Stephen Mihalek
Senior Vice President,
Financial Advisor
Direct:
(216) 360-4946(216) 360-4946
My Mission Statement
Helping business owners and successful individuals and families navigate the complexities of their financial needs.
My Story and Services
Stephen Mihalek is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley. Born from a humble background, he understands the journey to financial freedom firsthand. With a passion for the intricacies of the financial market, Stephen believes in proactive, tailored planning to build lasting wealth. He cultivates meaningful personal relationships with clients ensuring clear communication and mutual understanding to help them reach their financial goals and dreams. Stephen and his assistant, Lindsay Necci, have a team model approach where their clients have more than one point of contact to ask questions and receive help with their service needs.
Stephen's interest in the role of a financial advisor started in high school and developed as he learned about it further in college, developing a love for understanding the market and the broader field of economics. He enjoys the new relationships he builds through his work and helping people achieve their goals and dreams.
Stephen started in the Financial Services Industry in 2001 with Morgan Stanley. He made the transition to another financial institution in 2005 and eventually rejoined Morgan Stanley in 2024 to continue to develop his practice. Stephen attended Mount Union College where he studied Finance, Business Economics, and Computer Science. He currently maintains his Series 7, Series 31, Series 66, and Insurance licenses.
He resides with his wife, Melissa, and their twin children, who are avid swimmers, golfers, and soccer and tennis players, activities that embody their family's commitment to a well-rounded life. Outside of the office, Stephen is an avid golfer as well, but enjoys staying active in all sports.
Stephen's interest in the role of a financial advisor started in high school and developed as he learned about it further in college, developing a love for understanding the market and the broader field of economics. He enjoys the new relationships he builds through his work and helping people achieve their goals and dreams.
Stephen started in the Financial Services Industry in 2001 with Morgan Stanley. He made the transition to another financial institution in 2005 and eventually rejoined Morgan Stanley in 2024 to continue to develop his practice. Stephen attended Mount Union College where he studied Finance, Business Economics, and Computer Science. He currently maintains his Series 7, Series 31, Series 66, and Insurance licenses.
He resides with his wife, Melissa, and their twin children, who are avid swimmers, golfers, and soccer and tennis players, activities that embody their family's commitment to a well-rounded life. Outside of the office, Stephen is an avid golfer as well, but enjoys staying active in all sports.
Securities Agent: OH, NC, FL, TX, SC, MI, WI, PA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Approach
Discovery Process
Investing the time to learn about you and your family; your assets and liabilities and the risk exposures, enables us to formulate strategies and customize the relationship to your needs.
Formulation of Tax, Trust and Estate Strategy
Working with your tax and legal advisors, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
Creation of Customized Strategic Asset Allocation
Your customized asset allocation reflects risk, opportunities and taxation across multiple entities, while integrating your investing and estate plans.
Integration of Tactical Asset Allocation
Short-term adjustments seek to capitalize on temporary market distortions. Before making adjustments, we analyze the impact of taxes and trading costs on potential returns.
Implementation of a Customized Wealth Strategy
After comprehensive due diligence and analysis of expected results across multiple market scenarios, strategies are chosen from our expansive investment platform.
Ongoing Assessment
In coordination with your other advisors, we can conduct ongoing reviews and comprehensive reporting to ensure that your strategy adapts to changing financial and family needs.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
If you and your family had a discussion three years from today, what has to have happened in a personal, professional and financial sense for you to be happy with your progress over those three years?
Take a look at the steps below to get a better sense of the important factors that affect your retirement.
Take a look at the steps below to get a better sense of the important factors that affect your retirement.
Step 1: Assets
Your assets may include, 401(K), 403(b), 457 plans, lump sum pensions, real estate, investment accounts, bank accounts, stock options, stock purchase plans, and business assets.
Step 2: Liabilities
In general, I advise my clients to be debt free in retirement. Before you retire, it's important to examine all your liabilities.
Liabilities may include mortgages, lines of credit, student loans, vehicle loans, credit cards, and business loans.
Liabilities may include mortgages, lines of credit, student loans, vehicle loans, credit cards, and business loans.
Step 3: Income
In retirement, you'll likely need to generate enough income to maintain your current lifestyle. You may have multiple sources of fixed income including pension payments and Social Security. You may also have other sources of fixed income as well during retirement.
Your retirement income gap is the amount above your fixed income needed to live on. The additional amount will likely need to be generated by your investments. We can design a custom retirement income plan for you and your family.
Your retirement income gap is the amount above your fixed income needed to live on. The additional amount will likely need to be generated by your investments. We can design a custom retirement income plan for you and your family.
Step 4: Expenses
Knowing what your expenses will be in retirement is critical. During the accumulation years of your life, savings rates are the key to success. During retirement however, withdrawal rates matter the most.
Our technology can help you manage and track your expenses to help make sure your plan remains successful throughout retirement.
Our technology can help you manage and track your expenses to help make sure your plan remains successful throughout retirement.
Step 5: Risk Management
It's important to make sure your plan has the proper guardrails to keep you and your family on track.
Some of these guardrails include insurance planning. I recommend reviewing your term, whole life, or long-term care insurance needs prior to retirement.
Some of these guardrails include insurance planning. I recommend reviewing your term, whole life, or long-term care insurance needs prior to retirement.
Step 6: Estate Planning Strategies
As you approach retirement, it's important to make sure your estate planning strategy is aligned with your investment and financial plans.
You may consider hiring an estate attorney who can help design wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives.
