Piedmont Group

Todd Smith is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Private Wealth Advisor and the managing partner for the Piedmont Group at Morgan Stanley. The group is part of the Private Wealth Management division 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. The Piedmont Group develops customized wealth management solutions for business owners, corporate executives, private equity professionals and their related endowments, foundations and corporate pension plans. Todd Smith’s 27 years at the firm has given him vital experience navigating and maximizing intellectual capital and resources of the firm while offering experience and knowledge in the following areas:

• Family Wealth Management
• Investment Strategy and Policy Reviews
• Asset Management
• Liquidity Event Planning

Along with the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, Todd has attained the title of Senior Investment Management Consultant through the Consulting Group. This designation is given only to top Morgan Stanley Advisors who have demonstrated extensive knowledge of capital markets, comprehensive investment management consulting experience and the highest level of ethical behavior in business. He also has the designation of Family Wealth Director which is reserved for advisors who focus on ultra-high net worth families and allows for differentiated amenities dedicated to serving this group of clientele.

When Todd is not working he has a passion for volunteering in the community and his involvement includes past board president of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Georgia, event chair and board member of Atlanta Charity Clays, and he is currently serving on the Camp Sunshine board. He is also involved with the Greenhouse Scholars and is currently serving as a mentor for one of the Scholars. He and his wife, Nancy, have two daughters and a son.

If you would like to learn more about Todd Smith and the Piedmont Group please visit their website at advisor.morganstanley.com/piedmont-group or contact Todd Smith directly at Todd.J.Smith@morganstanleypwm.com or 404-842-2232.

A member of the Piedmont Group since 1998, Sean Sanders is responsible for assisting corporate clients with plan evaluation and design, vendor selection, investment review, fee benchmarking and participant education. Sean brings deep experience and formal training to the task. He earned the Corporate Retirement Director designation after advanced training and examination, focusing exclusively on the corporate retirement plan marketplace. The curriculum involves in-depth study of plan design, investment strategy, plan administration, fiduciary issues and other related retirement topics. Fewer than 250 Morgan Stanley’s more than 16,000+ advisors have qualified for this prestigious designation.
 
Sean graduated from Georgia State University with a B.B.A. in finance. Following graduation, he pursued a career as an investment professional and has held his Series 7, 63 and 65 registrations since 1995. In his free time, Sean is a multi-sport athlete and competes in triathlons, bike races and adventure races across the country. He and his wife, Ashley, have a son, Noah, and a daughter, Ella.

Charley Traylor is a Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for the Piedmont Group at Morgan Stanley, a team that specializes in private wealth management for ultra-high net worth and multigenerational families. Charley’s area of focus is on financial planning, asset allocation strategy, strategy implementation, and ongoing maintenance. He is well-versed in conducting initial and ongoing due diligence for various investment solutions, including equities, fixed income, hedge funds, private equity, private credit, and structured investments. He provides research and portfolio construction analysis for proprietary equity and fixed income strategies and implements strategies following a liquidity event. Charley also assists with estate and trust planning, lending strategy, and executive financial services. He works with corporate insiders of publicly traded companies on acquisition and dissolution strategies.

Charley graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He was a 4-year varsity soccer player for the university and served as team captain in 2007. During his tenure, he helped lead the team to back-to-back Division 1 national championships in 2003 and 2004.

Charley lives in Atlanta with his wife Nikki and their three dogs Ellie Belle, Winston, and Rocco. He is an avid golfer, runner, skier, and an Atlanta United supporter. Charley is also actively involved in the community as a mentor with Greenhouse Scholars and a board member of USO Georgia. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and being outdoors.

A member of the Piedmont Group since 2000, Joe Woo provides technical support in portfolio monitoring, performance reporting and investment management research. Joe graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in business administration. He also received his Financial Planning Associates designation from Morgan Stanley in 2004, and is Series 3, 7, 63 and 65 registered.

 

In his spare time, Joe is a student pilot and enjoys flying Cessna aircrafts. He also volunteers with local nonprofit organizations, including Good Shepherd Services of Atlanta, a community services program that assists with refugees, and the Korean American Coalition, an organization aimed at developing Asian American communities.

Michelle has been in the financial services industry over 15 years. She began her career in 2006 with UBS Financial Services. In her role as a Client Service Associate she obtained her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. During her time with UBS she supported teams in both Wealth Management and Private Wealth Management and acted as a CSA Coach. In 2015, Michelle moved to Morgan Stanley as a Senior Registered Associate.

As Group Director, Michelle acts as lead administrator for The Piedmont Group, which she joined in 2016. Her role focuses on the client experience, service initiatives, and practice management. Additionally, she is active in implementing new processes to improve efficiency. In 2020 she was named a member of the National Service Advisory (NSA) Council, which acts as a two-way feedback channel between the branch service organization, Senior Management and Home Office.

Michelle graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Journalism. A Northwest Indiana native, she moved south with the hope of never again shoveling a foot of snow off her car before being able to drive. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Paul, and their dog Ivy. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, golfing, and Chicago Bears football.

Steve Thompson is responsible for implementing personalized investment strategies for our clients. Leveraging his wealth of experience, he works with the team to review investments across public and private markets with a goal to create portfolios that align with client’s financial objectives. He is responsible for establishing relationships within the investment community to ensure access to best-in-class research and managers.

Steve brings significant financial services industry and capital markets experience to his current position as Director of Investments at Morgan Stanley. His comprehensive background includes a position in the Debt Capital Markets group at Bank of America in Chicago, Charlotte and London, focused on constructing and issuing debt securitizations. He also worked in the securitization group of Wachovia in Charlotte.

Most recently, Steve served as the Head of Investment Grade Business Strategy & Development for Invesco where he was responsible for structuring and launching new strategies and articulating portfolio construction to clients.

Steve also previously held the position of Fixed Income Specialist at Aegon Asset Management. In this role he was responsible for distribution efforts across corporate credit strategies including investment grade, high yield and senior loans.

Steve actively participates in client meetings, serving as a key contact for clients. His strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills are evident as he conducts investment portfolio analysis and interacts with clients.

Outside of the office, Steve plays tennis and enjoys working out. He also enjoys travel and real estate. He currently resides in East Cobb with his wife Allison and he is the proud father of two sons.

Lee Ann started her career in Financial Services in 1991 after graduating from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2006 and has worked with the Piedmont Group for two years. Lee Ann holds her Series 7, 63 and 66 licenses.

As a member of The Piedmont Group’s service team, Lee Ann enhances the client experience on a daily basis by providing exceptional customer service and prompt assistance to help satisfy client needs. In her spare time, Lee Ann enjoys traveling, college football and cooking.