Michael Trotter
My Mission Statement
My Story and Services
Before joining Morgan Stanley, Michael managed multi-asset portfolios at leading firms including The Vanguard Group and Geode Capital Management, later serving as Chief Investment Officer for a regional wealth practice. His background overseeing billions of dollars in assets continues to inform the guidance he provides today.
Michael holds Series 7 and 66 registrations and Life and Health Insurance licenses. He earned dual degrees in Finance (B.S.B.A.) and Economics (B.A.) from Bloomsburg University and is a member of CFA Society Boston.
Active in his community, Michael volunteers as a youth sports coach in Medfield, Massachusetts, and teaches financial literacy in local schools. He and his wife, Kristen, enjoy an active life with their three children, and family dog, Ruby.
FINANCIAL PLANNING BUILT AROUND YOUR LIFE
I work with you to create a personalized financial plan that aligns your goals, priorities, and timeline—and helps you stay on track as life changes.
At Morgan Stanley, we take the time to understand what matters most to you. Together, we create a customized plan that helps you pursue your goals with clarity and confidence.
The path to your ideal retirement may have some twists and turns, but smart planning can help you reach your destination. I work with you to build strategies that provide reliable income, maintain financial security, and give you confidence for the years ahead.
Delivering an estate to the next generation or favorite charity requires more attention than families often realize. I coordinate with your estate and tax professionals to align your legacy goals with the appropriate asset titling and beneficiary designation requirements, incorporating best practices to help enhance results.
I continually monitor your financial plan and make necessary updates to ensure you have the income and resources to match the lifestyle you envision, while accounting for the unexpected.
A sound wealth plan requires more than just seeking returns. It also involves mitigating and managing risks, helping to protect you when the unexpected occurs.
When and how you withdraw assets can have a lasting impact on your financial future. Tax aware withdrawal strategies help minimize liabilities, preserve wealth, and optimize your portfolio for long-term growth and stability.
SIMPLIFY EVERYDAY MONEY MOVEMENT AND BORROWING
At Morgan Stanley, we recognize that clients and their families have unique needs that require dedicated experience and capabilities. Our goal is to help simplify your financial life with a combination of cash management and lending solutions designed to complement your investment strategy and support your financial goals.
At Morgan Stanley, we offer unique cash management and lending solutions to complement your investments and help simplify your finances.
Once you open a Morgan Stanley Brokerage Account, you can make the most of your idle cash with our competitive Preferred Savings Program.
Designed as a modern alternative to banking with the capabilities to help you access, move, and manage cash when you need it while enjoying exclusive benefits.
Most people borrow during the course of their lives. But it's important to be as strategic about borrowing as you are with the other areas of your financial life.
Once you open a Morgan Stanley Brokerage Account, you can potentially grow your wealth with our competitive fixed rate Preferred Certificates of Deposit (CDs) offerings.
High home prices and mortgage rates are putting the dream of homeownership out of reach for many would-be buyers. Learn how you can help a loved one break into a tough market.
SOLUTIONS
At Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, exclusive access to vast resources, combined with our unique capabilities, gives me the means to support your goals at every stage of your life.
Morgan Stanley Total Tax 365 offers a full spectrum of tax-efficient solutions to help mitigate the tax drag on your portfolio—so you can keep more of what you earn and improve after-tax returns.
At Morgan Stanley Investment Management, our goal is to provide strong long-term performance to a diverse client base of governments, institutions, corporations, advisors and individuals worldwide. Our investment solutions include a broad range of alternative investments, active investment strategies, customization strategies, sustainability expertise and tax-management solutions.
Our leading alternatives platform offers 200+ third-party and proprietary funds, including first look and exclusive opportunities, that may help qualified investors enhance returns, reduce volatility, manage taxes and generate income. From simplified vehicles available more broadly to institutional strategies, the platform supports a goals-based approach for asset allocation tailored to investor needs.
At Morgan Stanley, safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities. Learn about our security measures and use our resources and ideas to help protect yourself online.
Experience true independence, seasoned guidance, and seamless continuity— Morgan Stanley Trust Services delivers tailored solutions that safeguard your family's legacy and ensure your wishes are honored across generations.
Financial literacy means being equipped with the knowledge to help make smart financial decisions during every stage of your life. No matter your current priorities, a strong financial literacy foundation can help you meet your goals.
MODERN WEALTH TOOLS & RESOURCES
As a Morgan Stanley client, you have access to a suite of digital tools and resources aimed at helping you manage your finances with greater ease.
Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) allows you to seamlessly and securely manage your investments and everyday finances in one place.
The Morgan Stanley Mobile App gives you the same capabilities as MSO, all from the convenience of your mobile device. It also offers features to help simplify your everyday finances.
My clients benefit from access to the intellectual capital of our Global Investment Committee, a group of leading market thinkers uniquely dedicated to providing high-quality, industry-leading investment ideas to Wealth Management clients.
Track spending habits, categorize expenses and create budgets across your Morgan Stanley and external financial accounts with our Spending and Budgeting Tools.
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.
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.
Location
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2Morgan 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
3Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
4Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
5Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.
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.
7When 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.
8Morgan 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.
Morgan 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.
9Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.
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 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.
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 | Morgan Stanley
