Sara Houpis
Client Service Associate
Phone:
(425) 202-9966(425) 202-9966
Tara Kinsella
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management,
Financial Advisor,
Financial Planning Specialist
Direct:
(425) 202-0634(425) 202-0634
My Mission Statement
Specialized guidance for dealer principals — integrated with long term family wealth planning
Coordinated planning across business and family wealth — with clarity, governance and long-term alignment.
Auto dealer principals often face financial decisions that extend beyond traditional wealth management — especially when dealer-owned warranty company (DOWC) structures and reinsurance-related strategies are involved. These strategies can influence dealership economics, risk exposures, liquidity and long-term family outcomes.
I work with dealer principals and dealer families to bring structure and clarity to complex decisions. My approach emphasizes disciplined evaluation, careful coordination with tax and legal professionals, and ongoing oversight designed to support long-term alignment between dealership strategy and personal wealth planning.
About Tara Kinsella
I'm a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor and Financial Planning Specialist at Morgan Stanley. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in economics, I have more than 12 years of experience in financial services — all with Morgan Stanley. I'm known for my disciplined planning approach and my ability to integrate complex dealership strategies into coordinated wealth plans for dealer families.
If you are evaluating a DOWC structure, reviewing a reinsurance strategy, or planning for the long-term needs of your family, I welcome the opportunity to connect.
I work with:
- Auto dealer principals and their families
- Multi-generational dealer families
- Dealership owners navigating complex structures and planning priorities
- Clients who value disciplined evaluation, governance and long-term oversight
Securities Agent: AZ, AK, TX, NY, NV, NJ, MO, ME, GA, CT, OR, VA, MN, IN, WI, UT, PA, OH, NH, NC, IL, AL, SD, NM, LA, HI, KY, WY, MS, MA, FL, CO, CA, TN, SC, PR, ND, MD, MT, DC, WA, RI, MI, ID, IA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1347374
NMLS#: 1347374
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Dealer-Owned Warranty Company planning requires more than structure — it requires governance.
A dealer-owned warranty company (DOWC) can be an important strategic component for auto dealer principals. It may affect dealership economics, retained earnings strategy and long-term planning decisions. But a DOWC strategy should not be viewed as a one-time setup. Over time, success often depends on structure, governance, clear reporting, and disciplined oversight.
I help dealer principals assess DOWC strategies within a broader decision framework — integrating business realities, risk exposures and long-term family objectives. My role is not simply to discuss concepts, but to provide a structured evaluation process and to coordinate with the dealership's other professional advisors.
Dealer principals often benefit from a planning approach that emphasizes:
- Clarity around objectives and decision-making
- Governance and documentation
- Reporting cadence and oversight controls
- Long-term alignment with liquidity and wealth planning priorities
My review approach may include:
- Program structure and strategic fit for the dealership today
- Operational, financial and regulatory considerations over time
- Claims dynamics and reserve considerations
- Cost structure, administrative framework and performance drivers
- Liquidity implications (distributions, retained earnings, long-term planning)
- Governance practices (documentation, reporting cadence, controls and continuity)
- Integration with retirement, wealth transfer and estate planning objectives
When DOWC planning is integrated with personal wealth strategy, clients often gain:
- Improved clarity in decision-making
- Stronger alignment between business strategy and family priorities
- Enhanced coordination across CPAs, attorneys and program partners
- A more durable long-term planning framework
Reinsurance-related strategies can introduce meaningful complexity — and should be evaluated as part of an integrated long-term plan.
In the dealer context, reinsurance strategies can involve multiple partners, administrative frameworks and long-term economic considerations. For dealer principals, these structures can influence liquidity, risk exposure and broader balance sheet strategy — and can intersect with long-term family wealth planning decisions.
Because the outcomes depend on more than the initial structure, I emphasize disciplined evaluation, careful coordination, and ongoing oversight. My goal is to help clients apply a clear decision framework: understand how the strategy works, what risks may emerge, what governance is in place, and whether the program remains aligned with long-term objectives.
