Stephen Kepchar Jr.
Senior Vice President,
Wealth Advisor
Direct:
(717) 519-3224(717) 519-3224
My Mission Statement
Experience, intellectual capital and dedicated personal service to help you meet your life goals
My Story and Services
As your Financial Advisor, I can help you define and strive to meet your goals by delivering a vast array of resources to you in the way that is most appropriate for how you invest and what you want to achieve. Working together, I can help you to preserve and grow your wealth. You will have access to highly seasoned and respected investment professionals, a premier trading and execution platform, and a full spectrum of investment choices.
Securities Agent: OR, NY, TX, LA, VA, KS, AZ, VT, TN, IN, CT, UT, FL, PA, MI, DE, WV, SC, OH, NE, NC, ME, GA, NV, NJ, CA, IL, MD, MA, KY; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Principal; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1364498
NMLS#: 1364498
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
At Morgan Stanley, we strive to simplify complex financial ideas so that our clients understand what is being done on their behalf to plan for their financial future. We are firm believers of giving our clients as many resources as possible so they can stay informed about the latest market trends, outlooks, and breakdowns. The links below provide detailed analysis on interesting topics that are affecting the finance and business worlds.
FOMO, TINA or Just Too Much Cash?
Morgan Stanley's call for a 10%-15% correction in the S&P 500 Index hasn’t quite played out. Is it “FOMO” that’s keeping the index elevated? Perhaps “TINA”? Take a listen for our thoughts.
What's Continuing to Push Markets to All Time Highs?Health Care: Key Shifts Catalyzed by COVID
We see potential new growth opportunities in health care as the government invests more aggressively in the space and as technology becomes a higher priority. This audiocast includes highlights from a recent webinar discussion on the future of health care.
Investing in Healthcare post CovidThe Great Resignation
Where are workers, and why are they not taking jobs? Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shallet dives into the forces creating structural shifts in the labor market and discusses the long term implications of these shifts for investors.
The Labor Market and The Stock MarketCloud Cybersecurity Market
As cyber threats follow enterprises into the cloud, two key software markets are set to converge into a single discipline for more effective threat prevention, detection and response. A look at the opportunities for investors.
Emerging Opportunity in CybersecurityPlanning For Your Unique Goals
Retirement Planning is an essential element of Stephen's practice. He assists clients with planning for retirement by quantifying their financial needs, constructing an action plan to help meet those needs, and monitoring the progress of their plans. Through consistent communication with clients, Stephen takes into account the potential future costs of clients, such as living expenses, travel expenditures and education funding.
A successful retirement planning strategy for a client should meet the following standards:
• Customized to reflect what the client cares about the most. The plan should address the goals that the client hopes to achieve as well as the risk of outliving his or her assets.
• Procedures in place to take into account the ever-changing nature of issues and unknowns that the client will face throughout his or her life.
• Consider risks beyond market volatility – such as inflation – that can make it more difficult to cover expenses.
• Manage judgement and behavioral risks such as panic selling in a turbulent market or overspending.
• Look to minimize taxes and fees.
• Evaluate the suitability of hedging products that may reduce the risk of not having sufficient income at retirement.
• Quick to adapt to changes in both the client’s life and the financial markets.
A successful retirement planning strategy for a client should meet the following standards:
• Customized to reflect what the client cares about the most. The plan should address the goals that the client hopes to achieve as well as the risk of outliving his or her assets.
• Procedures in place to take into account the ever-changing nature of issues and unknowns that the client will face throughout his or her life.
• Consider risks beyond market volatility – such as inflation – that can make it more difficult to cover expenses.
• Manage judgement and behavioral risks such as panic selling in a turbulent market or overspending.
• Look to minimize taxes and fees.
• Evaluate the suitability of hedging products that may reduce the risk of not having sufficient income at retirement.
• Quick to adapt to changes in both the client’s life and the financial markets.
Six Step Retirement Check Up
When market volatility arises, checking in on your retirement plan may make a lot of sense. Even when the broader market rises higher, you’ll want to confirm that your own investments are performing in line with expectations. What’s more, if you haven’t been keeping up with your contributions or have otherwise deviated from the plan, you’ll want to see how that has impacted your status.
Retirement Check up Tips
Making the Most of Your Retirement Savings
Carefully managing distributions from your portfolio during retirement can help save on taxes, leaving you more money to spend and enjoy.
