Ryan Wood
Private Wealth Management Analyst
Phone:
(949) 717-5351(949) 717-5351
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Michael Johnston
Managing Director, Private Wealth Management,
Private Wealth Advisor
Direct:
(702) 335-8659(702) 335-8659
My Mission Statement
To help successful individuals, families, and corporate executives identify their goals and articulate a potential path to meet them.
My Story and Services
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Michael Johnston, MBA is a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Offering his analytical approach to problem-solving, Michael is passionate about helping his clients navigate their wealth management needs:
"The financial markets, taxes, and estate planning are a foreign language to most people, just as repairing a car engine is to me. I enjoy helping clients understand the wealth management foreign language just as I appreciate the car mechanic helping me understand what needs to be done regarding my automobile."
Through his experience, Michael realized the fulfillment that accompanies maintaining and meeting the needs of his core group of clients. For them, he works to truly understand their problems and unique circumstances, then articulates potential paths to meet their goals.
Michael's interest in Wealth Management started in his high school years. After reading many books and articles, he realized that there were various approaches to personal finance and many people needed help. Simultaneously, Michael also owned a chimney cleaning business. Having cleaned over 500 fireplaces, cold-called to get the business off its feet, and eventually sold it before going to college, he received early exposure to entrepreneurship, an invaluable experience that he would take through his career.
Michael attended Auburn University where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering. Afterward, he attended Harvard Business School for his Masters of Business Administration where he furthered his understanding and passion for Finance. Michael views the combination of his interest in financial planning in high school, his ability to cold-call and run a business, and his further education at Harvard as the trifecta for his career as a financial advisor.
Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, extended family, and taking advantage of the entertainment that Las Vegas offers. He and his wife enjoy traveling and learning about different cultures, through both vacation and watching documentaries. Michael points out that his personal life is not much different than those of many of his clients. With many similarities and across family and broader aspirations, Michael’s assistance to his clients goes well beyond wealth management at times.
"The financial markets, taxes, and estate planning are a foreign language to most people, just as repairing a car engine is to me. I enjoy helping clients understand the wealth management foreign language just as I appreciate the car mechanic helping me understand what needs to be done regarding my automobile."
Through his experience, Michael realized the fulfillment that accompanies maintaining and meeting the needs of his core group of clients. For them, he works to truly understand their problems and unique circumstances, then articulates potential paths to meet their goals.
Michael's interest in Wealth Management started in his high school years. After reading many books and articles, he realized that there were various approaches to personal finance and many people needed help. Simultaneously, Michael also owned a chimney cleaning business. Having cleaned over 500 fireplaces, cold-called to get the business off its feet, and eventually sold it before going to college, he received early exposure to entrepreneurship, an invaluable experience that he would take through his career.
Michael attended Auburn University where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering. Afterward, he attended Harvard Business School for his Masters of Business Administration where he furthered his understanding and passion for Finance. Michael views the combination of his interest in financial planning in high school, his ability to cold-call and run a business, and his further education at Harvard as the trifecta for his career as a financial advisor.
Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, extended family, and taking advantage of the entertainment that Las Vegas offers. He and his wife enjoy traveling and learning about different cultures, through both vacation and watching documentaries. Michael points out that his personal life is not much different than those of many of his clients. With many similarities and across family and broader aspirations, Michael’s assistance to his clients goes well beyond wealth management at times.
Securities Agent: ID, MN, AL, SD, CO, IN, KS, NH, NM, TN, IL, MO, ND, WV, PR, AR, NE; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Principal
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 300 teams specialized in assisting individuals and families with $20MM+ in investable assets
- Over $1.2 trillion in AUM
- Comprising 26% of the Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list for 2025
- 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, September 2025
Source: Barron's (Awarded March 2025) This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by Barron's for the period Oct 2023-Sept 2024. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to Barron's to obtain or use the ranking. This ranking is based on an algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the assessment of Barron's and 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.
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.
Understanding Your Complex Benefit Structure
Decisions you make around company stock and options may be among the most consequential in your life. Alongside my team, I am here to help you make sense of the complexity. Some questions you may have considered:
- Am I optimizing my benefits to get the most out of each opportunity?
- Should I liquidate some of my concentrated stock to strengthen my overall portfolio?
- Am I following all of the SEC rules as I sell my restricted stock?
- How do I protect my investments from tax erosion?
- How much do I really need to accumulate to continue my lifestyle in retirement?
I have the experience and resources needed to help clients with high concentrations of wealth. I understand that your benefit structure may feel overwhelming. It is my job to help you navigate through the complexity. It's important to have a grasp on your equity awards, and we communicate with you on your restricted and control stock opportunities to ultimately help you develop a strategy to make the most of them.
Resources
GIC On the Markets
Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
Read the Latest Report
GIC Weekly
The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
Read the Latest Report
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.
