Our Story and Services

Success starts with goals. To navigate the financial world as it becomes more complex and investment choices multiply, tailored advice becomes a cornerstone to achieving your financial goals. As your Financial Advisor, we can help you define and strive to meet your goals by delivering a vast array of resources to you in the way that is most appropriate for how you invest and what you want to achieve.

With decades of combined experience, our team strives to simplify our clients’ financial lives. We adapt your plan as your lives change, evolve, and unfold. We believe in establishing life-long relationships by working with you, not just for you.

Working together we can help you to preserve and grow your wealth. With our team at Morgan Stanley, you will have access to some of the world’s most seasoned and respected investment professionals, a premier trading and execution platform and a full spectrum of investment choices.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working With You

At Morgan Stanley, we believe that identifying financial solutions begins with a solid understanding of each client's situation, goals, objectives and risk tolerance. We follow a disciplined process that allows us to work with you to craft a solution that helps to meet your individual financial needs.
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    Step 1: Introductory Meeting
    Our relationship begins with an initial discussion aimed towards getting to know you, your lifestyle, and your future goals.
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    Step 2: Discovery Meeting
    During the discovery meeting, we will work together to establish your financial goals by reviewing your current financial situation and developing an appropriate risk tolerance that can help you achieve the financial outcome you envision for yourself.
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    Step 3: Financial Plan Presentation
    Financial plan presentations map out essential factors that play into your financial success such as your employee and employer contributions, liquidity events, and insurance coverage. Examining relevant financial information provides a holistic asset allocation analysis for your accounts helping ensure a comprehensive financial plan.
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    Step 4: Action Items / Next Steps
    After the financial plan presentation, we will follow up with you regarding our analysis and recommendations, which may include adjustments to your financial plan, investment allocation, company benefits and insurance coverage.
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    Step 5: Implementation Meeting
    The implementation meeting focuses on creating specific prospective strategies custom designed for your specific needs. Recommended changes could include logistics, tax impact, asset allocation adjustments, and saving/benefit modifications.
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    Step 6: Monitoring & Tracking Performance
    Finally, we will be constantly monitoring your assets and analyzing your performance tracking data seeking to ensure your financial expectations are being met and adjusted accordingly. We will keep a high degree of communication with you to make sure your concerns and requests are always addressed.
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    Financial Planning
    Your goals, assets, liabilities and other important information are gathered and analyzed. We then use our perspective and experience with other unique clients like you to make recommendations on spending, giving and living.
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    Retirement Planning
    This is paramount to ensure you have a successful retirement. We bring intense focus on this process. You have worked hard to get where you are at. Now it is up to us to help you live the retirement you have always dreamed of.
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    Wealth Management
    We take a holistic approach to bring all the aspects of your financial life together. We use our analysis and experience to develop a customized plan for you.
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    Cash Management and Lending Products
    Creating adequate cash flow and securing liquidity are the day-to-day aspects of implementing a financial strategy. We help you meet your personal cash management and borrowing needs, while thinking strategically about how specific approaches may affect current and long-term costs and taxes.
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    Trust & Estate Planning Strategies
    After reviewing your balance sheet and existing estate plan, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify planning techniques that may be effectively tailored to your personal and financial objectives. We will work with your tax and legal advisors in this effort.
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    Sustainable Investing
    We pride ourselves on working with clients like you to take an intentional investment approach that seeks to generate market-rate returns, alongside positive social and environmental impact.
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    529 Plans
    Though education costs continue to climb, starting to save early can make a difference. 529 plans are flexible, tax-advantaged investment accounts with benefits beyond positioning you to pay for college.
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    Life Insurance
    A sound wealth plan involves more than just seeking returns. It also involves mitigating and managing risks, helping to cushion you when the unexpected occurs. An insurance product can help you plan for and guard against life’s hidden curves – to help protect your assets and your family.

