My Story and Services

Matt Sheehan is a Managing Director with Morgan Stanley’s Menlo Park office. He joined Morgan Stanley in 1999 and became part the firm's Private Wealth Management Group in 2015, showcasing him as one of the top 300 advisors. Matt is one of a select few advisors to earn the “Family Wealth Director” designation, given to those who have had extensive experience and education in assisting high net worth families manage their financial and estate planning affairs. He is a Senior Portfolio Management Director, enabling him to offer portfolio services directly to his clients, rather than relying on third-party managers.

Matt holds an Economics degree from Loyola Marymount University and sits on his alma mater's Board of Regents, remaining involved in LMU's community relations, fundraising, alumni, and student engagement. He is also an active Advisor Steering Committee Member at the Catholic Community Foundation. Matt lives in Redwood City with his wife, Paula, and his kids, Natalie and Lucas.
Capabilities
  • Comprehensive Wealth Planning
  • Pre-Liquidity Planning
  • Proprietary Investment Opportunities
  • Investment Management
  • Risk Management
  • Hedging Strategies
  • Philanthropy Management
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Corporate Services
  • Corporate Stock Plans
  • Retirement & Pension Plans
  • 10b5-(1) Programs
Securities Agent: MD, MA, OR, CT, CO, CA, AL, OK, AZ, OH, NY, NV, NM, NJ, NH, AK, NE, NC, MT, MO, MN, MI, PA, WY, WI, WA, VT, VI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, KY, KS, IN, IL, ID, HI, GA, FL, DE, DC; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1290550
CA Insurance License #: 0D04590
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

About PWM

Founded in 1977, Private Wealth Management is the division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management that is dedicated to serving the firm’s most affluent clients, including some of the world’s most accomplished entrepreneurs, executives and stewards of multigenerational wealth. Functioning as an exclusive investment boutique within a global financial firm, we deliver sophisticated solutions that leverage the intellectual capital and insight of Morgan Stanley’s substantial global resources. Drawing on a deep understanding of your financial life, our goal is to help you:
  • Manage investments with an unwavering focus on your financial strategy and personal goals
  • Create comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management plans based on your needs, challenges and the values that guide your life and legacy
  • Simplify financial complexity to help you achieve clarity and control
Private Wealth Management Highlights
  • Approximately 350 teams1 specialized in assisting individuals and families with $20MM+ in investable assets
  • Over $980 billion in AUM1
  • Comprising 23% of the Barron’s Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams for 2024
  • Direct access to ultra high net worth experts in philanthropy, family dynamics, wealth transfer, lifestyle advisory and other areas of interest to ultra high net worth families
1 Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, December, 2024

Source: Barron's.com (May 2024) 2024 Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams awarded in 2024. The teams are ranked on a variety of factors, including their size and shape, their regulatory records and credentials of their members, and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. The rankings are meant as a starting point for clients looking for an advisor—a first-pass vetting that can help investors narrow a search. Every advisor will have his or her own approach to investing, financial planning, and other services. Clients are encouraged to approach a search for an advisor the way they would a search for a doctor—interviewing multiple professionals and getting opinions from multiple third parties. Rankings are based on the opinions of Barron's and this ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with Barron's. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved.

Founders & Executives

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    Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS)

    Tax planning is riddled with complexities and the endless acronyms render these complexities even more confusing. Nonetheless, we believe that founders, executives and employees of startups should pay attention to one acronym in particular: Qualified Small Business Stock, or QSBS.

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    Pre-IPO Planning

    Companies are staying private longer, transforming how executives and early employees think about equity wealth. As such, private company executives' desire for pre-IPO liquidity has become increasingly important. Some early employees have built sizeable net worth on paper but have limited ready liquidity. Fortunately, the options for pre-IPO liquidity have expanded in recent years.

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    Charitable Giving with Donor Advised Funds

    Charitable giving is among the highest of human aspirations, woven into the fabric of organizations, countries, and societies around the world. MS GIFT provides a unique way to give to charity through the use of Donor advised funds or, DAFs. Donor advised funds are among the easiest and most tax-advantaged ways to give to charity for donors across the spectrum of wealth.

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    Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATS)

    A Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) is an irrevocable trust where the grantor transfers property and retains the right to annuity payments over a term of years. A GRAT allows investors to move the appreciation in an asset to the next generation without using virtually any of their exemption amount.

