
South 61 Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
Our Story and Services
Our complementary backgrounds as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and former Certified Public Accountant (CPA) foster our ability to provide comprehensive client solutions. We’re problem-solvers who thoroughly explore a client’s situation, and often are able to offer outside-the-box insights or alternative solutions to benefit them. We believe advisors who take this type of approach can make a difference in a client’s life.
Our team is adept at constructing retirement financial plans—whether it’s for individual investors, small business owners or solo practitioners. We don’t follow the trend in our industry of relying heavily on off-the-shelf software that only looks at the numbers to create your plan. We look beyond the numbers and rely on our deep experience to craft a holistic plan that’s ideally tailored for you.
For small business owners, we’ll guide you to establish a tax-deferred savings similar to those offered by corporations to better enable you to attract and retain valuable employees. For solo practitioners, we’ll recommend retirement plans with several attractive savings-related features that are designed for one-person businesses.
Clients depend on our extensive knowledge of Social Security and Medicare to help them make well-informed decisions about matters that can substantially impact their retirement outcome. As an example, Social Security can be used to generate a meaningful income stream that facilitates a more secure, comfortable retirement.
We will work with a client’s CPA to help provide advanced tax planning strategies, too. For instance, when considering a Roth conversion it’s important to weigh its potential advantages against the often-overlooked consequences that could adversely impact your tax return. The key to the strategies we may recommend is knowing they exist and then understanding how to effectively use them. It’s a skillset we’ve honed over time.
Choosing an advisory team is an important decision that can greatly impact your financial well-being. We encourage you to learn more about our group, and welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with you.
- Wealth ManagementFootnote1
- Financial PlanningFootnote2
- Retirement PlanningFootnote3
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote4
- Qualified Retirement PlansFootnote5
- 401(k) Rollovers
- Fixed IncomeFootnote6
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote7
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote8
- Cash Management and Lending ProductsFootnote9
- Life InsuranceFootnote10
Financial Planning
Every individual has "needs" and "wants" in life. A basic retirement plan should at least cover the needs. But a truly successful one will also cover the wants.
That type of planning begins by first understanding you as a whole individual. We're interested in learning about both your accomplishments and disappointments, along with your aspirations and worries. We invest the time to deeply explore possible solutions to your financial concerns, and leverage our extensive breadth of knowledge. We don't take shortcuts. It's a commitment we make to every client. And, perhaps most importantly, we put our clients' best interests first.
Our team emphasizes holistic planning knowing that every aspect of your financial life could have a positive—or negative—impact on your retirement outcome. We've seen how a single mistake (or overlooked detail) can undermine an individual's financial future. It's often what you don't know that disrupts your financial plan. Our investment philosophy centers on the belief that the best way to grow wealth is to not lose it. So, we construct diversified, high-quality, long-term portfolios meant for capital preservation.
As part of our comprehensive planning, we offer advanced strategies that include important considerations such as Social Security, Medicare, Roth conversions, net unrealized appreciation (NUA), mega-back door Roths, 401(k) accounts with company stock, pensions, lump-sum payments and long-term care.
Why Work with a CFP®?
CFP® professionals meet rigorous education and ethical standards. They're trained in 72 areas of financial knowledge, and must accrue thousands of hours of experience prior to earning their certification. Additionally, CFP® professionals are committed to serving their clients' best interests at all times.
Putting your entire financial life into a clear picture isn't easy. CFP® professionals are skilled at doing this, including how to balance your short-term goals with your long-term objective of retirement security. That's why working with a CFP® professional can be so valuable for individuals seeking comprehensive financial planning.
Recent and Upcoming Events
Our group frequently hosts educational seminars regarding important financial planning considerations such as Social Security, Medicare, estate planning strategies and other matters that can significantly impact your financial security, especially later in life. We encourage you to attend these events, and look forward to meeting you
Location
Meet South 61 Group
About Scott M Ashley
NMLS#: 1279335
About Eleanor E Galt-Lin
About Kevin Howard
I am a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a strong foundation in finance and client service. Outside of work, I enjoy golf and spending time with family.

Contact Scott M Ashley

Contact Eleanor E Galt-Lin
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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.
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.
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.
4Morgan 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.
5When 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.
6Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
7Morgan 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.
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.
9Morgan 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
10Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
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