
Sharon Kucera, CFP®, CDFA®

My Mission Statement
Your Financial Goals Go Beyond the Numbers...
Together, we can help you achieve the life you want to live.
Every day we make choices that affect our future and can have far-reaching implications down the road. But when life gets busy, sometimes the most important decisions – such as how to prepare for retirement, pay for education expenses, purchase a home, make health or long-term care decisions – are put off or don't get the attention they deserve. We are a dedicated team of financial professionals whose mission is to provide our clients with the information, support and tools they need to make the right decisions to achieve their hopes and dreams.
A Personalized, 360° Approach to Your Financial Life
We believe in approaching financial well-being holistically — in the same way you would care for your physical health. We go beyond investments to understand all facets of your life. We get to know the priorities, hopes and dreams you have for yourself, your family and your legacy. We want to hear about your career, your income situation and how you spend money. We look at your debts and future cash flow needs. Through listening and proactively discussing your unique and evolving situation, we develop a financial roadmap that can adapt as your life changes.
2025 -Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State (New Jersey)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 9/30/23 - 9/30/24. https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure.html
- Wealth ManagementFootnote1
- 401(k) Rollovers
- 529 PlansFootnote2
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote3
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote4
- Financial PlanningFootnote5
- Life InsuranceFootnote6
- Long Term Care InsuranceFootnote7
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote8
- Retirement PlanningFootnote9
- Structured ProductsFootnote10
NMLS#: 1501579
I am a financial advisor dedicated to guiding you through life’s transitions.
• Become “unstuck” to break down barriers to enable you to pursue your dreams
• Create good financial habits to help reach your financial goals
• Identify creative solutions via collaboration with a knowledgeable team
• Facilitate family communication
• Raise financially responsible and astute children
• Are there different steps you can take to help save more of the money you earn?
• How should you manage your finances after a divorce? Loss of spouse? A serious illness?
• What if I want to ratchet back on my career or start a new business?
• How should I be saving to send our kids to college?
• How should I manage our money to last throughout retirement?
Clients Who I Serve:
• Are making the right decisions about how their assets are allocated given a retirement 5, 10, 20 years in the future
• Are seeking to strike a balance between other financial needs and retirement savings
• Want help managing their expenses and investments
• Are grappling with when it is ok to spend money and when to hold back
• Are contemplating career transitions
• Have responsibility for parents as well as children
• Need to have regular time carved out to discuss and make decisions on critical long-term issues
• Want to raise their children their way
• Want to maximize all of their capital — including future earning potential
• Grapple with when to press their foot down and off the career accelerator
I began my career in public finance. First analyzing municipal bonds and then working with municipalities to manage their debt. After 7 years in public finance, I joined Chicago based Morningstar Inc. Morningstar is the leading provider of independent investment research with a commitment to helping individuals make educated investment decisions.
I left Morningstar to move to New Jersey with Merrill Lynch. There I led their institutional and ultra-high net worth businesses, bringing all the resources Merrill Lynch had to bear to help pension plans, endowments and foundations fulfill their missions.
I left Merrill Lynch to join BlackRock as Managing Director of Channel Marketing and Strategy for the US Retail Business. BlackRock is the largest asset manager in the world and I was the second female Managing Director in the US Retail division.
At BlackRock, I had an epiphany. Investments are only a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to financial success. Decisions around earning potential, spending, saving and investing are levers that are in our clients' control, but often avoided. If you can help people think holistically about their financial lives and take action, it can lead to amazing outcomes.
Propelled by a passion to help individuals directly, I went to Morgan Stanley in 2015 to start my own woman and family-friendly practice. I work with families one-on-one to sort out how they can build successful lives.
MBA
• Bryn Mawr College
BA, History
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Managing Director - Head of US Retail Channel Marketing
Dec 2010 - April 2015
• Merrill Lynch
Managing Director - Retirement & Philanthropic Solutions
Oct 2005 - Nov 2010
• Morningstar
Strategic Account Manager
Sept 1998 - Oct 2005
• Ferrand Jordan
Director of Marketing
Oct 1996 - Sept 1997
• Government Finance Officers Association
Senior Analyst and Software Development Manager
Jan 1993 - Sept 1996
• Stein Roe & Farnham
Research Analyst - Municipal Bonds
Mar 1991 - Jan 1993
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 9/30/23 - 9/30/24. https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure.html
Location
The Power of Partnerships
About Lauren Akers
Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.
Lauren began her career in financial services in 2011, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2013 as a Regional Transaction Manager for the Home Loans Division. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a Credit Analyst at PHH Mortgage.
Lauren is a graduate of Rider University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. She and her family currently reside in Chesterfield, NJ. Outside of the office, Lauren dedicates her time to her family and a number of volunteer activities. Lauren also enjoys spending time with her 2 kitties, cooking, baking, reading, gardening, shopping. traveling and going to the beach. She remains active by exercising and participating in 5K runs.
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2Investors should consider many factors before deciding which 529 plan is appropriate. Some of these factors include: the Plan’s investment options and the historical investment performance of these options, the Plan’s flexibility and features, the reputation and expertise of the Plan’s investment manager, Plan contribution limits and the federal and state tax benefits associated with an investment in the Plan. Some states, for example, offer favorable tax treatment and other benefits to their residents only if they invest in the state’s own Qualified Tuition Program. Investors should determine their home state’s tax treatment of 529 plans when considering whether to choose an in-state or out-of-state plan. Investors should consult with their tax or legal advisor before investing in any 529 Plan or contact their state tax division for more information. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not provide tax and/or legal advice. Investors should review a Program Disclosure Statement, which contains more information on investment options, risk factors, fees and expenses and possible tax consequences.
3Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.
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.
5Morgan 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.
6Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
7Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
8When 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.
9When 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.
10Structured Investments are complex and not appropriate for all investors. An investment in structured investments involves risks. These risks can include but are not limited to: fluctuations in the price, level or yield of underlying asset(s), interest rates, currency values and credit quality, substantial loss of principal, limits on participation in appreciation of underlying asset(s), limited liquidity, credit risk, and/or conflicts of interest. Many structured investments do not pay interest or guarantee a return above principal at maturity. Investors should read the security’s offering documentation prior to making an investment decision.
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Awards Disclosures