Petra Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley

Jim is a Senior Advisor, Family Wealth Director and Managing Director of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley, where he helps his clients define and meet their financial goals and objectives. He has been with the firm or its predecessors since 1986.

In 1999, Jim successfully completed the firm’s Portfolio Management program, and in 2002 he earned the certification of Senior Investment Management Consultant. This designation is awarded to Financial Advisors who have acquired extensive knowledge of the capital markets and comprehensive investment management consulting expertise, and built a practice using the highest ethical standards. Additionally, Jim earned the Financial Planning Specialist designation. In 2007, Jim earned the title of Family Wealth Director, which is given to senior advisors in the firm who have demonstrated the ability to develop wealth management strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families. In 2017 and 2021, Jim was named by Barron’s as one of the top 1200 advisors in the country. In 2021 and 2022, Jim was named by Forbes as one of the country’s “Best-In-State” Wealth Advisors. Jim is also a member of the firm’s President’s Council, which recognizes the top 7% of its advisors.

After initially attending Furman University on a football scholarship, Jim graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in finance. He and his wife, Valarie, have two children, Mary Grace and David. They are active members of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where Jim has volunteered to serve on many of its committees. Jim currently serves as the Director of the Character Development Program for the Northside Youth Organization football program. Jim also serves as the Chair of the Alumni Commission for the Auburn University chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Jim has a long history of coaching youth sports. He was awarded the Football Positive Coaching Alliance Coach of the Year at NYO in 2011. In addition to coaching youth sports, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing golf, fishing and exercising.

​2021, 2022 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded ​2021, 2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2017, 2021 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 2017, 2021). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

As a financial advisor on the team, Neal works closely with a network of regional and national specialists to design solutions for client needs in the areas of family governance, philanthropic strategy, tailored lending and lifestyle advisory. He joined the team in 2007 after serving for six years as Smith Barney’s Southern Division Director of Private Wealth Management , a role responsible for delivering the full spectrum of the firm’s family office services to some of the wealthiest individuals and families in the country. Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Neal was in private banking with a national commercial bank in Atlanta.

Neal received his B.S. in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his M.B.A. from Georgia State University.

Neal lives in the Buckhead area of Atlanta with his wife and their two children.
He is a trustee for Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School and the Galloway School,
emeritus trustee for the Schenck School and former trustee for Trinity School and the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. Additionally, he serves on the Leadership Georgia endowment committee. Outside the office, Neal enjoys
spending time with his family, as well as traveling, hunting and cooking.

Cory had been in the investment and financial planning business since 2000, having been with Morgan Stanley or one of its predecessors his whole career.

Having been raised by two hardworking parents, Cory understands the broader situations that families and careers can present. Hearing his parents talk about bills, businesses, taxes, investments and other financial issues that individuals and families face peaked Cory’s interest in finance at a young age. The first book he read cover to cover was Peter Lynch’s “Learn to Earn” and his interest in the subject grew from there. Throughout high school and college Cory traded stocks in a small account he set up. During the late 90’s, early 2000 tech bubble, he basically lost all the money he had made trading over those years and learned the most valuable lesson of his career – planning,
diversification and asset allocation are some of the most important parts of wealth management – not individual stock / bond picking.

Today Cory uses financial planning as the starting block for all his client relationships. He likes to relate financial planning to taking a trip. You might know where you want to go, but mapping out the course is one of the most important steps – how are you going to get there?

Using clients background information, emotions, current goals / needs, and financial resources – he helps them set up various investment planning strategies striving to make sure those client aspirations are achieved. Whether those issues include retirement planning, investment
management, estate planning strategies, insurance, or family / business succession planning, Cory uses his experience and vast firm capabilities to help the client manage whatever financial issues might arise.

He graduated from Georgia Southern University with B.A in Finance and a minor in Economics in 2000. Cory studied Financial and Estate Planning at UGA’s Terry College of Business and received his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificate in 2009.

Cory is one of the few Georgians who was born, raised and still resides in state. He lives in Roswell, GA with his college sweetheart and wife of 21 years Leslie. They have two active boys, Gage (13) and Graham (9) who keep their weekends busy with sporting events and other activities. In his spare time he loves to coach youth sports, volunteer at various organizations and playing tennis and golf.


