My Story and Services

I grew up in Scranton, PA, and then moved to Philadelphia, where I attended Temple University and earned a degree in Finance and International Business Administration. It was here where I became interested in wealth management and financial planning. I realized early on that a lot of people are not familiar with the complexity that goes into financial planning and wanted to help people do so. I began my career as a financial advisor in Philadelphia, before moving to the D.C. area in 2019. I joined Morgan Stanley in 2022.

As a financial advisor, I enjoy cultivating relationships with clients and helping them achieve their financial goals along the way. Being able to guide clients through different customized strategies that best meet their needs is what is most fulfilling for me. My specialties include wealth management, retirement planning, financial planning, education planning, estate planning, and rollovers.

Outside of being an advisor, I enjoy golf, soccer, and traveling. I currently reside in Alexandria, VA, with my wife Sophie.
Services Include
Securities Agent: RI, PR, PA, OR, OK, OH, NY, NV, NM, NJ, NH, NE, ND, NC, MT, MS, MO, MN, MI, ME, MD, MA, LA, KY, KS, IN, IL, ID, IA, HI, GA, FL, DE, DC, CT, CO, CA, AZ, AR, AL, AK, WY, WV, WI, WA, VT, VI, VA, UT, TX, TN, SD, SC; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1038655
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Helping you to achieve your goals

Having a comprehensive goals-based plan helps us keep you on track to achieve your objectives. Working together, we can uncover your needs, manage risk, and build a holistic, customized plan to help you reach your financial goals.
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    1. Discovery
    My process begins with you. We begin by having a conversation so I can understand your financial needs and goals.
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    2. Creating a Strategy
    Once I have understood your objectives, I create a strategic plan to help achieve your goals, both short-term and long-term. By leveraging various Morgan Stanley resources, I seek to create a comprehensive plan that encapsulates all important details.
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    3. Presenting Your Plan
    Once I have established your financial plan, I will present it to you so you have a firm understanding of the strategies behind the plan.
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    4. Ongoing Review
    Once your plan is implemented, I regularly review the progress of your plan. I will update the plans as needed to help ensure we stay on track to accomplish your goals.

Insights & Resources

Explore some of these resources and articles from Morgan Stanley.
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    Education
    With rising tuition costs, it is never too early to start saving for college. Click below to learn more about 529 Plans and how you can begin saving.
    Education Planning Center
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    Financial Planning
    Your financial goals and priorities will likely shift with time. To help prepare for the road ahead, ask yourself what matters to you and your family long term. Here’s how you can get started,
    How to plan your financial future
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    Retirement
    Retirement planning is one of the main focuses of my practice. Whether you are early in your career or nearing the end, we can work together to help you live a happy retired life.
    Make the most of your retirement savings
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    On the Markets
    Read the latest monthly report from Morgan Stanley's Global Investment Committee, which shares its thoughts and insights on recent trends in the market.
    This month's report

Modern Wealth Management Tools and Resources

Take some time to read about some of the many tools and resources Morgan Stanley has to offer.
    Morgan Stanley Online
    Morgan Stanley Online
    Morgan Stanley Online allows you to seamlessly and securely manage your investments and everyday finances in one place.
    Register for Morgan Stanley Online Today
    Digital Vault
    Digital Vault
    Digital Vault lets you easily and securely manage and share important documents such as account statements, authorizations, tax filings and other relevant documents with your Financial Advisor.
    Get Started Today
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    Total Wealth View
    Total Wealth View allows us to have a more complete picture of your financial profile. By linking your external accounts, we can deliver a more educated and holistic wealth plan for you.
    Learn more about Total Wealth View
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    Portfolio Risk Platform
    Morgan Stanley’s Portfolio Risk Platform combines our industry expertise and BlackRock’s Aladdin Risk Engine to provide a leading single solution that helps you see the potential impact of historical and hypothetical market shocks on your portfolio. The platform utilizes thousands of potential risk factors to help us understand together how risk may affect your portfolio, including investments you hold with Morgan Stanley and externally.
    Learn more about our Portfolio Risk Platform

