
Carla J Koren


Something brought you here.
Rarely does someone wake up on a Tuesday and decide to find a financial advisor. Maybe you have managed things on your own for years, and it worked. Then something changed: the markets got volatile, life got busier, or your wealth or family situation shifted. Now you have reached the point where you know you ant to evaluate whether to continue going it alone, and you are looking to explore professional help.
Does any of this sound like you?
Your income changed dramatically, possibly through a promotion, liquidity event, or business sale. Suddenly, you are bringing in more than you ever have, and instead of feeling secure, you feel exposed. A comprehensive strategy may not yet be in place, and you are worried about the potential impact of not knowing.
You have money everywhere, and no clear picture of what you have (or what you will owe at tax season). One account here, an old 401(k) there, perhaps a brokerage account you opened years ago. You have been so focused on earning that the organizing never happened. You suspect you may be overpaying in taxes and missing opportunities. You just haven't had the right person to help you evaluate your options.
Something happened in your family that changed everything. A spouse passed away, or you are newly divorced, or have a parent whose finances you are now responsible for. You are facing serious decisions in the middle of one of the hardest moments of your life, and you need professional guidance to help you naviage these transitions.
You have significant wealth and no plan. If something happened to you tomorrow, would the people you love be affected? You know you need to do something; you just haven't known where to start.
What you are feeling has a name.
Many individuals in this moment describe some version of the same thing: a deep uncertainty about whether they are doing enough, making the right moves, and addressing the needs of the people who depend on them. The financial world is complex, and the stakes at this stage of life are high.
What often helps is working with a financial professional who knows which questions to ask, and how to help you address the answers. Questions like:
If you are looking for guidance on these questions, we are here to help.
You do not have to figure this out alone.
We are Carla, Jonathan, and Margaret, three advisors at Morgan Stanley dedicated to helping professionals through exactly these moments. From our home base in the Bay Area, we work with clients across the country. We are not a call center, and we are not transactional. We know your kids' names, your parents' situation, and why you are working this hard in the first place. Our role is to be the one team that sees your whole picture, strives to coordinate your complex moving parts, and works diligently to help ensure nothing falls throug the crack.
Having the right team can be an important factor. The question is whether you have found the right fit for your needs.