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Events & Education

We believe that proper financial education leads to better insights into our investment strategy, overall discipline, and ultimately, better long term decisions. For our team, it is very important that our clients are provided with timely and informative resources to assist with their unique situations and financial needs.
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    Past Event: Market Outlook with Dan Skelly
    Our team hosted Dan Skelly, Managing Director and Head of Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management Market Research & Strategy Team, for a discussion on the US stock market outlook, the maturation/global competition for AI, and potential Trump policy impacts.
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    Thoughts On The Market Podcast
    With perspectives on the forces shaping the market, join Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief US Equity Strategist for Morgan Stanley, as he and his colleagues discuss a variety of viewpoints regarding the latest trends in the financial marketplace.
    Listen Here
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    Market Essentials
    Market Essentials is a quarterly resource that breaks down market movements and trends in a digestible way. The content in this report is tailored to the everyday investor who wants to stay informed about what is driving markets without getting bogged down in financial jargon.
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    GIC On the Markets: Monthly Publication
    Take a look at the latest edition of “On the Markets,” a monthly collection of the most timely research and strategy from Morgan Stanley thought leaders, such as Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett.
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    Alternative Investments Overview
    As a pioneer and innovator in the industry, Morgan Stanley offers access to our platform of alternative investments.

    Alternative investments are often speculative and include a high degree of risk. Investors can lose all or a substantial amount of their investment. They may be highly illiquid, can engage in leverage, short-selling and other speculative practices that may increase volatility and the risk of loss, and may be subject to large investment minimums and initial lock-ups. They may involve complex tax structures, tax inefficient investing and delays in distributing important tax information. They may have higher fees and expenses that traditional investments, and such fees and expenses can lower the returns achieved by investors.
    Watch Here
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    Private Markets Overview
    Many of today’s companies stay private longer, with more of their valuation being created before they become publicly traded. Morgan Stanley Private Markets connects a broad network of potential private investors in an accessible ecosystem, allowing eligible clients to invest directly, or buy and sell shares of private companies.
    Watch Here

Family Wealth Services

Our team takes a family office approach to your wealth. We get involved and quarterback each financial decision and advise on anything with a dollar sign associated. We can help you with all areas of your financial life regardless of the complexity. Our job is to keep your financial life organized and remove you from the day-to-day management of your finances. Morgan Stanley has over 90 years of experience in managing the wealth for the wealthiest families in the world and we utilize our in-house experts to provide guidance when needed.

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    Forming Your Financial Team
    • Create a strategic plan for achieving your financial goals & objectives
    • Align you with CPAs and Estate Attorneys within our network
    • Connect you with the best resources at Morgan Stanley – estate planning, philanthropy, and lending experts
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    Investment Management
    • Create a portfolio and allocation that aligns with your financial objectives
    • Focus on tax-efficient investment solutions: direct indexing, tax-free munis, exchange funds, etc.
    • Access to private investments such as private equity, private credit, venture, and real estate
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    Diversification Strategies for Founders & Executives
    • Implement and execute 10b5-1 plan for corporate executives
    • Create a multi-year diversification strategy to achieve financial flexibility
    • Utilize exchange funds and DAFs to reduce or eliminate taxable gains
    • QSBS stacking – gifting founders shares to other entities
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    Tax Planning
    • Coordinate with your CPA to discuss tax impacts when applicable
    • Send your CPA quarterly income and cap gains summary
    • Strategies to reduce estate tax impact
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    Risk Management
    • Property, casualty, and umbrella insurance to protect your estate against litigation
    • Anonymity strategies to protect you and your family identity
    • LLCs for real estate assets
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    Banking Capabilities
    • Provide traditional banking services: debit card, check writing, AMEX Platinum, online banking
    • Access to lending solutions: traditional mortgages, refinances, and lines of credit
    • Direct access to my team for support instead of calling a service center
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    Family Office Support
    • Comprehensive reporting: balance sheet summary, investment performance, and tax analysis
    • Coordinate with your CPA and estate planning attorney
    • Guidance on best practices for setting up a family office or hiring a family office employee
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    Family Governance & Wealth Education
    • Strategy discussions regarding the distribution of your estate to your beneficiaries
    • Guidance and best practices as around how and when to discuss the wealth with your kids
    • Financial education curriculum with our family governance team
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    Philanthropic Planning
    • Create a philanthropic mission statement
    • Provide best practices and guidance when making grants or commitments to charities
    • Determine which non-profits align with your mission

WORKPLACE FINANCIAL BENEFITS WITH MORGAN STANLEY AT WORK

Our mission is to help your company elevate your workplace financial benefits—helping you to attract and retain top talent. Our end-to-end solutions support your company and employees at any stage of growth through a powerful combination of modern technology, insightful guidance, and dedicated service.