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

    Learn more
    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

    Learn more
    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
    Learn more
    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
    Learn more
    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
    Learn more
    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

1747 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Ste 900
Washington, DC 20006
US
Direct:
(202) 292-5415(202) 292-5415

Meet My Team

About Robert Farrell, CFP®

I believe the greatest value I can provide to my clients is in my financial experience, delivery, and care. My commitment is to empower individuals and business owners to make well-informed choices regarding their families’ and companies’ financial future. I am originally from Clarks Summit, PA, and I grew up on construction sites with my father and brother learning how to build, grow, and operate a family-owned business. I bring that experience and devotion to all of my clients with a mission to serve and solidify relationships through sound planning and by delivering advice specific to fulfilling their needs.

Prior to my tenure at Morgan Stanley, I worked as a Financial Advisor in the Philadelphia, PA area. I have experience with developing and implementing estate and business succession plans for high net worth private business owners. In addition to working on business planning issues, I have focused my attention on assisting many individuals with building financial plans around their expectations and needs.

I have a B.S. from Duquesne University’s A.J. Palumbo School of Business with a degree in finance. While in Pittsburgh, I met my wife, Jackie, and now live in Potomac, MD with our son, Brennan, and lab, Eli. I sit on the Board of Directors for Food for Others, an organization dedicated to providing Northern Virginia families with access to food during times of need.


Securities Agent: CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, CT, AL, AR, AZ, CA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1401620
Securities Agent: NC, KS, OR, ME, HI, DC, CT, AZ, AL, NM, IL, ND, MN, FL, TX, SC, GA, UT, NV, CO, VT, NH, CA, WV, KY, DE, WA, MA, VA, TN, PA, MT, IN, OH, NY, NJ, MI, MD; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative

About Keith D Burner

After I graduated from George Mason University, I knew that I wanted a career where I could work with and help others. I chose to become a financial advisor, to help people achieve their critical financial goals, such as saving for retirement, building durable wealth, and saving for their children’s education. I am proud to say I’ve been in the financial services industry for thirty years, pursuing these goals.

With the Alexandria Group at Morgan Stanley, I use a personalized financial planning approach, because no two clients have the exact same needs. I believe that financial plans should not be "one size fits all" and work with clients to create a plan that is in line with their goals and current objectives. I believe thoughtful, well-balanced, and diversified asset allocation is the key to creating a plan that works for you.

When I am not working with clients I enjoy golf, tennis, and volunteering with local organizations like the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic Boys and Girls Club and Scouts, Troop 131. I live in Alexandria, Virginia with my wife, Mary, our son, Kyle and our two dogs Hank and Chase.


Securities Agent: NJ, AL, MI, KY, KS, VA, MN, IA, OH, OK, PA, SD, SC, UT, WV, TX, AZ, WA, NM, NH, DC, FL, DE, HI, ID, IN, IL, MA, MD, AR, ME, VT, TN, OR, NY, NV, ND, NC, MT, LA, GA, CT, CO, CA, MO; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1383178
Securities Agent: CT, CA, UT, TX, OR, NV, KS, FL, AZ, MA, AR, ME, GA, VT, SC, NC, MT, MD, OH, NY, MN, KY, NH, DE, NM, NJ, IN, HI, VA, TN, PA, MI, AL, WA, ND, CO, WV, IL, DC; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
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

Retirement

Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
  • 401(k) Rollovers
  • IRA Plans
  • Retirement income strategies
  • Retirement plan participants
  • Annuities
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

Investing

Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
  • Asset Management
  • Wealth Planning
  • Traditional Investments
  • Alternative Investments
  • Impact Investing
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

Family

Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
  • Estate Planning Strategies
  • 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Trust Services
529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education
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529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education

Though education costs continue to climb, starting to save and invest early can make a difference.

Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
  • Business Planning
  • Qualified Retirement Plans
Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

Philanthropy

Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
  • Endowments
  • Foundations
  • Donor Advised Funds
  • Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
  • Reduce employee stress,
  • Improve retention and engagement, and
  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
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The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Nicholas Burda today.
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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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 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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4When 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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

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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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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)