Tax Efficient Withdrawing in Your Retirement
Planning for the Rising Costs of Healthcare
Health care costs are rising—especially for retirees, and many will need long-term care. Learn the moves you can make to help prepare yourself.
Preparing for Higher Costs
Why Your Home Can be a Retirement Asset
If you’re willing to consider drawing down home equity—either by selling your home or borrowing against its value—it can dramatically change your retirement outlook.
Post-Retirement Success
Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
How you plan your finances in retirement may be just as important as the process of saving for retirement. Here are some key considerations.
Five Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
How Insurance Can Help With Retirement
Insurance isn’t just for supporting dependents if something happens to you. It can also be part of a long-term retirement strategy.
Insurance and RetirementStephen strongly believes in implementing a well-crafted estate planning strategy for his clients so that they get a better overall sense of their potential estate value although the team does not provide estate planning guidance. Stephen helps clients by analyzing the impact of different investment strategies regarding the ownership of assets, philanthropy, and the implementation of trusts.
Robust estate planning can help alleviate substantial tax and legal burdens, time delays in settlements, and in some cases, family conflicts. Also, changes in both federal and state tax laws can have lasting effects on estate planning. Stephen stresses the importance of working together with tax and legal advisors to pre-emptively create and review clients’ estate plans during major life events.
Take a closer look into some of the ways Stephen handles Estate Planning conversations with his clients. Also check out a high-level overview of their Estate Planning process and general information on Trusts.
Robust estate planning can help alleviate substantial tax and legal burdens, time delays in settlements, and in some cases, family conflicts. Also, changes in both federal and state tax laws can have lasting effects on estate planning. Stephen stresses the importance of working together with tax and legal advisors to pre-emptively create and review clients’ estate plans during major life events.
Take a closer look into some of the ways Stephen handles Estate Planning conversations with his clients. Also check out a high-level overview of their Estate Planning process and general information on Trusts.
Our Approach to Estate Planning
We work with the Wealth Planning Center to look at all aspects of an individual’s estate to understand the potential estate planning attributes of all vehicles. The goal is to help our clients make more informed investment decisions looking at their estate plan holistically.
Estate Planning StrategiesEstate Planning Toolkit
The goal of Income and Estate Tax Planning Toolkit is to help clients develop a general understanding of the tax and estate planning techniques. The presentation dedicates one chapter to each technique. Each chapter comprises three complementary sections: summary of considerations, graphic illustration, and custom example.
Estate Planning OptionsNecessary Estate Planning Documents
Certain estate planning documents are critical and should be in place for all individuals in order to dispose of assets on death, enable medical or financial decision-making in case of incapacity and to protect and provide for beneficiaries – in short, to allow the individual to retain control of his or her person and property and avoid time-consuming court proceedings.
Estate Planning FundamentalsStephen's Process
Discovery
Stephen's process begins with a conversation to uncover his clients' goals and to understand their entire financial picture. Here he looks to establish a mutual relationship based on full transparency and trust. These initial meetings, along with continued conversations, help with recommendations that are consistent with clients’ investment objectives, timelines and risk tolerance.
Advisory
Stephen works with his clients to assess various scenarios and advises them on strategies best fit to help meet their goals. He counsels his clients on making investment decisions, not emotional ones.
Execution
Catering to the personalized and tailored needs of his clients, Stephen examines countless accounts and products in order to identify the right combination to help meet spending needs and potentially minimize clients’ tax burdens. Stephen provides complete disclosure of any compensation and fees that he receives.
Track Progress
Throughout the entire process, Stephen tracks his clients’ investments in real time in order to recommend adjustments according to clients' needs, life events and changing market conditions. He communicates with clients under any and all circumstances as he strongly believes that constant communication is vital to the relationship.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 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 visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 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 visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences.
Location
300 Granite Run Dr
Ste 300
Lancaster, PA 17601
US
Direct:
(717) 519-3224(717) 519-3224
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
A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup
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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
Rational Investing in an Age of Uncertainty
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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
529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education
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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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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
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Stephen Kepchar Jr. today.
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2When 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.
3Morgan 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.
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.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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 | Morgan Stanley
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2When 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.
3Morgan 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.
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.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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 | Morgan Stanley
CRC 4665150 (8/2025)