    Equity Solutions

    Equity ownership is a powerful motivator. Streamline equity management through our leading-edge technology and provide global audit-ready reporting and insights, alongside customizable participant experiences to engage and educate your employees on how to make the most of their benefits. Our global solutions support private and public companies at any stage of growth.

    • Equity Administration and Financial Reporting
    • Liquidity Events
    • 409A Valuation Services and Cap Table Management

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    Retirement

    For your employees, retirement is more than a date in the future—it's a milestone that takes time, hard work, and the right tools. Through our consultative process, we strive to assist with the management of your fiduciary responsibilities and risk, simplify plan management, and help you improve retirement readiness for your employees.

    • Defined Contribution Consulting
    • Solutions-Oriented Plans
    • Fiduciary Investment Oversight

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    Deferred Compensation

    Access a range of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plan services or pick the ones that best fit your needs. We provide recordkeeping and plan design, portfolio construction services, and plan education for your executive talent. We help you determine the appropriate plan design and inform a funding strategy through a needs-based assessment and consultative approach.

    Services include:

    • Recordkeeping and Plan Design
    • Portfolio Construction
    • Wealth Management Services
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    Executive Services

    Our dedicated team provides concierge-level support for your executives' equity compensation plans, from 10b5-1 trading plans to form filing related to Rule 144 transactions, to access to wealth management and tax-optimization strategies, so helping them navigate their complex financial needs with greater confidence and certainty:

    • Equity Compensation Services
    • Equity Award Analysis
    • Specialized Solutions
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    Saving and Giving

    Saving and Giving benefits can make a real difference in your employees' lives as they can support the things that matter most to them—like saving for education and repaying student loans. Show that you are committed to your employees' priorities with leading-edge solutions that help them chart a path toward financial well-being.

    • College Savings
    • Student Loan Repayment and Refinancing
    • Charitable Giving
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    Financial Wellness

    We offer Financial Wellness with every solution we provide. Through a powerful combination of education, digital tools and guidance, Financial Wellness is designed to address the unique needs of your employees and empower their financial journey at every stage. Give your employees the confidence to take charge of their finances.

    • Financial Education
    • Digital Tools
    • Financial Guidance

    Learn more

Location

2775 Sand Hill Road
Suite 120
Menlo Park, CA 94025
US
Direct:
(650) 926-7646(650) 926-7646
Fax:
(650) 376-9808(650) 376-9808

Meet My Team

About Daniel Gieseke

Dan Gieseke joined Morgan Stanley in 2007. He holds the Senior Portfolio Manager designation, which allows him to offer portfolio services directly to his clients, rather than relying on third-party managers. Dan prides himself on having a personal approach, freeing his clients to think about giving back to their communities with their time, talent, and treasure.

Dan is actively involved in leading men's Bible study, youth sports, and local homeless outreach. He holds a BA in Business/Economics from Wheaton College (IL), where he was a member of the Track & Field Team and competed in the triple jump event. Dan currently lives in Redwood City with his wife and three children.
Securities Agent: OK, WI, NJ, KY, ID, NY, MA, SC, MT, WY, WA, UT, PA, TN, SD, KS, OH, OR, GA, CO, CT, CA, AZ, NC, MO, NV, MI, MN, TX, VT, VA, NM, MD, NH, IN, AL, DE, FL, IL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
CA Insurance License #: 0536761

About Alex Oberle

Early in my life, I developed a habit of working hard to accomplish my goals. Like most kids growing up, I had the dream of playing professional baseball. While I did not reach my dream, I was fortunate to earn a Division I baseball scholarship to attend South Dakota State University. Before going to South Dakota State, I worked part-time at In-N-Out Burger, attended school full-time at a local Junior College, and practiced baseball for 3-4 hours a day. Needless to say, this intense schedule helped me develop the traits needed to manage my business in today's fast-paced environment.

