Team Freiman at Morgan Stanley

Michael brings a lifetime of experience to his role as Managing Director, Family Wealth Director and a founding partner of Team Freiman. He is responsible for shaping the team’s strategic vision, while managing investment portfolios and providing financial planning services to his many clients. His goals-based process, which includes a commitment to ongoing education and outstanding service, has earned him industry recognition. In 2005, he received the “Outstanding Broker Award” by Registered Representative magazine and over the years, he has been regularly included on Barron’s annual list of “Top Financial Advisors.” Michael has also been named a ‘Best-in-State Advisor” on the Forbes/Shook Research Listing every year since it began in 2019.

Michael began his career in financial services in 1980 with Legg Mason in the Washington D.C. office he still occupies today. He became part of the Morgan Stanley family in 2009 due to a series of mergers and acquisitions. While at Legg Mason, he served on the Investment Committee for the firm’s Profit Sharing/401(k) Plan for five years. Michael is proud to be a vital member of Morgan Stanley’s history and its predecessor brands for more than 40 years. This rare tenure has enabled him to build longstanding relationships with the firm’s senior leaders, providing his clients and colleagues with immediate access to the full scope of Morgan Stanley’s intellect and global resources.

Throughout his career, Michael has remained committed to professional development, earning his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP^®) designation in 1984 and his Certified Investment Management Analyst^® (CIMA^®) certification in 1999. Six years later, Michael was named a Senior Investment Management Consultant, a firm designation attained through the study and adherence to the highest level of professionalism in developing, evaluating and managing client investments. Most recently, he was named Family Wealth Director, a credential achieved by fewer than four percent of Morgan Stanley’s advisors. It provides Michael with access to an extensive range of resources needed to help families manage the complex, multigenerational challenges of significant wealth. Michael is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.S. degree in Business and Marketing.

Michael is a member of the Financial Planning Association and the Investments and Wealth Institute. He and his wife, Ann, divide their time between their homes in Rockville, Maryland and Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Mike is an avid Maryland Terrapins Fan and is a Past President of the University of Maryland Terrapin Club. His hobbies include golf, boating and fishing and he is a fan of the Washington area sports teams.

​2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors Source: Forbes.com (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

Adam has proudly been a partner on Team Freiman for over 25 years. As a Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Director, and Senior Investment Management Consultant, Adam helps families and institutions develop their definition of success and provides them with a broad array of solutions to achieve it.

Adam earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from The American University in Washington D.C., during which time he interned for Team Freiman. He fully joined the team in 1995, where has remained committed to advanced learning for himself and his clients. Adam earned his Certified Financial Planner credential in 2001 and was named a Senior Investment Management Consultant in 2007 and a Family Wealth Director in 2017 by Morgan Stanley. In 2018, he received the “Sandy Smith Award” from the Association of Professional Investment Consultants for his dedicated service.

At Team Freiman, Adam is responsible for designing and implementing client strategies that integrate comprehensive financial plans with the full range of financial solutions available at Morgan Stanley. This includes guiding multi-generational families on philanthropic goals, legacy planning, strategic gifting, and business ownership strategies; assisting corporate executives on managing concentrated stock positions and deferred compensation plans; and supporting institutions with investment policy design, asset allocation and investment selection.

Adam’s desire to help others achieve their personal and professional goals is equaled only by his dedication to his community and his family. Adam is a past president of the Association of Professional Investment Consultants (APIC), and currently serves on the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Morgan Stanley Mid-Atlantic Diversity and Inclusion Council. He has served on the Finance Committee for the Children’s Inn at NIH, is a past president of the Amity Club of Washington, and former treasurer to the Farrcroft Homeowners Association.

Adam currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife, Yhomara. They have three daughters, Shoshana, Elana and Leah. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, boxing, and cooking.

Grant is a Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP^®), Financial Advisor, and Insurance Planning Director at Team Freiman. He has been providing financial advice to clients in the Washington, D.C., area and around the country for nearly 30 years. Grant is committed to helping clients successfully navigate today’s fast-paced and complex financial markets. His areas of focus include individual stock research and selection, individual municipal bond acquisition, insurance strategies and implementation, and interacting with the firm’s alternative investment professionals to identify appropriate investment solutions for clients.