My structured review may include:
- Program structure and partner framework
- Program mechanics and economic drivers
- Administrative model and cost considerations
- Reporting cadence, controls and governance practices
- Risk exposures that may develop over time
- Reserve considerations and claims performance drivers
- Liquidity impact and broader balance sheet implications
- Integration with retirement, cash management and wealth transfer planning
For dealer principals, reinsurance strategies rarely exist in a vacuum. I coordinate closely with clients’ CPAs and legal advisors to help ensure planning decisions are aligned across:
- Dealership strategy and economic priorities
- Personal wealth and retirement planning
- Liquidity planning and long-term family goals
DOWC and reinsurance planning often starts the conversation — comprehensive wealth planning sustains the outcome.
While many client relationships begin with DOWC and reinsurance strategy evaluation, Tara's broader focus is comprehensive wealth planning for dealer families. Her approach emphasizes integration: connecting dealership decisions to long-term family wealth priorities through a coordinated planning framework.
Dealer principals often build significant wealth — but that wealth is rarely simple. It may involve multiple business entities, retained earnings strategy, real estate holdings, liquidity events and multi-generational planning considerations. In this environment, long-term success is often determined by structure, disciplined oversight and ongoing alignment.
I support clients with:
- Investment management and long-term portfolio strategy
- Retirement planning and cash flow design
- Liquidity planning aligned to business and family milestones
- Lending solutions
- Estate planning coordination and wealth transfer strategy
- Family governance considerations
- Insurance planning coordination and risk management
- Philanthropic planning aligned to long-term priorities
- Business transition and succession planning support
A coordinated wealth plan can help dealer principals:
- Improve clarity in decision-making
- Manage complexity across business and personal structures
- Reduce gaps between advisory "silos"
- Maintain alignment as business conditions and family priorities evolve
A structured planning process designed for complex dealer strategies
My approach is built around a structured planning process. The goal is to help dealer principals evaluate complex decisions with clarity, coordinate effectively with professional advisors, and maintain alignment over time as conditions change.
This process is designed to support disciplined decision-making — not one-time recommendations.
Step 1: Discovery — Program and objectives
The process begins with discovery: clarifying priorities and establishing a decision framework.
Focus areas may include:
- Dealership objectives and risk priorities
- Existing warranty / reinsurance structures
- Key stakeholders and decision-making roles
- Current planning considerations and longer-term goals
- Family wealth priorities and long-term intentions
Step 2: Evaluation — Mechanics, economics and risk
Next, I evaluate how the strategy functions over time — and what matters most to outcomes.
The evaluation may include:
- Program economics and performance drivers
- Administrative framework and partner roles
- Claims dynamics and reserve considerations
- Reporting cadence and oversight controls
- Risk exposures that may emerge over time
- Liquidity impact and balance sheet implications<
Step 3: Strategy design — Alignment and coordination
I coordinate with your CPA and legal advisors to evaluate options and design an integrated planning approach — with clear priorities, documentation and alignment across business and family objectives.
Step 4: Oversight — Monitor and adapt
Complex strategies should be actively managed over time. I establish an ongoing review cadence designed to keep strategies aligned as:
- Business conditions shift
- Regulations evolve
- Family needs and long-term goals change
- Liquidity priorities develop
Location
4000 Carillon Point
Ste 600
Kirkland, WA 98033
US
Direct:
(425) 202-0634(425) 202-0634
Fax:
(425) 453-5802(425) 453-5802
Meet My Team
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
Bill Grey
Private Banker
About Bill Grey
Bill Grey is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in Washington.
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.
Bill began his career in financial services over 30 years ago and joined Morgan Stanley in 2024 as a Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Custom Credit Executive at the Merrill Lynch. Bill also served as a Wealth Management Banker at Merrill Lynch.
Bill is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School. He enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid fisherman.
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.
Bill began his career in financial services over 30 years ago and joined Morgan Stanley in 2024 as a Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Custom Credit Executive at the Merrill Lynch. Bill also served as a Wealth Management Banker at Merrill Lynch.
Bill is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School. He enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid fisherman.
NMLS#: 652692
Private Banking Group (PBG) Market Managers, Senior Private Bankers, Private Bankers, and Associate Private Bankers are employees of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association.
Banking products and services are offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.
Morgan 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
Banking products and services are offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.
Morgan 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
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
Financial Wellness
Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
- Reduce employee stress,
- Improve retention and engagement, and
- Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Tara Kinsella today.
1Morgan 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.
2Morgan 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
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’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.
6Morgan 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.
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
2Morgan 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
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’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.
6Morgan 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.
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), 4763067 (9/2025)
