My Story and Services

Utilizing the power of assets to promote independence, financial freedom and security has always intrigued me. The ability to generate wealth through compounding led me into finance and drove me to soak in as much investment knowledge as possible. Today, as a Senior Portfolio Management Director, I understand markets can be challenging, and that the unexpected does happen. However, I also understand that proper portfolio management allows investors to stay the course in challenging times and prosper in the best of times. I value discipline, long-term thinking, and the desire to continually learn and improve. This experience, training and curiosity enable me to manage your investment portfolio on a discretionary basis and at level of sophistication required in today’s quickly changing landscape.

Combining top level wealth management and careful financial planning has allowed my clients to navigate challenging times such as the financial crisis of 2008-2009, and more recently the fallout from Covid-19. It has also allowed them to provide for a college education, help loved ones with a down payment, purchase a vacation home and retire with confidence. Proper planning and execution help minimize the emotional component that sudden wealth changes create and can enable you to make informed decisions based on probabilities, not gut feelings.

Looking back over the first stage of my career, I take great satisfaction in seeing how the long-term aspects of my work with clients have come together in terms of wealth creation and goal achievement. I feel even more privileged to have the opportunity to work with multiple generations of client families, ensuring a continuity of care for years to come.

Over 15 years as a Financial Advisor, I have evolved my practice to serve successful individuals and families in the most informed, disciplined and personalized manner possible. Modern technologies and client-centered wealth management models have helped, yet my steadfast commitment to developing trust and delivering exceptional service are how I can have the greatest influence in meeting your current goals and future aspirations.

Ryan Seay grew up around the financial advisory business, worked part-time at a Morgan Stanley branch while in college and has been a dedicated Financial Advisor with the firm since 2007. His deep-rooted passion for and understanding of the many facets of the financial markets have consistently advanced his career while expanding and improving the solutions and service he offers clients. As a Senior Portfolio Management Director, Ryan has unique experience not only in the markets, but also in how to tailor custom portfolios to individual client needs.

Born and raised in San Jose, Ryan cherishes his family, friends and community. He is also a husband and proud father. When times allows, Ryan is an avid golfer and an aspiring cook with a passion for barbecue and all things grilling. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Arizona State University with an emphasis in finance and served President of the Financial Management Association. Locally he graduated from Archbishop Mitty where he remains involved with alumni events to this day.
Education and Licensing:
Bachelors of Science, Business Marketing W.P. Carey School of Business Arizona State University
CA Insurance Lic. #OF72028
Series 7, 31, 66
Ryan.Seay@morganstanley.com
  • (408) 947-3717
Services Include
Securities Agent: ID, FL, SC, MD, SD, OR, WA, HI, TN, NJ, KY, TX, MT, MI, AR, WI, NH, MN, ME, CT, CA, IN, IL, CO, UT, NV, NM, NC, MA, DC, AZ, NY, GA, VA, RI, PA, OH, MO, KS; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1278955
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Getting Started

As your dedicated wealth advisor, my role is to tailor a personalized financial strategy which fits your needs. In my experience working with clients, we have developed a step-by-step approach to service you.
Financial Planning Questionnaire
This questionnaire will help us create a personalized strategy for you and can enhance our conversation around your long-term goals.
Financial planning Questionnaire
Sample Financial Plan
This is a sample LifeView Financial Plan. It is intended to demonstrate the type of analysis I can create for you. This should not be construed as a recommendation for any specific product or service. An Actual Financial Plan would be based on your individual financial considerations, needs, objectives, and risk tolerance. It would therefore differ from this sample Financial Plan.
Sample Financial Plan
What is Portfolio Management?
Your Portfolio Manager works closely with you to understand your needs while maintaining the focus and discipline necessary to guide your portfolio in the most challenging market cycles. A disciplined, four-step investment process underpins the program and helps to develop a long-term perspective about building and managing wealth.
Portfolio Manger Brochure
Equity Compensation Guide
Owning equity in the company you work for makes you more than an employee, it makes you a shareholder. Here’s how to better understand and use your equity compensation so you can achieve your goals.
Equity Compensation Guide
Tech Resources
Check out the latest resources and insight in the tech industry below by reviewing the 2023 tech sector playbook.
2023 Tech Sector Playbook

