The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley

As a founding member of The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley, John brings more than 30 years of financial service experience to every client he advises. John’s clients include high net worth individuals and their families, as well as foundations, endowments, and other nonprofit institutions. Individual clients look to him for guidance that includes their investments but goes far beyond to encompass estate planning strategies, risk management and other aspects of their financial lives. Nonprofits seek his advice to help them refine both their spending and investment policies and implement those policies with investment strategies designed to meet their obligations, enhance their cash flow and grow their capital over time.

John began his career at a Chicago based investment banking firm that specialized in lending for mergers & acquisitions. This experience allowed him to learn from the successes and failures of corporate executives in a wide variety of manufacturing and service industries all around the country. He gained tremendous respect for entrepreneurs who pursue their passion and appreciation for the role finance and risk-taking play on the road to success. As a Financial Advisor, John has strived to be a lifetime learner since graduating from University of Iowa with a degree in Finance and Marketing. He is one of the relatively few Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors to have earned the firm’s Family Wealth Director designation. He is also a Certified Investment Management Analyst^®, having earned that credential from the Wharton School of Business and the Investment & Wealth Institute. He is honored to be named one of Forbes Magazine’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2026, along with The 801 Group who has made the list for 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams.

John grew up in Iowa City and has always been an active member of his community. He is proud to serve on the Board of Ambassadors for Coaches vs. Cancer, an organization founded by Division 1 basketball coaches and dedicated to raising funds for cancer research. In addition, he sits on the Board of Directors at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. Professionally, he is a member of Morgan Stanley’s Association of Professional Investment Consultants. His experience in the nonprofit arena has compelled him to initiate a series of symposiums for nonprofit leaders that focus on industry trends and best practices. Outside the office, he loves spending time with his friends and family in Clear Lake.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2026) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based for the period 3/31/24-3/31/25.

Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors & Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded April 2026) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 6/30/24-6/30/25.

Clients rely on Ashley to help them retire as planned, leave a meaningful legacy, and achieve other critical financial goals. Many of her clients are women seeking to take greater control of their financial lives. Ashley also brings considerable experience working with nonprofit organizations, foundations, endowments, and other institutional clients. Specifically, she counsels executive leadership teams and boards in such varied disciplines as governance, asset allocation, investment and spending policy reviews and compliance with industry leading practices and regulations.

Ashley began her career at The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines where she served as Director of Affiliates and Philanthropic Partners working with donors, attorneys, CPAs and Financial Advisors. There she realized that she could add value by earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERtm and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^® designations. Once Ashley became a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor in 2012, she found that this decision helped her greatly in meeting the challenges faced by both institutional and individual clients. In addition, she is one of the relatively few Financial Advisors in the firm to have earned the firm’s Family Wealth Director designation. This credential has proven invaluable in helping provide high net-worth clients with solutions to even their most complex financial challenges. Ashley is honored to be named one of Forbes Magazine’s Top Women Wealth Advisors 2026 and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2026 and she is proud that The 801 Group has made the list for 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams.

Ashley is a native Iowan who returned home after working in New York in the fashion industry and graduating from Lake Forest College with a double major in Business and Studio Art. She still loves painting and interior design, but much of her time outside the office is spent with her husband Mike, daughter Scarlet and participating in philanthropic pursuits. Ashley serves on the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines’ Professional Advisor Council and boards of the Mid Iowa Health Foundation and Great Outdoors Foundation, supports the Alzheimer’s Association and volunteers with the Iowa State Fair Foundation.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2026) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based for the period 3/31/24-3/31/25.

Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors & Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded April 2026) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 6/30/24-6/30/25.

Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors & Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2026) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 6/30/24 - 6/30/25.

Matt helps his clients create a customized financial plan that serves as a guide for investment decisions. After defining their long-term objectives, he leverages the firm’s investment tools and planning software to develop wealth management strategies designed to align with their goals. Matt’s consultative process also includes addressing client’s other needs, such as education savings, retirement income planning, tax management strategies, estate and legacy planning strategies, lending solutions, and more. In addition, he provides guidance to nonprofit organizations on financial modeling and analytics while helping to educate around board best practices, and evolving industry trends.