You may consider hiring an estate attorney who can help design wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives.
Step 7: Assembling Your Team
Before and during retirement, it's important your personal tax advisor, personal estate planning attorney, and financial advisor communicate regularly and operate as a virtual team on your behalf. Your virtual team should meet with you and your family at least annually.
Step 8: Continued Monitoring
Approaching and during retirement, it's important to check up on your investment and financial plans to make sure they are on track.
Our technology can help track and manage your plans to help ensure they are successful throughout retirement.
Our technology can help track and manage your plans to help ensure they are successful throughout retirement.
DIGITAL TOOLS & RESOURCES
Our Morgan Stanley digital platforms offer an easy-to-use solution to your common wealth management needs. Take a look at our suite of tools and resources available below.
Morgan Stanley Online
Morgan Stanley Online allows you to seamlessly and securely manage your investments and everyday finances in one place.
Register for Morgan Stanley Online Today
Security Center
Learn about our latest security measures, how we are safeguarding your assets and personal information and find actionable insights and resources on important cybersecurity topics to enhance your own online security.
Visit our Security Center
Digital Vault
Digital Vault lets you easily and securely manage and share important documents such as account statements, authorizations, tax filings and other relevant documents with your Financial Advisor.
Get Started Today
eDelivery
Sign up for eDelivery today and start receiving email notifications as soon as your account documents are available on Morgan Stanley Online or the Morgan Stanley Mobile App. It's quick, convenient & secure.
Enroll TodayBusiness Transition
For many business owners, the eventual sale of their business is an integral part of their financial planning. Though it may seem obvious that leaving enough time to plan and having an adequate plan in place are two key factors in determining transition success, only 27% of business owners say they have a robust business succession plan. As with the rest of your finances, it is important to construct a roadmap for your business and ensure that it is aligned with your personal aspirations.
Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321005177/en/New-Survey-Explores-State-of-U.S.-Family-Owned-Businesses
Investment Strategy
After the sale of your business, your finances will likely carry a different look. You may have more cash at your disposal to invest and your continued exposure to your business may lead to future payments. Depending on your equity in the business, it may be worth considering ways to mitigate concentration risk. We can discuss diversification, strategic selling, and gifting.
Risk Management
Through this process, it's important to consider how to protect your wealth. Part of the equation may include tailoring your insurance coverage to better reflect your new circumstances. The ownership structure of your assets, using trusts, and using a strategic insurance program could be beneficial in your overall financial plan.
Estate Planning
Planning for what happens when after you're gone is key to protecting your legacy. After transition, consider creating or updating your estate plan. We can discuss durable financial powers of attorney, a trusted person who can act on your behalf to ensure financial matters are taken care of, a last will to help articulate your wishes, and a trust to help you further describe how you would like your wealth to be handled.
Client Service Team
Lindsay Necci - Client Service Associate
Phone:
(216) 360-4934(216) 360-4934
Email:Lindsay.Necci@morganstanley.com
Lindsay Necci is a Client Service Associate working with Stephen Mihalek at Morgan Stanley. Together, Stephen and Lindsay maintain a team model approach to servicing their clients. Passionate about establishing new relationships with clients and helping them to gain confidence and peace of mind with their financial picture and well-being, she acts as the primary point of contact for client questions, concerns, scheduling, and account service needs:
"To me, it's more than just reviewing a client's portfolio and making sure they're in line with their goals and meeting income needs. It's to know them like they are family and watching them walk away from a meeting smiling and at ease, knowing they are important and being taken care of."
Lindsay graduated from Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace College, receiving her Bachelor's degree from BW, and began her career in Financial Services in 2008 when she worked in Collections at a major national bank and later moved into a relationship banker role. Through her roles, she had a chance to learn about how clients were managing their money and if they would see retirement, conversations that deepened her passion to continue into investments where she could be a part of that piece of her clients' relationships. Lindsay joined Morgan Stanley in 2024 where she continues her work with Stephen Mihalek. She holds her Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 licenses as well as her Accident & Health, Life, and Variable Annuity Insurance Licenses.
Outside of the office, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her family and attending her kids' sporting and school events. In addition, she continues to stay active through running and yoga.
"To me, it's more than just reviewing a client's portfolio and making sure they're in line with their goals and meeting income needs. It's to know them like they are family and watching them walk away from a meeting smiling and at ease, knowing they are important and being taken care of."
Lindsay graduated from Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace College, receiving her Bachelor's degree from BW, and began her career in Financial Services in 2008 when she worked in Collections at a major national bank and later moved into a relationship banker role. Through her roles, she had a chance to learn about how clients were managing their money and if they would see retirement, conversations that deepened her passion to continue into investments where she could be a part of that piece of her clients' relationships. Lindsay joined Morgan Stanley in 2024 where she continues her work with Stephen Mihalek. She holds her Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 licenses as well as her Accident & Health, Life, and Variable Annuity Insurance Licenses.
Outside of the office, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her family and attending her kids' sporting and school events. In addition, she continues to stay active through running and yoga.
Location
31099 Chagrin Blvd., 3rd
Fl
Pepper Pike, OH 44124
US
Direct:
(216) 360-4946(216) 360-4946
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
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
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
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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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
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving
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Ready to start a conversation? Contact Stephen Mihalek today.
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
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 Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or 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 legal matters.
5Morgan 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.
6Morgan 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.
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 Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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
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 Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or 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 legal matters.
5Morgan 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.
6Morgan 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.
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 Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)