Born in Newport, RI, Grant grew up mostly in Northern Virginia. His father was a career Naval Officer, instilling a great appreciation for all those who choose to serve and protect our country. While earning his B.B.A. degree from James Madison University, Grant was recruited into the financial services industry and quickly became fascinated with the capital markets. At the age of 23, Grant joined Mike Freiman, and soon Team Freiman was born. In 2023, he will celebrate 30 years with the team.

Over the years, Grant has continued to expand his knowledge base and share his experience with others. In 2017, Grant was asked by Morgan Stanley to join the firm’s Insurance and Annuity Council to shape the firm’s processes and procedures around these often-complicated strategies. Grant also earned Morgan Stanley’s sought-after Insurance Planning Director credential in 2019.

Grant now calls North Arlington his home, where he lives with his wife, Emma, and their two daughters, Brinkley and Reagan. A golf enthusiast, Grant loves the game and the challenges it represents. He is a member of the Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, where he can be found most weekends. He is also a wine hobbyist, with a passion for Pinot Noirs from Oregon. He loves the complexity and nuances that these wines offer and has traveled to Oregon many times with industry experts and wine makers.

Sue Stanaway is a Senior Vice President, Senior Investment Management Consultant, and Financial Advisor with Team Freiman. Team Freiman’s holistic approach to financial planning, and the generational continuity of the Team’s financial advisors, were central to Sue joining Team Freiman in 2016 after decades in single advisory practice. Sue specializes in investment management, with an emphasis in taxable and fixed income, and works collaboratively with the financial planners and partners on the Team to truly customize the client advisory experience. Sue is a member of the Association of Professional Investment Consultants and brings over thirty years of experience in the financial services industry.

Sue began her financial services career with Dean Witter Reynolds in 1988, where she received national corporate recognition for her work with women investors, joined Smith Barney in 2000, and then Morgan Stanley through the merger of the two firms in 2009. Sue is a Stanford University alumna and holds a B.M. and B.M.E., magna cum laude, from the University of Montana. She is a Board Member Emeritus at the University of Montana College of Arts and Media, a member of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group in Washington D.C., a member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and a Circles Member of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She was featured in a Montana Preservation Society book of outstanding Montana women, is a past board member of the Yellowstone Art Museum, recipient of an “Outstanding Mom” award from the Girl Scouts of America, and has served as a State Judge for the Miss America Organization. A native Montanan, Sue is an avid downhill and cross-country skier. Sue is passionate about her work, her family, her Morgan Stanley family, mentoring, and the Arts. She is excited to be living in D.C. and to be working with Team Freiman!

Growing up in Raleigh, N.C., Ward saw first-hand the power of financial planning and how the lack of smart investment practices can bankrupt a family’s savings. This experience inspired him to pursue a career where he could help others avoid the pitfalls of poor planning. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and his Masters from Wake Forest University, Ward began his career at Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Advisory Associate. In this role, he focused on helping advisors across the Washington D.C. area develop comprehensive financial plans for their clients. One of the teams he worked with regularly was Team Freiman. After two years as a Wealth Advisory Associate, Ward was invited to join the team as a Financial Advisor.

Ward is a Vice President, Chartered Retirement Plan CounselorSM (CRPC^®), and Financial Advisor at Team Freiman. He enjoys helping clients with virtually every aspect of their financial lives – from purchasing a new home and putting children through college to preparing for retirement and leaving a lasting legacy. Ward believes successful people all share a common bond: They encounter important life events that require timely guidance to help them make the right financial decisions for themselves, their careers and their families. Through a comprehensive financial plan, he helps them achieve their goals while managing risk.

Today, Ward’s primary responsibilities continue to focus on financial planning. He helps each client develop and implement their plans, while routinely checking in on their progress towards each goal. Ward receives great satisfaction knowing he is helping make a significant impact on the quality of his clients' lives, and often becomes one of their most trusted confidants.

Ward still lives in his hometown, now with his wife, Miller, whom he married in 2021. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in late May of 2023, and a son in July of 2024. Outside of the office, he enjoys a wide range of activities – from boating and fishing in the summer to snow skiing in the winter, and golf and pickleball all year long.