Individual Plans For Individuals Like You

Goals you set today will evolve over time. Our process is designed to evolve with them -- and with the changing circumstances of your life. Holistic in its approach, our planning process will encompass all the elements of your financial and personal life, making sure they align with your current and future goals. Leveraging a sophisticated suite of analytical tools, as well as decades of industry experience, our team can help you take charge of your financial future and achieve your goals.
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    LifeView Intelligent Planning
    LifeView is a suite of planning tools that includes goal-specific analysis that we can use with our clients to create a realistic and holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of an individual's financial life, including investments and cash management needs.
    Access the LifeView Planning Questionnaire
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    Goals Planning System (GPS)
    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 access whether a client is "On Track" to achieving their financial goals.
    Click Here to Learn More
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    Spending and Budgeting Tool
    One way to manage savings is by using Morgan Stanley's Spending and Budgeting Tool. This tool helps advisors monitor client cash flows across both internal and external accounts. It also tracks the spending patterns and produces and income and expense analysis to help clients achieve their goals by adjusting their spending behavior when necessary.
    Click Here to Learn More
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    Aladdin -- Portfolio Risk Tool
    The Portfolio Risk Platform integrates the leading risk analytics engine into Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's platform to improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of the end-to-end risk management processes for the Firm and our clients.
    Click Here to Learn More

VALUABLE TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Our comprehensive suite of digital tools are designed to help enhance every aspect of your financial life. Below are a few of the technologies we have to offer our clients. We have also included resources meant to transform complex financial analysis and research into concise and easily digestible content.
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    Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) and MS Mobile
    Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) has a variety of features beyond viewing your account balance and activity. Features include paperless documents, bill pay and secure account management.
    Morgan Stanley Online
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    Global Investment Committee “On the Markets” Report
    Every month, Morgan Stanley’s top research analysts publish their “On the Markets” report, providing detailed market commentary on such topics as global equities, fixed income and monetary policy.
    Read the Most Recent Report Here
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    Total Wealth View
    With this service, you can view all your investments together – whether they are held at Morgan Stanley or elsewhere. When you add your external 401(k), as well as your checking, savings and brokerage accounts to this portal, all your assets will be in one place, providing a current and comprehensive view of your wealth.
    Click to Learn More
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    Global Investment Committee Weekly Research Report
    The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
    Access This Week's Edition
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    Digital Vault
    The Digital Vault on Morgan Stanley Online allows you to build a centralized document library where all documents are stored using encryption.
    Watch This Video to Learn More
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    Thoughts on the Markets Podcast
    With perspectives on the forces shaping the market, Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief US Equity Strategist for Morgan Stanley, and his colleagues discuss a variety of viewpoints regarding the latest trends in the financial marketplace.
    Listen to the Latest Episode
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    Impact Quotient (IQ)
    The Morgan Stanley Impact Quotient™ application gives Wealth Management clients new customizable insights into the social and environmental impact of their investment portfolios.
    Impact Quotient (IQ)
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    The Morgan Stanley Minute
    In this ongoing series of one-minute videos from our firm’s top investment thinkers, you can explore current trends and topics like green bonds, active investment, monetizing small businesses, cybercrime and more.
    View Our Library of Content Here

Location

106 Business Park Dr
Utica, NY 13502
US
Direct:
(315) 797-2000(315) 797-2000

Meet Matthew Sohns / Thomas Balch

About Thomas S Balch

Tom has worked with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms for the past 35 years. Tom is series 7, 63, 65 licensed and holds a New York Insurance License for Life and Variable Annuities along with a Mortgage license. Tom graduated from Berkshire School (Sheffield, MA) in 1977 and Hamilton College (Clinton, NY) in 1981. Currently, Tom is on the board of the Clinton Dollars For Scholars Program along with the Clinton Zoning Board of Appeals. Tom resides in Clinton, NY with his wife of 35 years.
Securities Agent: AR, HI, TN, NJ, CO, SC, MA, AZ, UT, NM, NC, IN, CT, WI, NY, NV, MN, ME, WA, MD, AK, TX, PA, OR, GA, AL, OK, OH, FL, CA, VA, RI, NH, NE, MI, IL, DC, VT, ID; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1295664