Watch the Latest Episodes
What Should I Do with My Money? Podcast
Managing our money is one of the most important aspects of our lives, and yet, many people don’t have someone they can depend on for help when they need it.
On this podcast, we match real people, asking real questions about their money, with experienced Financial Advisors.
Watch the Latest EpisodesOn this podcast, we match real people, asking real questions about their money, with experienced Financial Advisors.
Location
8548 Rozita Lee Avenue
Suite 400
Las Vegas, NV 89113
US
Direct:
(702) 335-8659(702) 335-8659
800 Newport Center Drive
suite 500
Newport Beach, CA 92660
US
3840 Kilroy Airport Way
suite 400
Long Beach, CA 90806
US
1999 Ave of the Stars
suite 2400
Los Angeles, CA 90067
US
Meet My Team
Angelica Lara
Private Wealth Management Senior Registered Associate
Phone:
(949) 717-5499(949) 717-5499
Luca Russo
Private Wealth Management Client Service Associate
Phone:
(949) 717-5317(949) 717-5317
About Ryan Wood
Has been a Registered Representative since 2016 focusing on Investment Management and Financial Planning. He earned the Chartered Market Technician® (CMT®) charter in 2019, the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute in 2025, and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) designation from the Exit Planning Institute in 2026. He joined the Johnston Group in 2022.
Ryan shares a passion for the preservation of historic buildings in Southern California. Ryan and his wife Allison reside in a historical building in Downtown Long Beach, Ca. Prior to entering the Financial Services industry, Ryan spent 10 years working and studying in Western Europe, MENA, and Pacific Asia.
B.A. International Relations & German
University of Indianapolis 2007
Indianapolis, In
M.Sc. International Management in the MENA
University of London – School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) with Honors 2010
London, UK
*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice
4073273
Ryan shares a passion for the preservation of historic buildings in Southern California. Ryan and his wife Allison reside in a historical building in Downtown Long Beach, Ca. Prior to entering the Financial Services industry, Ryan spent 10 years working and studying in Western Europe, MENA, and Pacific Asia.
B.A. International Relations & German
University of Indianapolis 2007
Indianapolis, In
M.Sc. International Management in the MENA
University of London – School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) with Honors 2010
London, UK
*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice
4073273
CA Insurance License #: 0M74992
About Angelica Lara
Angelica joined the Johnston Group in 2005. She provides a wide range of administrative support and client focused services. Her duties are comprised of implementing account opening procedures, account maintenance and consolidation, transfer services, document preparation, product services, day to day cash management needs and maintaining communication with clients to ensure data and preferences are up to date. She strives to provide high quality service by implementing best practices and anticipating client needs with precision and timeliness.
As a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Angelica holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Political Science. She resides in Lakewood, CA with her two sons. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys reading in her spare time.
As a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Angelica holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Political Science. She resides in Lakewood, CA with her two sons. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys reading in her spare time.
About Luca Russo
Luca is a Private Wealth Management Client Service Associate with the Johnston group, where he supports Michael Johnston and his clients through day-to-day operations, account servicing, and relationship management. He is focused on delivering a high level of client service while ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and responsiveness across all aspects of the client experience.
He graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2024 with a B.S. In Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He has been working in wealth management since 2024 and joined the Johnston Group in 2026. Luca resides in Newport Beach, CA. He is committed to building a long-term career in private wealth management.
In his free time, Luca enjoys cooking, staying active and spending time outdoors.
He graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2024 with a B.S. In Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He has been working in wealth management since 2024 and joined the Johnston Group in 2026. Luca resides in Newport Beach, CA. He is committed to building a long-term career in private wealth management.
In his free time, Luca enjoys cooking, staying active and spending time outdoors.
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
Managing Significant Wealth
- Investment Management
- Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
- Cash Management & Lending
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Lifestyle Advisory
- Business Services
PWM Leadership Insights & Outcomes
Article Image
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.
We look forward to discussing your needs and goals, and the exceptional resources we can place at your disposal.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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.
Morgan Stanley and its Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Visitors to this website 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.
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers may only transact business in states where they are registered or excluded or exempted from registration. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers are not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
See the Financial Advisors Biographies for Registration and Licensing information.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. owns the marks CIMA®, Certified Investment Management Analyst® (with graph element)®, and Certified Investment Management Analyst® .
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance are offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC's licensed insurance agency affiliates.
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.
Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.
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
Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
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.
Morgan Stanley and its Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Visitors to this website 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.
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers may only transact business in states where they are registered or excluded or exempted from registration. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Advisers are not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
See the Financial Advisors Biographies for Registration and Licensing information.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. owns the marks CIMA®, Certified Investment Management Analyst® (with graph element)®, and Certified Investment Management Analyst® .
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance are offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC's licensed insurance agency affiliates.
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.
Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.
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
Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
CRC 4677197 (7/2025)