Modern Wealth Management Tools

For years, financial advice was simply an extension of the traditional trappings and attitudes of Wall Street. But just as stock trading has become decentralized and moved to electronic networks, so too has wealth management evolved through the harnessing of technology which has improved information flow and added convenience.
I am excited to offer many of these innovative services to you through Morgan Stanley’s Modern Wealth Platform. The platform offers sophisticated resources to create a total view of your wealth that aggregates your financial assets and liabilities together, even assets held with other financial providers; a goals planning system that automatically runs projections on the probability of success; as well as tools to accurately track your spending and budgeting.
Integrating these modern solutions can streamline and automate formerly arduous tasks, expand the ways we communicate and bring greater simplicity to your financial life.
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    Morgan Stanley Online
    Your investments and everyday finances are always just a few clicks away with Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) and the Morgan Stanley mobile app! Access your finances and invest in an instant with the help of this handy resource that is available 24/7.
    Learn more about Morgan Stanley Online
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    Total Wealth View
    Complete your financial profile with Total Wealth View. By linking your external account information, you will benefit from more educated and holistic wealth planning, and convenient connectivity.
    Learn more about Total Wealth View
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    LifeView
    LifeView is a suite of planning tools that creates a realistic, integrated strategy meant to incorporate aspects of an individual’s financial life, including investments and cash management needs. It also provides progress-to-goals reporting which illustrate complex planning strategies.
    Access the LifeView Risk Tolerance Questionnaire
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    Family Office Resources
    Family Office Resources (FOR) is a helpful resource that provides specialized technical expertise to ultra-high net worth advisors and clients across a broad range of family wealth management issues.
    Learn more about Family Office Resources
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    Online Security Center
    Safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities here at the Seay Group. Learn about our extensive security measures and take advantage of our vast array of resources and ideas that are geared towards helping you stay protected on the World Wide Web.
    Learn more about the Online Security Center
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    Goals-Based Planning
    Working with Morgan Stanley and its advanced wealth management technology is an ideal way to access advice and build a coherent wealth plan. Read more about the advantages of working with our unique planning technology to help reach your financial goals, whatever they may be.
    Learn more about Goals-Based Planning
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    Portfolio Risk Platform
    Morgan Stanley's Portfolio Risk Platform is powered by BlackRock's Aladdin risk engine, a state-of-the-art, innovative risk engine used by several of the world’s largest institutional asset managers, providing you with comprehensive risk analytics and a sophisticated view of the risk/return dichotomy across your financial portfolios. This helpful tool can assist you in making educated investment decisions with increased confidence.
    Learn more about the Portfolio Risk Platform
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    2024 Tax Tables
    This helpful resource outlines the 2024 tax rate schedule, education and health savings account limits, retirement contribution and deduction limits, among other information. With tax season seemingly always right around the corner, it's best to be as informed as possible.
    Access the 2024 federal tax tables
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    Spending and Budgeting Tool
    The spending and budgeting tool can automatically categorize your spending and analyze your cash flow to help you manage where your money is going across all your accounts – both at Morgan Stanley and externally.
    Learn More
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    Wealth and Estate Planning Video Series
    Explore a series of educational videos covering topics such as Foundational Estate Planning Documents, Estate & Gift Taxes, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts and more.
    Watch Videos
Being recognized by third-party organizations pales in comparison to the importance of being a proper steward of your capital and continually working to earn your trust. Nevertheless, I am honored that my efforts to assist my clients through the complexities of today’s markets and economy have attracted attention outside my immediate circle.

2020, 2021 and 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com 2020, 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.

2021,2022 Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com 2021, 2022. Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.

Who I Serve

I work with executives, corporate employees, affluent individuals with 500,000+ in assets and multiple generations of families who can most benefit from a disciplined approach to growing and protecting their wealth.
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Executives and corporate employees typically seek our services for guidance with:
• Stock compensation plans
• Retirement account allocation and maximization strategies
• Financial risk mitigation strategies
• Portfolio management services
Affluent individuals and multiple generations of families typically seek our guidance with:
• Income, distribution, and risk mitigation strategies
• Tax efficient investing
• Educational planning
• Legacy and philanthropy planning
Next generation clients typically seek our guidance with:
• Spending and budgeting
• Wealth creation plans
• General financial guidance and assistance with key decisions

Location

225 W Santa Clara St
Suite 900
San Jose, CA 95113
US
Direct:
(408) 947-3717(408) 947-3717
Toll-Free:
(800) 726-3232(800) 726-3232
Fax:
(408) 998-2633(408) 998-2633

Meet My Team

Wealth Management
From My Desk

Meet Premier Cash Management


Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

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
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Ryan J. Seay today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
1Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.

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2Morgan 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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3When 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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4Morgan 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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5Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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6When 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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7Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

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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.

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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)