

Moriarity DeHond Mulka & Scherer

Our Mission Statement
Welcome
A boutique wealth management practice within a global financial leader, we serve a select clientele of ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and their families and foundations. Working to build enduring multigenerational relationships, we offer the experienced perspective and specialized global resources they need to help protect their assets, simplify their financial lives and pursue their most important life goals.
Experience has taught us that affluent families like yours face complex challenges that call for customized, multi-disciplinary approaches from a well-coordinated advisory team. By staying in close contact with you and your other key advisors, we are able to tailor a process that keeps pace with your evolving needs and objectives. Our approach combines our understanding of the global financial markets with deep insight into your financial situation, resulting in a comprehensive plan to help you manage your entire personal financial life.
Among the qualities and capabilities that distinguish our practice are:
- A high degree of customization
- A focus on tax efficiency
- Inclusion in an elite network of like-minded clients
- Experience in structured product and block trades
- Extensive experience helping clients diversify large, concentrated equity positions
- Incorporation of best investment practices from foundations, endowments and academia
In 2024, the team was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Top Wealth Management Teams.
This year, the team has been recognized by Barron's as one of America's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams and by Forbes as a Best-In-State Wealth Management Team, ranking number two in Illinois (Chicago area).
Additionally, our partners rank among the leading advisors in the wealth management industry:
- Jim Moriarity, Forbes' Top 250 Wealth Advisors
- Brad DeHond, Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, Barron's Top Private Wealth Advisor
- Emily Mulka, Forbes' Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State, Forbes' Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State
- Bryan Scherer, Forbes' Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State
Disclosures:
2023-2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 3/31/23-3/31/24
2024-2025 Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams
Source: barrons.com (Awarded May 2024-2025) Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Dec of the year prior to the issuance of the award.
2024 Forbes America's Top Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes (Awarded Nov 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/23-3/31/24.
2021-2024 Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.
2021-2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.
2021-2024 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.
2024 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.
2024 Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period from 9/30/22-9/30/23
- Pre-Liquidity Planning
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- 10b5-(1) Programs
- Manager Selection
- Investment Management
- Proprietary Investment Opportunities
- Philanthropy Management
- Sustainable & Responsible InvestingFootnote1
- Consolidated Reporting
About PWM
- 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
- 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
Approach

Clients
• Family owned, national trucking company
• Commercial wholesale insurance brokerage firm
• Large, family owned agricultural company
• Professional board members
• Current/retired Morgan Stanley board members
• Investment Banking executives
• Employee-owned crop insurance company
• 29% Private Company Owners
• 19% Entrepreneurs
• 11% Other
• 16% Consumer Staples
• 16% Financials
• 12% Communication Services
• 12% Healthcare
• 9% Technology
• 18% Other
*All data as of 12/31/2024
Location
Meet Moriarity DeHond Mulka & Scherer
About James Moriarity
Jim was named to Forbes’ inaugural America’s Top Wealth Advisors list in 2016 and again in 2017 – 2025. Jim has been featured in Barron’s Magazine in its Top 1200 Advisors Ranking for over 10 years (2009 – 2020) and was interviewed by and featured in the magazine in February 2018. He was also named to Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors in 2018-2025.
After graduating in 1984 from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA, Jim spent nearly 10 years in the technology industry. He joined Morgan Stanley in 1992 and was named a Managing Director in 2011. Jim serves on the board of CTK Jesuit College Prep in Chicago, an intercity Cristo Rey high school.
Disclosures:
2016-2025 Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2016-2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in March of the year the award was issued.
2009-2020 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2009-2022). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.
2018-2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
NMLS#: 1364403
About Brad Dehond
Dedicated to building enduring multigenerational relationships, Brad has become one of the leading financial advisors in the United States. In 2025, he was named to Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors for the eighth straight year. He was named to Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors from 2015-2024.
Brad received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1997 and joined Morgan Stanley that same year. He joined Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management to partner with Private Wealth Advisor Jim Moriarity in 2000. Brad sits on the Board of Directors of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and is an executive-in-residence for the Investment Executive Fellows Program at the University of Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing.
Disclosures:
2018-2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
2015-2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2015-2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.
NMLS#: 1272806
About Emily Mulka
Emily was named to Forbes Magazine's list of America's Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors in 2018 and 2019 and Forbes’ Best-In-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors in 2019 and 2022. She was also named to the 2024 and 2025 Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State lists. Emily joined Morgan Stanley and the team over 15 years ago after graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA. She earned her MBA in 2012 through a full, merit-based fellowship from The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Disclosures:
2018-2019, 2022 Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2019, 2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.
2024-2025 Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors & Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State (formerly referred to as Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2024-2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in Sept of year prior to the issuance of the award.
NMLS#: 1275668
About Bryan Scherer
Prior to his current role, Bryan spent three years as an Associate in Credit Suisse’s investment banking division in New York City where he covered financial institutions and participated in several prominent transactions including Charles Schwab’s $26 billion acquisition of TD Ameritrade and Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. V’s $8.7 billion merger with SoFi. Prior to Credit Suisse, Bryan worked as an Analyst alongside Jim Moriarity, Brad DeHond and Emily Mulka in Morgan Stanley PWM for nearly six years. Bryan received his BBA from the University of Notre Dame in 2012 and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2018.
NMLS#: 2143975
About Jacqui Lumley
Jacqui received her BA from Purdue University in 2011. She joined Morgan Stanley in 2013. Outside of work, Jacqui is involved with the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
About Peggy Horan
Peggy graduated from the University of Notre Dame and joined Morgan Stanley in 2024 after over 20 years at Merrill Lynch. Peggy lives on the north side of Chicago with her husband and three children. When not in the office, she enjoys volunteering at school.
About Chris Moyer
Chris received his BS in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University in 2018 and joined Morgan Stanley shortly after. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Chris was a private wealth management intern for Goldman Sachs. Chris also obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2021 and his CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST™ designation in 2024.
*Disclaimer: This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice
About Chris Monahan
Chris received his BS in Finance from Fordham University in 2020 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2022. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Chris was an analyst with JPMorgan Asset Management, and previously interned in Wealth Management for both Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch.
About Stephan Bazianos
Stephan received his BA in Economics from University of Illinois in 2020 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2025. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Stephan was an associate with Bernstein Private Wealth Management and a Trader for Gelber Group.
About Margaret Bergin
Margaret graduated from New York University, and earned her masters degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2024, Margaret spent 15 years teaching at the middle and high school levels. Margaret lives on the south side of Chicago and enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.

Contact James Moriarity

Contact Brad DeHond

Contact Emily Mulka

Contact Bryan Scherer
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Portfolio Insights
Private Wealth Management Podcast
- Intergenerational Planning
- Philanthropic Giving
- Non-Traditional Assets
- Managing Family Wealth
Managing Significant Wealth
- Investment Management
- Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
- Cash Management & Lending
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Lifestyle Advisory
- Business Services
Insights and Outcomes
1Investing in the market entails the risk of market volatility. The value of all types of investments may increase or decrease over varying time periods. The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of sustainable or impact investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because sustainability and impact 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.
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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.
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Awards Disclosures