After completing my MBA in 2012, I joined Morgan Stanley's Menlo Park office. I've spent my entire career focused on helping successful Silicon Valley executives and entrepreneurs with their wealth management needs. Most of the wealth in the valley is generated from equity compensation, and my focus is helping these clients understand how to incorporate their equity into their financial plan. My goal is to develop long-lasting, personal relationships with a select group of families, and help them implement effective investment strategies to navigate the capital markets, focus on tax-efficient investing, and create customized solutions to accomplish my client’s financial objectives. What differentiates myself and our team is our knowledge around equity compensation for public and private employees and our laser focus on providing an excellent client experience.

Our team, Cornerstone Group Silicon Valley at Morgan Stanley uses a collaborative approach that allows us to best serve our client's needs. We have four financial advisors and five administrative associates.
Securities Agent: IL, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
CA Insurance License #: 0I22661

About Seth Novosel

Seth Novosel began his career at Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Management Intern in 2019 and joined the Cornerstone Group full-time in 2022. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he was an Enterprise Sales Representative at Amazon Web Services. Working with AWS’s largest enterprise customers in Southern California and Arizona, he is equipped to serve executives, founders, and business leaders with a high level of trust. Seth holds the Financial Planning Specialist and Workplace Advisor – Equity Compensation designations, certifying him to advise clients on how to incorporate equity compensation to their financial plan.

Seth earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Business Economics from the University of Southern California. Seth lives in Redwood City and serves on the USC Marshall School of Business Bay Area Alumni Board of Advisors as the Chapter President.
Securities Agent: WI, WA, MA, VA, NV, CO, MD, FL, UT, SC, PA, OR, OH, NC, AZ, MO, MN, MI, IL, GA, CT, TN, RI, NY, CA, TX, NJ, HI, DC; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative

About Dana Kern

Dana Kern joined Morgan Stanley in 2013. As the team's Business Development Director, Dana assists with investment proposals and implementation.

Dana holds a BS in International Business and Finance from Grand Valley State University, as well as her Series 7 and 66 licenses. Dana lives in Redwood City with her boyfriend and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys taking Pilates and ballet classes.

About Kate Kircher

Kate Kircher joined Morgan Stanley in 2020 after interning with the firm in 2019. She focuses on 10b5-1 plans, corporate equity settlement, and retirement planning, helping clients navigate these complex processes.

Kate holds a BS in Psychology and Communication from Santa Clara University, where she was also a Division 1 soccer player. She enjoys running along the water and trying new restaurants.

About Karina Diaz-Swanson

Karina Diaz-Swanson joined Morgan Stanley in 2019 brings over a decade of experience in the Wealth Management industry. She focuses on facilitating money movement and coordinating charitable giving, ensuring a seamless and personalized experience for each client.

Karina holds a BS in Political Science from San Jose State University and lives in Newark with her husband and two daughters. Together, they enjoy spending time outdoors with friends and family.

About Patrick Heslip

Patrick Heslip joined Morgan Stanley in 2022. He plays a key role in client onboarding, ensuring a smooth and easy transition for every new relationship. He has a strong commitment to providing excellent service for clients every day needs.

Patrick graduated from UC San Diego with a Joint Degree in Economics and Mathematics and a minor in Business. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Patrick maintains close ties to his community and family. He enjoys hiking, golfing, and always looking for new places to explore.

Awards and Recognition

5
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

This is a video content

Equity Compensation

Helping you make the most of your equity awards and better understand how it may fit into your your larger financial picture – today and tomorrow.

  • Vesting events
  • Option expirations
  • Restricted stock units
  • Tax implications

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.

Managing Significant Wealth

  • Investment Management
  • Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
  • Cash Management & Lending
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Lifestyle Advisory
  • Business Services
Compensation Practices of Investment-Focused Family Offices
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Compensation Practices of Investment-Focused Family Offices

Competitive compensation is key to attracting and retaining the best talent for your single family office. Discover the latest trends on relevant pay, benefits and bonus structures in Morgan Stanley's 2025 benchmarking report.

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.
We look forward to discussing your needs and goals, and the exceptional resources we can place at your disposal.
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.

Morgan 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.

Asset Allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.

The securities/instruments, investments and investment strategies discussed on this website may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or investment strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. The views and opinions expressed on this website may not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). This website and its associated content are intended for U.S. residents only.

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Lifestyle Advisory Services: Products 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.

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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.

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Awards Disclosures
CRC 4237142 (02/2025)