Ward is proud to have been named to Forbes' 2023 and 2024 lists of Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State.

2023 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Aug 2023 and Aug 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/22–3/31/24.
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure/

Bob has been providing financial advice, investment solutions, and wealth management services to successful individuals, multi-generational families, and business owners since 1968. He has extensive knowledge and training in portfolio management, enabling him to create highly customized financial plans for his clients. Bob loves solving problems for others and helping clients achieve their financial goals. His core strengths include asset management, stock selection, and managing the team’s Growth and Income Portfolio.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Bob earned his undergraduate degree from Pittsburgh University in Business Administration and his M.B.A. in Financial Management from American University. His career in financial services began in 1968 at Legg Mason where he worked for many years before joining Team Freiman at Morgan Stanley in 2009.

Bob and his wife, Aileen, now live in Charleston, SC. Their daughter, Kimi, graduated from the University of Richmond. She and her mother enjoy tennis, among other hobbies, while Bob is more partial to the golf course.

An experienced Financial Advisor at Team Freiman, Steven is dedicated to serving the multi-dimensional needs of successful professionals, business leaders and multi-generational families. He enjoys educating clients on how to create and implement an effective financial plan and helping them making more informed and confident decisions about their wealth. Steven’s commitment has earned him firm recognition. He was named to Morgan Stanley’s Pacesetter’s Club, an award that honors top young advisors at the firm, in 2021 and 2022.
Steven learned first-hand the joys of being a Financial Advisor from his father, Michael Freiman, who has built one of the most successful practices at Morgan Stanley. With Michael as his inspiration, Steven pursued a career that combined his academic skills with his desire to help others. While earning degrees in Finance and Accounting at the University of Maryland, Steven interned with his father’s practice and with two different Maryland-based accounting firms during summers and school breaks. Upon graduation, he joined PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Certified Public Accountant where he worked for four years, and while the work was rewarding, he missed the one-on-one interaction with clients.

In 2015, Steven returned to Team Freiman first as a Client Service Associate, then as Group Director and now as Financial Advisor. Today, he loves seeing his life come full circle, working alongside his father and the entire team. He is proud to be part of a unique advisory team that brings together a broad spectrum of special skills to help ensure a client’s needs and goals are fully addressed.

A strong believer in paying it forward, Steven is very active in giving back. He volunteers with the Phi Epsilon of Zeta Psi Alumni Board, is a member of the Board of Directors for the Grateful Herb Scholarship Fund, and previously served on the University of Maryland’s Terrapin Club New Generation Committee. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Investment Consultants (APIC).

Steven now calls Falls Church, VA his home where he lives with his wife, Alexandra, their baby, Madison, and their three-year old retriever named Hudson. When he is away from the office, he enjoys hiking, golfing, and cooking.

Adam joined Team Freiman as a Client Service Associate in 2014 after interning with the team for three years. In his role, he is responsible for many investment activities to improve client portfolios and deliver a superior client experience, including performing manager analysis and research.

Adam graduated with a B.S. in Finance from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in 2014. Adam maintains both his Series 7 and Series 66 licenses required for registration, and most recently completed the coursework and examination through the Wharton School of Business to become a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA^®). The CIMA^® certification represents a deep understanding of technical portfolio construction and investment analysis.

Originally from Rockville, Maryland, Adam currently resides in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, traveling, and snowboarding.

With more than 20 years of industry experience, Rob is dedicated to the continued growth and success of Team Freiman and the broad array of clients they proudly serve.

As Group Director for the team, he is responsible for helping implement the team’s strategic vision. Rob combines his extensive operational knowledge with his excellent relationship management skills to identify service solutions that deepen client relationships and help ensure a premium client experience.

Born and raised in Warrenton, V.A., Rob joined the Morgan Stanley family in 2002 as a Senior Registered Associate. This led to new and broader opportunities and in 2014, he joined Team Freiman to oversee the administrative and operational aspects of the team’s growing practice. Rob maintains his FINRA Series 7, 63 and 66 licenses. He enjoys solving problems for both clients and colleagues and works diligently to make what seems like a hard and complicated request to be both simple and painless.

