Our Story

The 2700 Group merges a combined 60 years of investment management experience with a combined 50 years of trust and planning experience. Our team members have been working together for nearly two decades with the goal of providing the executives, entrepreneurs, families and foundations we serve with skilled wealth stewardship that builds a feeling of confidence in their financial path. We take a holistic wealth management approach whose core is investment strategy but that encompasses virtually every economic aspect of life. Our team focuses on delivering warm, accommodating and highly dependable service. We take great pride in the complimentary response we’ve received from our long-standing client relationships. We would be honored for the opportunity to have them share their experiences directly with you.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

WORKPLACE FINANCIAL BENEFITS WITH MORGAN STANLEY AT WORK

Our mission is to help your company elevate your workplace financial benefits—helping you to attract and retain top talent. Our end-to-end solutions support your company and employees at any stage of growth through a powerful combination of modern technology, insightful guidance, and dedicated service.

    Equity Solutions

    Equity ownership is a powerful motivator. Streamline equity management through our leading-edge technology and provide global audit-ready reporting and insights, alongside customizable participant experiences to engage and educate your employees on how to make the most of their benefits. Our global solutions support private and public companies at any stage of growth.

    • Equity Administration and Financial Reporting
    • Liquidity Events
    • 409A Valuation Services and Cap Table Management

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    Retirement

    For your employees, retirement is more than a date in the future—it's a milestone that takes time, hard work, and the right tools. Through our consultative process, we strive to assist with the management of your fiduciary responsibilities and risk, simplify plan management, and help you improve retirement readiness for your employees.

    • Defined Contribution Consulting
    • Solutions-Oriented Plans
    • Fiduciary Investment Oversight

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    Deferred Compensation

    Access a range of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plan services or pick the ones that best fit your needs. We provide recordkeeping and plan design, portfolio construction services, and plan education for your executive talent. We help you determine the appropriate plan design and inform a funding strategy through a needs-based assessment and consultative approach.

    Services include:

    • Recordkeeping and Plan Design
    • Portfolio Construction
    • Wealth Management Services
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    Executive Services

    Our dedicated team provides concierge-level support for your executives' equity compensation plans, from 10b5-1 trading plans to form filing related to Rule 144 transactions, to access to wealth management and tax-optimization strategies, so helping them navigate their complex financial needs with greater confidence and certainty:

    • Equity Compensation Services
    • Equity Award Analysis
    • Specialized Solutions
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    Saving and Giving

    Saving and Giving benefits can make a real difference in your employees' lives as they can support the things that matter most to them—like saving for education and repaying student loans. Show that you are committed to your employees' priorities with leading-edge solutions that help them chart a path toward financial well-being.

    • College Savings
    • Student Loan Repayment and Refinancing
    • Charitable Giving
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    Financial Wellness

    We offer Financial Wellness with every solution we provide. Through a powerful combination of education, digital tools and guidance, Financial Wellness is designed to address the unique needs of your employees and empower their financial journey at every stage. Give your employees the confidence to take charge of their finances.

    • Financial Education
    • Digital Tools
    • Financial Guidance

    Learn more

Location

3280 Peachtree Road NE
Ste 2000
Atlanta, GA 30305
US
Direct:
(404) 949-4100(404) 949-4100

Meet The 2700 Group

About Don Demba

Don Demba is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for The 2700 Group within Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. In this role Don helps clients grow and preserve their wealth through tailored investment strategies, risk management and highly attentive service. Before joining Morgan Stanley Private Wealth, Don Demba served as a Senior Investment Advisor at Wilmington Trust for 14 years. Don has almost 30 years of investment management experience. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Don lives in Brookhaven with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, following sports, long walks, and spending time with family. Don has served on the investment committee of the Families First Endowment for seven years.
Securities Agent: MD, NY, MO, CA, KS, OK, NJ, ID, FL, CO, UT, SC, MT, DE, CT, WA, LA, HI, AL, WY, WV, TX, PA, KY, SD, OH, NV, MI, VA, NC, AZ, NM, MS, GA, TN, ME, MA, IL, DC, ND; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2602803

About Mike Morgan

Mike Morgan, CFP®, CEPA, is a Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for The 2700 Group within Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. Mike is responsible for providing comprehensive wealth management advice to high-net-worth individuals and families, entrepreneurs, business owners, foundations, and endowments throughout the United States. He works closely with clients and their advisors to develop financial strategies that help clients meet their current needs and plan for their long-term objectives. Mike ensures that clients receive the appropriate blend of services based on their unique needs, including custom lending, investment management, planning, philanthropic, trust, and family office services. Mike holds a degree in Accounting from Kennesaw State University and is a graduate of Cannon Trust School I and II. Mike is a Certified Financial Planner CFP® and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor CEPA. He lives in Cumming with his wife Linda, their daughter Adalyn, and their two sons Nick and Ryan.
Securities Agent: KS, DE, ME, TN, MO, LA, GA, CT, CO, WA, SC, ND, NC, MD, DC, AL, WY, VA, UT, HI, FL, NM, MS, MI, KY, IL, OK, NY, MA, ID, WV, OH, NJ, MT, TX, SD, PA, CA, AZ, NV; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2635681