About Matthew J Sohns

Matt has 24 years of investment management and financial advisory experience all with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms. Matt joined the firm in 1998 and is series 7, 63, 65 licensed and holds a New York State Insurance License for Life and Variable Annuities and also holds a Mortgage License. Matt works hand in hand with clients implementing customized wealth management strategies. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a concentration in Finance from American International College in Springfield, MA. Matt is active in many community charitable events. Prior to joining the investment industry, Matt was the International Sales Manager for Curtis Universal in Springfield, MA. Matt resides in Cooperstown with his wife (Mary-Margaret) and daughter (Maggie).
Securities Agent: GA, TX, MI, MD, IL, VT, NV, WI, PA, OK, NC, WA, UT, FL, CT, CO, AZ, AK, MN, AL, DC, IN, HI, TN, RI, OH, NJ, NH, ID, CA, VA, ME, AR, SC, NY, NM, NE, OR, MA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1295577

About Danielle Fite

Danielle delivers exceptional service with a decade of experience at Morgan Stanley. She began her career in the financial industry after earning a Master of Business Administration in Business Management from the SUNY Institute of Technology. She is a life-long resident of the Central New York area where she resides alongside her husband and two children with whom she loves to explore new restaurants and local shops. In her spare time, you will find her volunteering as the Vice President for her children’s elementary school PTO or running as a member of the Utica Road Runners.

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 Elizabeth Menteur

Elizabeth Menteur 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.

Elizabeth began her career in financial services in 2013, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2017 as a Regional Client Engagement Associate. Elizabeth is a graduate of Northeastern University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and International Affairs and a Master of Business Administration
with a concentration in Finance. She lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Outside of the office, she volunteers with Invest in Girls and is a mentor and financial education coach for high school students. Elizabeth enjoys
traveling, painting and gluten free baking.
NMLS#: 2329114

About Nancy H. Sheftic

Nancy is an Assistant Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in upstate New York. She is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.

Nancy began her career in financial services in 2005, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2019. Prior to her current position, she was a Team Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch.

Nancy graduated from Le Moyne College and holds her Certified Financial Planner®. Nancy holds the following registrations: Series 7, Series 63, Series 66 and Life and Health insurance licenses and is a Notary Public. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Le Moyne College.

Nancy lives in Baldwinsville, NY with her husband Patrick and their two sons, Dean and Alex. In her spare time, she loves being outdoors, especially hiking and skiing. Nancy also believes strongly in women being financially empowered and is a member of Morgan Stanley’s Women in Wealth employee group as well as 100 Women Who Care CNY.
NMLS#: 1421563

About Chris Reardon

Chris Reardon 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. Chris 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 Pace University and received the Financial Planning Specialist® designation from the College for Financial Planning. Chris is originally from New York, NY and currently resides in New York, NY.
Private Bankers, Ultra High Net Worth (“UHNW”) Sales Specialists, Lending Advisors, Mortgage Consultants, Relationship Managers, Cash Management Specialists, Associate Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.

Banking products and services are offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.

Morgan 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

Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Ready to start a conversation? Contact Matthew Sohns / Thomas Balch today.
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 Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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4Morgan 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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5Morgan 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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6Morgan 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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7Morgan 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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8The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) aware investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because ESG criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.

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9Investors should consider many factors before deciding which 529 plan is appropriate. Some of these factors include: the Plan’s investment options and the historical investment performance of these options, the Plan’s flexibility and features, the reputation and expertise of the Plan’s investment manager, Plan contribution limits and the federal and state tax benefits associated with an investment in the Plan. Some states, for example, offer favorable tax treatment and other benefits to their residents only if they invest in the state’s own Qualified Tuition Program. Investors should determine their home state’s tax treatment of 529 plans when considering whether to choose an in-state or out-of-state plan. Investors should consult with their tax or legal advisor before investing in any 529 Plan or contact their state tax division for more information. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not provide tax and/or legal advice. Investors should review a Program Disclosure Statement, which contains more information on investment options, risk factors, fees and expenses and possible tax consequences.

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10Insurance 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), 3582895 (6/2024)