Rob now calls Alexandria his home, where he lives with his wife, Molly, and their two dogs, Winston and Oliver. An avid outdoorsman, Rob loves to motorcycle, snowboard, and travel.

Drawing on more than 29 years of financial services experience, Sheila is often the first line of contact on a wide range of client services. A consummate professional, she is committed to providing each client with a high level level of personal service, integrity, and attention to detail. Sheila has been an important member of Team Freiman since joining the team in 1999.

From the largest task to the smallest request, Sheila works diligently to exceed client expectations. She manages various cash management and charitable giving activities, including the set-up and oversight of all client Gift Donor Advised Funds. Sheila also plans and coordinates client meetings and is available to train clients on how to use Morgan Stanley Online effectively.

Originally from southern Maryland, Sheila now lives in Manassas, VA with her husband, Derrick. She has two sons, Kyle and Dylan, and a beautiful granddaughter. Her favorite leisure activities include watching her son play baseball, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

As a Senior Client Service Associate, Karen provides a wide range of services to the clients of Team Freiman. Her main responsibilities include operational and account support, distributions and cash transfers, and various research-related activities.

Karen has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Team Freiman in 2000, she worked at Legg Mason as a cashier where she initially learned the basics of client account operations. Team Freiman clients know they can rely on Karen to handle any operational request they have.

Karen lives in Waldorf, M.D. and has three sons, Anthony, Austin and Aiden, and a pet yorkie named Prince. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising at the gym, and watching Sci-Fi movies.

Josh is a Portfolio Associate at Team Freiman, a highly skilled wealth management practice located in our nation’s capital. He was first introduced to the world of finance when his university – the University of Maryland -- matched him with Team Freiman through the school’s “Intern for a Day” program. It took only a moment to realize that clients would quickly come to love Josh’s radiant personality and work ethic. Josh worked as an intern until he graduated in 2017, at which point he became a full-time member of the team.

Josh has completed both his Series 7 and Series 66 licensing exams to become a Portfolio Associate, and in this capacity, he assists with portfolio reviews, investment analytics, insurance and annuity research, custom reporting, and trading. Josh is also adept in the whole suite of Morgan Stanley technology offerings and various other digital tools. He enjoys helping clients understand how to use the tools effectively to monitor, access, and safeguard their investments.

Originally from Panama, Josh is a self-proclaimed Army brat, living in many places across the country. Today he resides in downtown Washington, D.C. Outside of the office, he enjoys many activities including playing the guitar, running, lifting weights, and cheering on the Washington Wizards.

With more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Tim is a Wealth Management Associate with Team Freiman. He is responsible for a wide range of operational activities for the group, including new account set up, managed account trade execution, fund transfers, and more.

Tim joined the Morgan Stanley family in 1993 and has been an important member of Team Freiman since 2014. He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a B.S. degree in Business Computer Information Systems. He maintains his Series 7 and 66 licenses.

Born and raised in Pontiac, M.I., Tim currently lives in Winchester, V.A. with his daughter, Bristol. He enjoys golfing, baseball, and is an avid Detroit sports fan.

Mekdes Hailemichael is a Client Services Associate with 5 years of work experience. Mekdes comes from a Relationship Banker position at Wells Fargo along with previous retail banking experience. She also has some experience at a nonprofit organization where she was involved in planning summits held at the UN, EU, Microsoft Reactor etc. Mekdes enjoys cooking and spending time with her family in her free time.

Lauren Grant joined Morgan Stanley in 2017, and is currently serving as a Senior Registered Service Associate and holds both the Series 7 and Series 66 registrations. Lauren’s career in the financial industry began as a bank teller working for both Bank of America and M&T bank where she gained valuable banking and customer service experience. With her knowledge gained since joining Morning Stanley, Lauren is able to assist clients quickly and confidently, and is proud of the relationships, trust, and sense of security she has built throughout her years of service. She looks forward to her transition from Operations to a Senior Registered Client Service Associate, and continuing to focus on providing a high level of service for clients.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys traveling, and spending time with her husband and three children.