About Jeffrey Diff Ritchie, MBA

Jeffrey “Diff” Ritchie is a Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for The 2700 Group within Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. In this role, Diff helps clients grow and preserve their wealth through tailored investment strategies, risk management and highly attentive service. Diff has extensive international investment experience having worked in New York, London, and Tokyo. While overseas, he worked on trading desks and worked with structured products before returning to the United States in 2000. He transitioned from Capital Markets over to private wealth management at that time. Since then, he has been serving as a senior portfolio manager for families and foundations. Diff works closely with the fiduciary and planning experts within The 2700 Group to develop a planning-based investment approach for his clients. Diff received his MBA with a concentration in investments from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Securities Agent: MA, TN, AL, TX, PA, MO, CT, CO, KS, NC, MT, VA, MS, FL, CA, WV, MD, LA, KY, ID, AZ, WY, SC, NJ, DE, UT, SD, OH, ND, MI, ME, HI, GA, NM, IL, DC, WA, OK, NY, NV; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2600682

About Karen Touchstone

Karen Touchstone is Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for The 2700 Group within Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. In that role, she is responsible for managing client relationships and providing trust and estate administration expertise. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Private Wealth , Karen served as a Senior Wealth Advisor at Wilmington Trust for over 14 years. Karen has been helping individuals and families navigate the complexities that come with wealth for over 25 years. She has a degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Cannon Trust School. Karen has been recognized as a member of the Firm’s 2025 Pacesetters Club, a global recognition program for Financial Advisors who have demonstrated the highest professional standards and first-class client service. Karen lives in Smyrna with her husband, Eric, along with their son and two dogs. Karen currently serves of the Board of Directors for the Estate Planning Council of North Georgia and TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation.
Securities Agent: HI, VA, NM, NJ, MO, MD, CA, KS, WA, TX, MI, MA, KY, IL, WV, ME, AL, WY, NY, CO, AZ, SC, MS, LA, UT, MT, FL, CT, OK, GA, TN, NV, ND, NC, DE, DC, SD, PA, OH, ID; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2612460

About Robert W. Fell, III

Robert W. Fell, III, is a Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for the 2700 Group within Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. In this role Robert helps individuals and families navigate the complexities that come with wealth, including trust and estate planning, family dynamics and wealth education. He is known for building strong, trusted relationships and combining his strategic expertise with personalized service to deliver comprehensive wealth management solutions. Before joining Morgan Stanley Private Wealth, Robert Fell was a Managing Director and Principal at Southeastern Trust Company. He has 30 years of trust and estate experience. Robert holds a J.D. from the University of Mississippi and studied law at Cambridge University in England. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History and English from the University of South Alabama. Robert lives with his wife, Courtney, and their three daughters in Brookhaven. Robert’s community involvement has included leadership roles with the Atlanta Humane Society’s Development Committee, Advisory Council for Fernbank, and Children’s Healthcare. He currently serves as President of his Homeowner’s Association and is a Member of the Estate Planning Councils of Atlanta and North Georgia. He enjoys playing golf and tennis, following sports, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Securities Agent: OH, MI, ME, DE, WA, NY, NV, KY, GA, CA, KS, TN, NC, MO, MA, CT, AL, TX, MS, MD, LA, DC, VA, NM, ID, HI, SC, NJ, MT, FL, AZ, WV, SD, PA, ND, UT, IL, CO, WY, OK; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2643424

About Natalie Swords

Natalie Swords is a Registered Client Service Associate and joined The 2700 Group in 2024. Her focus is on client service, cash management, and the daily operation needs for the team. Natalie began her career in the financial services as a mutual fund trader. She has held various roles in client account services, stock plans, and private wealth investing. Natalie graduated from the University of Georgia, where she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Spanish. She holds her Series 7, Series 63, and Series 66 Licenses. As a Georgia native, Natalie is very involved in her community outside of work. She can be seen walking her dog on the Atlanta beltline, going to yoga classes on the weekend, or volunteering at the local animal shelter.
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Equity Compensation

Helping you make the most of your equity awards and better understand how it may fit into your your larger financial picture – today and tomorrow.

  • Vesting events
  • Option expirations
  • Restricted stock units
  • Tax implications

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.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
Article Image

The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The 2700 Group today.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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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.
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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3Morgan 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.

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4Morgan 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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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.

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6Morgan 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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)