My Story and Services

Steven began his career as a Financial Advisor on his 23rd birthday back in 1996. His desire to be an advisor was a way for Steven to combine his love of helping people, working with numbers, and finance. With over 28 years of industry experience Steven has amassed a foundation of knowledge in wealth management, real-world industry experience and client relationships. Steven is passionate about helping clients take otherwise complex situations and providing them with simple to understand solutions. His unique approach is rooted in his belief that high quality, well diversified portfolios - despite being unpredictable in the short term - perform well over the long run. Critical to his practice is the ability to design strategies that allow clients to balance both their short term as well as long term needs in order to achieve their overall financial goals. Steven’s client-based approach is centered on getting to know his clients, listening to their wants and needs, and designing a strategy to achieve their long-term goals. Steven believes his relationships with his clients are the basis for financial success and continued generational wealth. He looks forward to deepening the relationships he already has as well as developing new client relationships well into the future.

Steven graduated from Radford University located in beautiful Southwest Virginia with a degree in Business Management.

Steven is extremely active in the community and has served as a coach for the West Florida Waves Volleyball club as well as Gulf Breeze High School for the past ten years. Outside of work and volleyball Steven enjoys spending his time rooting for the Auburn Tigers, hiking the Appalachian Trail or relaxing on Lake Martin. Steven resides in Gulf Breeze, FL with his wife Dawn and their two dogs. They have two grown daughters.
Services Include
Securities Agent: FL, DE, NE, CA, WA, VA, NC, LA, AZ, SC, NY, MS, CO, TX, GA, OH, MD, MO, AL, TN, NM, KS; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Understand Your Unique Goals

As the financial landscape becomes increasingly complex, it is more important than ever to have an established plan. Our process ensures that we have a unique understanding of your financial goals and objectives – so that we can create a plan to put you on track towards the financial future you envision.

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    Discover

    We begin with a conversation to gain a thorough understanding of your financial situation, investments, lifestyle and family – and determine your financial goals.

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    Advise

    Together we develop portfolio strategies that will help you achieve your financial goals and protect the outcomes you envision.

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    Implement

    We look across multiple accounts and products to help you implement strategies and solutions that are an appropriate fit for you and your goals.

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    Track Progress

    We guide you in tracking your progress towards your goals, as well as your ongoing spending and savings.

Creating a Plan to Reach Your Goals

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As a Financial Advisor – I am available to help guide my clients through all aspects of their financial lives, not only their investments. It is my goal to serve as a financial sounding board for each client as they make their way through personal financial situations.

Each day, clients come to me with questions looking for guidance in many different areas. Below are some of the questions I am able to answer each day:

• How can I ensure I will have enough income when I reach retirement?
• Is my portfolio currently prepared for the retirement lifestyle I envision?
• What can I do to consider the transfer of wealth to future generations?
• I'd like to purchase a second home. Am I prepared financially to do that?
• How can I prepare to give a meaningful gift to charity?

Finding a Solution Unique to Your Needs

At Morgan Stanley, we have a vast array of solutions available to our clients – but we ensure our approach is tailored to each client's specific needs. We partner with you to deliver personalized solutions that are in line with your financial goals.

    Total Tax 365 (icon) - DO NOT EDIT CONTENT - MUST USE AS IS - RT
    Total Tax 365

    Taxes can be a substantial drag on investment returns. Morgan Stanley Total Tax 365 offers access to a broad range of tax-efficient strategies to help you integrate tax planning into your investment process all year long, maximize portfolio after-tax return potential and help keep more of what you earn.

    Learn More
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    Insured Solutions

    As a leader in the distribution of insurance and annuities, our offerings include disability, long-term care and property and casualty insurance, as well as fixed, indexed and variable annuities. Morgan Stanley offers these products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

    Morgan Stanley Insured Solutions
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    Investment Advisory

    Manage your investments within a holistic advisory relationship and take advantage of integrated tax, risk management and estate planning benefits across your entire wealth strategy—backed by leading insights and one of the financial industry's most comprehensive, multi-award-winning advisory platforms.

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    Portfolio Risk Platform

    Our Portfolio Risk Platform, backed by institutional-caliber analytics, assesses thousands of risk factors using a holdings-based approach to assess a portfolio's exposures, analyze how securities behave together across portfolios and forecast how they influence risk and return moving forward.

    Portfolio Risk Platform

Investor Resources and Readings

Staying updated with relevant information is paramount. A collection of resources and readings, as well as a suite of Morgan Stanley digital tools can be found below.

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    The GIC Weekly

    The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.

    The GIC Weekly Research Report
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    GIC On the Markets

    Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.

    Read the Latest Report
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    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
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    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 you own online security.

    Visit our Security Center
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    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
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    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 Today

Location

850 S Palafox St.
Ste 200
Pensacola, FL 32502
US
Direct:
(850) 470-8247(850) 470-8247

Meet My Team

About Beth Navarrete

Beth is a Senior Registered Client Service Associate who began her career in the financial services industry in 2006. She brings with her over 18 years of industry experience with 16 of them working directly with Steven Clay. She provides a wealth of knowledge and expertise to both her clients and her team. Her focus is on developing and maintaining client relationships while overseeing the administrative and operational needs of clients. She strives on providing an exceptional client experience and fulfilling the needs of her clients and team.

Beth is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College where she received a degree in Biology and Psychology. In addition to her undergraduate degree, Beth also received her MBA from the University of West Florida. She holds her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. Outside of work, Beth enjoys spending time with her husband Marco and their three children.

The Power of Partnerships

By partnering with experienced individuals across wealth disciplines, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors can align specialized resources with your custom needs and deliver strategic guidance through the familiarity and trust of existing relationships

About Bill Burnett

As Executive Director and Trust Specialist, Bill is responsible for helping Financial Advisors, clients, prospects and the legal community to understand and utilize Morgan Stanley’s Trust Services and its “open architecture” corporate trustee platform. He’s available to meet with clients, conduct conference calls, review trust documents and explain to estate planning attorneys the numerous fiduciary solutions our platform can provide. Bill covers the Southeast region and is based in West Palm Beach, FL.

Bill has over 25 years of experience as a comprehensive wealth advisor developing trust and investment management relationships with families, business owners, executives and institutions. Bill cultivated this experience at firms such as Northern Trust, BNY Mellon, The Private Bank at Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. He holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) professional designations. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal Communications and Public Address and earned his way through college on a soccer scholarship. He has lived in Florida since 1994.
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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A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup

Checking in on your retirement plan may make a lot of sense, especially when market volatility arises.

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
The Robots are Coming
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The Robots are Coming

Adam Jonas, Morgan Stanley?s Head of Global Autos and Shared Mobility Research, discusses the fast transition of artificial intelligence into the physical world in the form of humanoid robots.

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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529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education

Though education costs continue to climb, starting to save and invest early can make a difference.

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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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

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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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving�

There?s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here?s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Steven Clay today.
1Morgan 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

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2Morgan 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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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.

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4When 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.

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5Morgan 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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6Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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7Morgan 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.
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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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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)