Disclaimer:
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Edie was a 19 year old art school student, when she was mistaken for someone scheduled to interview for a job at First National Bank of Atlanta. After being approached several times, once she was told that the bank paid for tuition, Edie was hooked. That was in 1979, Edie ended up with a 24 year career with Wachovia Bank. During the first 15 years, she was promoted throughout the retail bank ending up as the assistant branch manager of the largest branch in the fastest growing county. It was at that time that Wachovia was looking to start up a retail investment firm. Edie was asked to apply for one of the 50 Investment Counselor positions. With her strong banking background, she became the Financial Advisor for the Private Bank. Edie remained for another nine years with Wachovia, however, as she grew and her clients grew, she knew it was time to make a change. It was at that time that Edie made the transition to Smith Barney, ultimately Morgan Stanley in 2003.

Thinking back to her days as an art student, Edie truly believes that what she learned through art enabled her to create a vision for her clients, their families, and their businesses. Edie would have never thought art school would have prepared her for this wonderful career.

Jeremy joined Morgan Stanley and the Petra team to help usher clients through the financial planning process and keep them on track towards their goals. Jeremy entered the financial services industry in 2013 and his focus has always been on holistic planning.

Before joining Morgan Stanley, Jeremy worked as a Financial Planner for a fee based financial planning firm in Dunwoody. Jeremy is also well versed in taxation and ran a small tax preparation/ advisory business helping clients focus on tax efficiency for the long run.

Jeremy earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Washington & Lee University in 2012, his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in 2016, and his CDFA^® in 2019 . He lives in Smyrna with his wife, Kelley, and their dog, Marley. Jeremy and Kelley are avid tennis players, while Marley is an avid tennis ball fetcher and chewer. Jeremy also spends his free time volunteering for Savvy Ladies, a non-profit that provides pro bono financial advice to women.

David joined the firm in October of 2020 working as a Client Service Associate in Morgan Stanley’s Perimeter office in Atlanta. He then joined Petra Wealth Management in 2022 taking on a role of assisting with investment planning, financial planning, and cashflow management.

Currently as a Financial Advisor Associate, he is tasked with client management, growing the next-generational relationships within our clientele, and expanding the practice by identifying and approaching individuals and families that could benefit from of our team’s services.

David graduated from Auburn University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Outside of the office, he enjoys coaching baseball and football at Northside Youth Organization, spending time with family and friends, and playing golf.

Will Browning is a Wealth Management Analyst for Petra Wealth Management. He leads the investment strategy for the team and proposes adjustments to our models so that they may more closely align with our long-term planning. Other responsibilities include portfolio analysis, market research, and investment product due diligence.

Will has been in the Financial Services industry since 2020, and he was responsible for wealth strategy and operations support for a private wealth group. He joined Petra Wealth Management in 2022.
William graduated from Georgia Southern University, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a concentration in Finance. He was a letter winner on the Men’s Varsity Football Team, and still maintains an active lifestyle today.

Cathy joined Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 2004 and manages the daily administrative and operational responsibilities of the team. With 27 years in the brokerage industry, Cathy holds a securities license and has gained extensive knowledge about employee stock purchase plans, exercising stock options and rule 144 transactions. She also is experienced at assisting clients with brokerage and banking administrative needs.

Cathy has four children and enjoys gardening, bowling and camping.

Shelby joined Morgan Stanley in November of 2019 after graduating from Berry College with a Masters of Business Administration and earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2023.

Shelby’s role on the team is to manage workflow among team members, coordinate client events and meetings, and assist in daily operations such as account maintenance, cash management, and digital engagement for clients.

Shelby, his wife Cedar, and their son Riden, live in Monroe, Georgia. They enjoy any activity that allows them to be outdoors or working on their farm, as well as serving and being involved with their church and community.

Stephen joined Morgan Stanley in 2015 and Petra Wealth
Management at the beginning of 2018. His primary role is supporting Kyle Wade our Consulting Group Analyst with client portfolio analysis, market research, and product analysis. Additionally assists in portfolio construction, client reporting, and daily portfolio monitoring.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Stephen spent 2 and half years on the trade desk and as an Investment Consultant at Merrill Lynch. In these roles, Stephen assisted in executing high level trades and assisting prospects in the education, opening, and transfer of their accounts.

Stephen graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2012 with Bachelor in Finance and a Minor in Marketing. Outside the office, Stephen enjoys coaching youth basketball at NYO, exploring Atlanta, and any fashion of exercise.