Sea Girt Branch Office

I began my Wall Street career as an Institutional Equity Sales trader in 1991. I left the Institutional side of the business in 2005 as Managing Director of US Equities and Trading for Nomura Securities. I began my career advising individual clients on their investments and personal finances at what was ostensibly the worst possible time to launch such a venture – at the beginning of the 2007-2009 recession. At the same time, however, I reasoned that if I was ever going to make the switch from Institutional Trading that marked the first fifteen years of my career, this was it. People needed advice in that environment and I realized that if I could help them weather the storm, I’d be providing an invaluable service.

Beyond investment expertise, I’m a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor ^® and a Morgan Stanley credentialed Financial Planning Specialist. As a result, I can provide my clients with comprehensive financial plans that contain tangible recommendations for all of their financial goals and objectives.

In addition to my practice I currently serve as the Producing Manager for our Sea Girt Branch. I take a lot of pride in this position and make every effort to work closely with other practices in the office to assist them with the constantly changing landscape of our profession. I assist each practice in how to use Modern Wealth Management techniques to enhance and grow their already successful practices.

I graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY with a BS in Finance before beginning my financial services career as an Institutional Equity Trader with several firms catering to well-known broker dealers and investment management firms. I have also served as Sales Manager, Head of FA Training and Resident Director at Merrill Lynch in Princeton, NJ prior to joining Morgan Stanly in 2001. I have just over 30 years Financial Services experience.

Outside of the office, I’m passionate about golf and I played competitive amateur events throughout the NJ, NY and PA area. I volunteer with the New Jersey State Golf Association as a tournament official. I have been married for over 25 years to my wonderful wife Lisa who is a Reference Librarian at the Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library. We have a 22-year-old son Christian who is currently working for Morgan Stanley in their Virtual Engagement Program.

Heather Collins is the Branch Administrator for the Northfield, Toms River, and Sea Girt branches. She graduated from San Diego State University and began her career as a Program Administrator for the Head Start Program. She then transitioned to the legal sector as an Intellectual Property Litigation Paralegal, participating in trials before the United States International Trade Commission. Heather advanced to legal recruiting and professional development, eventually becoming a Recruiting and Development Manager in Denver.

After a hiatus to focus on family, Heather worked as a teacher's aide for two years before joining Morgan Stanley in 2025. Her diverse background provides her with a versatile skill set and a holistic approach to problem-solving, aligning with Morgan Stanley's mission of delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions. She is passionate about building relationships and supporting others' success.

Heather is an active member of the Ocean City community, where she lives with her family, having moved from Santa Cruz, California, four years ago. She enjoys participating in community events and coaching her son's soccer and T-ball teams with her husband. Embracing island life, she loves spending summer weekends on the beach with her family. Heather also enjoys making jewelry and crafting with natural elements like shells and stones, and watching football with her family, despite their divided team loyalties. Her commitment to community involvement and fostering a supportive environment is evident in both her personal and professional life.