Matt has always had a passion for anything related to finance. At the University of Northern Iowa, he majored in accounting and financial management and subsequently took a position with IBM. Matt was later selected to work at IBM’s corporate headquarters in New York. Although these experiences enhanced his professional and personal growth, he realized that Iowa was home, and after several years at Meredith Corporation, Matt transitioned to Morgan Stanley, where he worked as an analyst and was honored in 2024 with the Association of Professional Investment Consultants’ Pat Nicholson Award for outstanding service and accomplishments as a technical analyst. Matt then moved into the role of Financial Advisor and finds it very rewarding to have the opportunity to meet regularly with clients and see the results of the planning work they do together. Matt has further grown his capabilities by becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. He is proud that The 801 Group has been named one of Forbes Magazine’s 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams.

He lives in Clive with his wife, Anna, and their daughters, Olivia and Eloise. Together they enjoy golfing, biking, and going to parks. Over the years, Matt has given back to his community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. When he is not working, he spends his time serving on the Programming Committee for the CFA Society of Iowa.

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Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2026) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based for the period 3/31/24-3/31/25.

How I can help you:

I help The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley strive to deliver exceptional client service by seeking ways to optimize daily operations and create processes that can help address clients’ needs quickly and efficiently. I oversee the onboarding experience for new clients, helping ensure a smooth and seamless experience and manage our client service model. I am dedicated to helping our Concierge Team navigate potential challenges, streamline operations and look for smarter strategies. I assist the financial advisors in overseeing team initiatives designed to help drive business growth, always looking for ways to elevate performance and foster innovation. Above all, I strive to build a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute and succeed. My approach to client service is simple: it’s about building trust, keeping communication open, and always striving to deliver real value. I truly believe that when you understand and anticipate client needs, you can create lasting relationships.

What makes me knowledgeable:

I have spent my entire career at Morgan Stanley, working as a Portfolio Associate for nine years and a Business Service Officer for three years. This experience has helped me grow as a manager, providing a deep understanding to assist teams and deliver an exceptional client service experience. I also hold the Series 7, 66, 9, and 10 industry licenses, as well as a B.S. in accounting from Western Governors University.

Getting to know me:

I live in Urbandale with my husband, Dan, and our two sons, Jayce and Calyn. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, playing tennis, solving puzzles, and cheering on my son at his baseball games. I am also actively involved in the Dream Team at our church, where I contribute my time and energy to supporting our community.

How I can help you:

As a Wealth Management Associate with The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley, I play a critical role in the financial planning process and client review scheduling. With a strong understanding of the information needed to help maximize the value of our financial plans, I assist the financial advisor with actionable recommendations that help align with the client’s long-term goals. Additionally, I help institutional clients develop investment policies, stress-test their portfolios while evaluating spending policies. I also work with our analyst to research various mutual funds and external investment management organizations to help ensure we recommend appropriate options for our client’s portfolios. As the primary point of contact for insurance policies, I support the review process to help ensure comprehensive coverage.

What makes me knowledgeable:

I bring over a decade of financial service experience to every client I work with. I started my career at New York Life building a practice centered around mutual funds, annuities, and insurance. Since joining Morgan Stanley in 2016, I have expanded my ability to assist clients with comprehensive financial planning that encompasses not only their portfolios, but virtually every aspect of their financial lives.

Getting to know me:

I’m a graduate of Upper Iowa University where I majored in Biology and minored in Business. During my time at college, I played baseball, which taught me the value of teamwork. Over the years, I’ve given back to my community by coaching Little League and high school baseball, as well as working with Grand Slam USA, a well-known training facility. I also volunteered with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, helping raise awareness and funds for an important cause. My wife, Natalie, and I live in West Des Moines, where we enjoy walking our dog, Bo, playing golf and going to movies.

How I can help you:

With over 30 years in client service, I focus on providing a seamless, efficient, and personalized service tailored to each client’s unique needs. As the first point of contact for many clients, I take pride in addressing inquiries, offering strategies, transferring assets, and opening new accounts with speed and accuracy. My role goes beyond answering questions, I focus on creating a positive and engaging experience from the moment a client reaches out. When issues arise that require additional knowledge, I strive to ensure a smooth handoff by promptly connecting clients to the appropriate team member. My goal is to create a consistent and positive experience that strengthens relationships and builds trust over time.

What makes me knowledgeable:

I began my career at Prudential Retirement, where I worked directly with clients and plan sponsors on their retirement accounts. From there, I moved into account management and implementation, gaining deeper insight into managing complex client needs and operational efficiency before joining The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley.

Getting to know me:

I am an Iowa native with a passion for helping young adults with cognitive disabilities develop essential life skills for independent adult living. With a degree in Psychology from Clark University and an M.B.A. from the University of Dubuque, I combine academic knowledge with practical experience to make a meaningful impact in my community. When not working, I enjoy cycling with my husband, Mike, and embracing the outdoors.