aspen Institute. The report aims to help climate-oriented philanthropists explore critical issues and align their wealth management strategies with their environmental impact ambitions.

Insights and Outcomes

Thought Leadership for our ultra high net worth clients, which contains thought-provoking articles, authored by leading experts from Morgan Stanley Family Office Resources.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s Playbook on Leadership and Values
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Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s Playbook on Leadership and Values

The renowned NFL wide receiver shares insights on aligning your investments with your values.

Private Wealth Management Podcast

Bringing you engaging stories and key insights surrounding the complexities associated with significant wealth, including:
  • Intergenerational Planning
  • Philanthropic Giving
  • Non-Traditional Assets
  • Managing Family Wealth
LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art
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LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art

When a passion for collecting evolves into something of considerable value, new issues are raised. Hear what the professionals have to say about the best practices and pitfalls of collecting art and collectibles.

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.

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.

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 Maria Ross today.
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 Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates and their employees (including Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors) are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any statements contained herein should not be construed as tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their personal tax advisor or attorney for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving personal trusts and estate planning.

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*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), 3582895 (6/2024)