Ryan Gildersleeve, CFP®

My practice is built on the development of deep and enduring relationships and the delivery of personalized financial planning services to individuals, families and business owners whose primary goals focus on:

Managing a life-changing event with confidence, such as a divorce or the sale of a business

Integrating the executive benefits provided by an employer into an overall investment strategy

Planning for a successful retirement

Financing a major acquisition, including the purchase of a new property or expansion of a business

Minimizing taxes through advanced asset management solutions

Preparing children, emotionally and intellectually, to manage wealth

Achieving long-term charitable and philanthropic goals


My clients include:

Financially successful individuals and families

Retirees and individuals planning for retirement

Corporate executives and attorneys

Professionals in the medical and financial services industry

Private business owners and entrepreneurs

Women seeking guidance for themselves and their family

Young professionals and grown children of existing clients


While each client has unique personal and professional circumstances, they all have one thing in common: They are focused on achieving very specific financial goals, so they may secure their family’s financial future and pursue their personal passions.

Experience
My priority as your Financial Advisor is to help you prepare for all of life’s milestones – your children’s education, your business succession, your retirement, your estate and your ideal future. Working with your accountant, attorney and other trusted professionals, I help you build a comprehensive plan that encompasses all aspects of your life.

Over the years, I have cultivated skills in wealth management, financial planning and risk management. I have developed a strong understanding of the key factors that impact someone’s retirement plan, and are well versed in the equity and fixed income markets. Above all, I take pride in my ability to effectively communicate advanced concepts in easy-to-understand language. All too often, fear drives financial decisions, becoming a major reason why many financial plans fail. I help you go beyond the noise of daily market activity to stay focused on your plans, your aspirations and your goals.

As your wealth grows, so do the complexities and resources needed to manage it. As a seasoned financial professional with more than 20 years of industry experience, I work with individuals, families and business owners who seek an integrated approach to managing their financial lives. I share this vision and bring all the various parts of your finances together in a clear strategy designed to help achieve your financial goals.

The work I do is customized for you and your particular situation. I take into account where you are now and where you see yourself and your family in 5, 10 or 20 years. I look at your wealth today and utilize various tools designed to help forecast your expected income and spending. What's more, I access the global resources and intellectual capital of Morgan Stanley to deliver appropriate strategies to help strengthen the financial independence you've worked your whole life to achieve.

As our relationship grows, I am confident you will come to regard me as your trusted advisor, here to As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, I truly believe financial planning is a “living” process that must be diligently reviewed and cultivated. My goals-based approach identifies and implements appropriate solutions to help empower you to achieve – and maintain – financial success. Ultimately, goals-based investing empowers you to be more confident in your investment decisions now and in the future.

Step 1: Understanding You
I begin with an in-depth conversation to understand your goals and the goals of your family, the concerns you have and what you ultimately would like to achieve.

Step 2: Analyzing Your Needs
Next, I collect key information about your current finances, including assets, liabilities and a discussion of any company-provided benefits you receive. I then review your current and future financial situation, identify the likelihood of reaching your goals and help address any potential shortfalls or the impact of unexpected life events.

Step 3: Tailoring Your Solution
In this step, I present a customized wealth management plan with specific strategies designed to help achieve your particular goals. Upon your approval, I’ll set into motion a course of action that strives to align your values and vision with your personal definition of financial success.

Step 4: Implementing Your Plan
Once I activate your plan, I’ll set up a number of implementation meetings to ensure your account is set up properly and you have convenient access to your account information.

Step 5: Continuous Monitoring
I’ll monitor your progress and review the performance through ongoing calls and meetings. I may recommend adjustments over time, due to changing market conditions or changes in your circumstances, to help keep you on track towards achieving your goals.

A seasoned Family Wealth Advisor with 26 years of wealth management experience, Ryan has dedicated his entire career to providing highly customized advice and strategies to individuals, families and business owners. He guides them through a personalized approach that includes a thorough planning process and a commitment to outstanding service. To Ryan, the cornerstone of comprehensive wealth management begins with a solid financial plan focused on helping achieve each client’s unique goals.

Always driven to understand how to manage his personal finances in the most effective way possible, Ryan attended Vanderbilt University, receiving his B.A. degree in 1995. Soon after graduation, Ryan joined Merrill Lynch as an Associate, where he earned his Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses and began working directly with clients as a Financial Advisor. In 2003, Ryan joined Smith Barney, a predecessor firm of Morgan Stanley, and has been a vital member of the firm’s Stamford branch ever since.

Throughout his career, Ryan has remained committed to professional development. In 2001, he earned the distinguished CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation from the College for Financial Planning and in 2004, he was named a Financial Planning Specialist at Morgan Stanley. More recently in 2016, Ryan achieved the firm’s Family Wealth Advisor certification. All of these designations demonstrate Ryan’s dedication to remaining on the forefront of the most effective financial strategies and deliver a powerful client experience.

A Connecticut native, Ryan currently lives in Old Greenwich with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Tyler and Lyla Grace. An avid music lover, Ryan enjoys performing his music with friends on stage at local clubs and restaurants. Favorite leisure activities include golf, watching college football and spending time with family and friends.