

Stuart Margulis

My Mission Statement
My Story & Services
My Story
Achieving financial success isn't easy. You've worked hard to build a meaningful life for yourself and your family. I believe that protecting your principal and your financial future are critical next steps, and they require careful planning. That's where I come in. I provide comprehensive wealth management, so that you're free to focus on what makes your life meaningful: your passions, your goals, and your family.
I believe in a disciplined and organized approach to wealth management. I am thorough, methodical, and I constantly evaluate your progress against your predetermined goals. I believe it is critical to grow wealth within a strict margin of safety, and still maintain the purchasing power of my clients' capital throughout their lifetimes.
I work hard, but I don't work alone. In helping to manage your financial affairs, I often work hand-in-hand with other trusted advisors; with your attorneys, agents, and CPAs, as needed. My aim is to help you meet your unique needs and aspirations. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with trusted professionals, as it helps create a coordinated, all-encompassing wealth guidance strategy.
With over 30 years of experience in the industry, I put my extensive knowledge and insight to work for you – whether you're running your own business, approaching retirement, or securing your family's legacy. Generations of families have trusted me with their wealth management. Why? Because I offer an unwavering commitment to concierge-level client care and a meticulous attention to detail. I follow up and I follow through – always. I take great pride in the professional quality of my work and believe deeply in personal accountability. With an uncompromising work ethic – I help build, preserve, and protect your wealth so that you can forget about the financial details and pursue a life well-lived.
- Financial PlanningFootnote1
- Retirement PlanningFootnote2
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote3
- Lending Products
- Wealth ManagementFootnote4
- Life InsuranceFootnote5
- Long Term Care InsuranceFootnote6
- Corporate Retirement PlansFootnote7
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote8
- Fixed IncomeFootnote9
- Municipal BondsFootnote10
- 401(k) Rollovers
NMLS#: 1395579
CA Insurance License #: 0N02649
My Valued Clients
I educate my clients on their investments so that they are confident in understanding what they own. I also educate their children and grandchildren – not only on the power of investing at a young age, but on the investment philosophy that was important to their parents or grandparents.
I take great pride in guiding multigenerational families through life’s financial challenges, while preserving their shared values and lasting family legacy. I am honored by the faith my clients place in me, and work to earn that trust every day.
- Minimize taxes
- Optimize investment performance
- Manage risk and provide family protection
- Finance a major aquisition
- Achieve long-term philanthropic goals
- Pass wealth to the next generation effectively
- Successful individuals and multiple generations of families
- Professionals in the healthcare, legal, technology and financial fields
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Women seeking guidance for themselves and their families
- Individuals faced with a major life event, such as a divorce, loss of a spouse or an inheritance
- Referrals from existing clients and industry professionals
Awards

Five Star Wealth Manager
Five Star Professional conducts research to help consumers with the important decision of selecting a service professional. The Five Star award is presented to wealth managers, real estate agents, mortgage professionals, home/auto insurance professionals and dentists in more than 45 markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Five Star award recognizes service professionals who provide quality services to their clients.
Source: fivestarprofessional.com (Awarded 2014-2025) These awards were determined through an evaluation process conducted by Five Star Professional, based on objective criteria, during the periods 2014-2025.
Years Awarded:
- 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2023 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2022 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2020 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2019 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2018 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2017 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2016 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2015 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
- 2014 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
Location
Meet My Team
About Stuart Margulis
A graduate of Ithaca College with a bachelor’s degree in finance, Stuart started his career at the boutique fixed income firm J.B. Hanauer in 1995. There, he specialized in municipal bonds for high net worth individuals. RBC Wealth Management eventually purchased the firm, and in 2011, Stuart joined Morgan Stanley so he could offer his clients more comprehensive wealth management.
Selected as a Five Star Wealth Manager every year from 2014 through 2025, Stuart’s focus is to help clients build a successful wealth management plan so that they are free to concentrate on their passions, their family, and their goals. He does this by creating a customized financial plan – a virtual road map that he monitors and adjusts as needed to keep his clients on track. Stuart believes in protecting and building client net worth carefully focusing on value, diversification, and risk mitigation. With an uncompromising work ethic and a meticulous attention to detail – he helps build, preserve, and protect clients' wealth so that they can forget about the financial details and pursue a life well-lived.
In his free time, Stuart is an avid tennis player, enjoys mountain biking, and playing the drums. Married and living in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, he loves playing with his two boys as often as he can.
2014-2025 Five Star Wealth Manager Award
Source: fivestarprofessional.com (Awarded 2014-2025) The award was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by Five-Star Professional based on objective criteria. The award was not based on a specific time period.
CA Insurance License #: 0N02649
About Vincent Todisco
Vincent is an avid music fan and attends frequent concerts. He has previously worked with the marketing teams of several record labels, and has been able to meet a number of musicians over the years. He is also a travel enthusiast with a goal of visiting all fifty states and as many countries as possible.
Hear from Our Clients
Testimonial(s) solicited by Morgan Stanley and provided by current client(s) at the time of publication. No compensation of any kind was provided in exchange for the client testimonial(s) presented. Client testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients and are not a guarantee of future performance or success.
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The Power of Partnerships
About Don Janevski
Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.
Don began his career in financial services in 2003 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2015 as an Associate Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Mortgage Loan Consultant and a Mortgage Product Specialist with Silver Financial Capital Group, as well as a Branch Manager with First Lenders Mortgage.
Don is a graduate of the Montclair State University, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management. He lives in Emerson, NJ with his family. Outside of the office, Don enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising and painting.
About Adam Guralnick
Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.
Adam began his career in financial services in 2002, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2021 as an Associate Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Wealth Management Banker at UBS. He also served as a UHNW Associate Private Banker at Citi Private Bank and a Merrill Lynch Banking Advisor.
Adam is a graduate of the University at Buffalo, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Informatics. He lives in Livingston, New Jersey with his family. Outside of the office, Adam enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time with his family.
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
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 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.
4Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
5Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
6Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
7When 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.
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.
9Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
10Municipal bonds may not be appropriate for all investors. Income generated from an investment in a municipal bond is generally exempt from federal income taxes. Some income may be subject to state and local taxes and to the federal alternative minimum tax. Capital gains, if any, are subject to tax.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) and its Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide any tax/legal advice. Consult your own tax/legal advisor before making any tax or legal-related investment decisions.
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Awards Disclosures