
Sharon Cunningham, CFP®

My Mission Statement
My Story and Services
Since the beginning of her career, Sharon has been a champion for women’s financial empowerment. Recognizing that women were often excluded from financial discussions, she made it her mission to change the industry norm. She has dedicated much of her career to educating and advising women through tailored workshops and initiatives. As the creator of HER Way at Morgan Stanley, she established a cross-platform community designed to provide women with access to lifestyle information, professional resources, and investment strategies to help them achieve financial confidence.
Sharon is also conscious of the potential social and financial benefits of integrating Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) initiatives into her investment decision-making process. She and her team have devoted significant time and resources to understanding how investing with impact can drive social change, promote greater gender equality, and create opportunities to improve financial outcomes for clients. By incorporating SRI principles, her team seeks to align investment strategies with their clients’ values while maintaining a focus on long-term growth and financial success.
Sharon’s dedication to her clients and the organizations she supports has earned her and her team national recognition. She has been named to the Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors & Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for eight consecutive years (2018-2025), recognizing elite financial advisors across the country who demonstrate excellence in client service, planning, and investment strategy. In addition, her team has been recognized on the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams list since the award’s inception in 2023, highlighting their commitment to delivering outstanding financial guidance, investment solutions, and personalized service.
Beyond these accolades, Sharon has been honored by Working Mother Magazine as one of its Top Wealth Advisor Moms, celebrating women who successfully balance their careers as financial advisors while raising families. In 2018, Morgan Stanley named her to its prestigious MAKERS Class, recognizing trailblazing women within the firm. She was also a recipient of Morgan Stanley’s John J. Mack Leadership Award, an honor given to individuals who embody the firm’s core values and make a meaningful impact on their colleagues and communities.
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Sharon holds a degree in Business Management and Finance from Adelphi University and earned a certificate in financial planning from New York University. Passionate about giving back, she actively supports women’s organizations, including Women for Women International and the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, and serves as a Board Member for NEXT for Autism.
Sharon resides in Rye Brook, New York, with her husband, Brian, and their two children, Olivia, and Griffin.
Professional Recognition & Disclosures
Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) investments in a portfolio may experience performance that is lower or higher than a portfolio not employing such practices. Portfolios with ESG restrictions and strategies as well as ESG investments may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as portfolios where ESG criteria is not applied. There are inconsistent ESG definitions and criteria within the industry, as well as multiple ESG ratings providers that provide ESG ratings of the same subject companies and/or securities that vary among the providers. Certain issuers of investments may have differing and inconsistent views concerning ESG criteria where the ESG claims made in offering documents or other literature may overstate ESG impact. ESG designations are as of the date of this material, and no assurance is provided that the underlying assets have maintained or will maintain and such designation or any stated ESG compliance. As a result, it is difficult to compare ESG investment products or to evaluate an ESG investment product in comparison to one that does not focus on ESG. Investors should also independently consider whether the ESG investment product meets their own ESG objectives or criteria.
There is no assurance that an ESG investing strategy or techniques employed will be successful. Past performance is not a guarantee or a dependable measure of future results.
Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors & Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 (Formerly referred to as Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, Forbes America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors) Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month time period concluding in September of the year prior to the issuance of the award.
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams 2023, 2024, 2025Source: Forbes.com (Jan 2024). 2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams ranking awarded in 2025. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by SHOOK Research LLC (the research company) in partnership with Forbes (the publisher) for the period from 3/31/23–3/31/24. Neither Morgan Stanley
Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to SHOOK Research LLC for placement on its rankings. This ranking is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each Financial Advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC and may not be representative of any one client’s experience; investors must carefully choose the right Financial Advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with SHOOK Research LLC or Forbes. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com. © 2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
Forbes Top Wealth Advisor Moms 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 Source: Workingmother.com (Awarded 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month period concluding in March of the year the award was given.
Morgan Stanley Smith barney LLC. Member SIPC.
CRC 4330462 03/2025
Securities Agent: MI, TX, OR, CO, TN, RI, DC, NY, MD, HI, ME, GA, VA, SC, NH, PA, FL, WY, VT, NV, NC, MN, MA, LA, IN, IL, CA, WI, OH, NJ, DE, CT, AZ, WA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1288191
- Financial PlanningFootnote1
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote2
- Sustainable InvestingFootnote3
- Philanthropic ManagementFootnote4
- Retirement PlanningFootnote5
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote6
- Planning for Individuals with Special Needs and their Families
- Cash Management and Lending ProductsFootnote7
- Life InsuranceFootnote8
- Long Term Care InsuranceFootnote9
- Trust ServicesFootnote10
NMLS#: 1288191
HER Way Program History
HER Way is an educational initiative launched in the fall of 2017 by Sharon Cunningham, along with 13 other women financial advisors at Morgan Stanley. The initiative is dedicated to fostering a community of women who strive to be confident and informed in their financial decision making.
At its core, HER Way acknowledges that women's financial needs are diverse, extending far beyond traditional investment strategies. It recognizes that women often seek resources and information in areas such as health and wellness, personal and professional development, entrepreneurship, financial planning, and philanthropy. Through events, workshops, and webinars, HER Way provides opportunities for women to gain valuable knowledge and apply it to uplift their families and communities.
HER Way is expanding across the country, building a vibrant community for women to MAKE IT, SAVE IT and ENJOY IT.
Want to learn more? E-mail herwayinbox@morganstanley.com to be added to our HER Way distribution list for upcoming events.
Check out our Previous HER Way Events:
Location
Portfolio Insights
1Morgan 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.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
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3Investing in the market entails the risk of market volatility. The value of all types of investments may increase or decrease over varying time periods. The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of sustainable or impact investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because sustainability and impact criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.
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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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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
8Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
9Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
10Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.
Morgan 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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