The Abeyta Benton Childress & Sanders Group at Morgan Stanley

Lance W. Childress^® – Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Management Director, Wealth Advisor

Lance's extensive knowledge in financial planning – retirement, estate planning strategies, insurance, investments and asset allocation – helps ensure that our team provides comprehensive financial planning to our clients.

After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Lance began his career with Morgan Stanley. Over the years, Lance's practice has evolved to incorporate new approaches and processes designed to help his clients achieve their goals. More recently, in March of 2022, Lance announced the formation of The Childress Group at Morgan Stanley.

A commitment to lifelong learning in the financial services industry allows Lance to provide useful insight and a broad base of solutions for even the most complex financial situations. Throughout his career Lance has consistently pursued opportunities to advance his knowledge, participating in Managed Futures Advanced Training and receiving multiple designations, including Estate Planning Consultant, Wealth Advisor and Senior Portfolio Management Director.

Lance and his wife Jennifer, live in Bulverde, Texas with their son and daughter. Lance enjoys spending time with family and friends and is an avid reader and outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing in his free time. He also serves on the finance committee of his childrens' school—San Antonio Christian School.

John came to San Antonio in 1994 to attend Trinity University. After planning to be an Engineer, he quickly realized that the world of finance was his true passion. As a freshman, he changed his major from engineering to finance and embarked on his career in 1998 with Morgan Stanley.

Loving the financial markets and being a natural problem solver, John quickly gained favor with clients in the areas of planning and collaboration on complicated financial situations. These core abilities led John to a focus on the corporate retirement plan world.

He formed The Abeyta Bueche & Sanders Group at Morgan Stanley in order to more effectively help serve the complexities of institutional clients in the 401(k) & 403(b) marketplace. He is a Corporate Retirement Director at Morgan Stanley and sits on Morgan Stanley’s Corporate Retirement Directory Advisory Board.

John primarily works with small businesses and institutions where he consults with plan sponsors of ERISA qualified plans helping them fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities and to create more successful retirement outcomes for their employees. He provides 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services from Morgan Stanley for the retirement plan marketplace. His strengths are in investment management, comprehensive solutions and strategic advice. His passion for giving balanced, fair advice along with his experience makes him both an excellent advocate and mentor to help others. Over his career he has earned respect and recognition for his expertise in Corporate Retirement including recent recognition as NAPA Top DC Advisor Teams for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

John is quick to help and quick to respond. He works with all levels of employees, executive teams, and boards of companies. Both clients and colleagues appreciate John’s professionalism, precision and depth of financial knowledge while often being surprised by his sociable and quirky sense of humor in non-business settings.

Originally from the Washington state area, John has spent most of his life in Texas. He enjoys spending time on the beach and in the mountains along with volunteering for various non-profit organizations and travelling with his family from the Texas Gulf Coast to Lake Tahoe.

Licenses:
Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 31 & Insurance

2019 2020 2021 NAPA's Top DC Advisor Teams
Source: napa-net.org (Awarded 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024) Data compiled by NAPA based on self-reported assets under advisement as of Dec 31 of the year prior to year the award was given.

James joined Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor in 2003 after five years in the restaurant industry. Recruited by his former college roommate, John Abeyta, James embarked on his new career in financial advisory services. In a few short years, they, along with another colleague, Michael Bueche, formed The Abeyta Bueche & Sanders Group at Morgan Stanley to offer comprehensive financial planning and 401(k) plan consulting to both individual families and corporations.

James focuses on complex and comprehensive financial planning for the team’s private clients and families. Understanding this responsibility, James pursued further knowledge by completing the education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. He currently holds the designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ or CFP^® professional. His professional focus includes investment advice, retirement planning, insurance planning, and estate planning strategies. James also serves as the team’s resource on Social Security planning strategies, striving to incorporate all aspects of a financial relationship, including mortgages, liability management, charitable giving, generational planning, and business ownership transition strategies.

James enjoys developing personal relationships with his clients and has a meticulous focus on all of their financial details. He often states, “…in investing clients usually have three goals: growth, liquidity, and safety. It is easy to get two but difficult to get all three.” He works to create a personalized approach for clients to emphasize which two of the three are most important to their goals. He also strives to balance quantitative and qualitative measurements, realizing that clients need to be emotionally committed to the financial plan in order to achieve success.

A Texas native, James grew up in Spring near Houston before relocating to San Antonio to attend Trinity University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1998. He fell in love with the city’s diverse culture and landscape and made it his home. James remains actively involved with Trinity University, having volunteered in numerous roles, including President of the Alumni Association Board. He and his wife, Stephanie, are avid dog lovers, sharing their home with two San Antonio rescues, Suki and Buddy. All four enjoy the Texas Gulf Coast and spend vacation time walking the beach in the early mornings.

Lisa Benton is an experienced advisor who understands that managing significant wealth is about more than just numbers—it's about aligning financial strategies with your life’s most important values and goals. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® with a master’s degree in Financial Planning and Counseling, Lisa brings a level of experience and personalized care that is rare in the industry. With a reputation for delivering sophisticated, tailored solutions, she excels in Wealth Planning, Retirement Solutions, Investment Management, Insurance, Cash Management, and providing access to trust services.

What sets Lisa apart is her ability to integrate cutting-edge financial strategies with a deeply personal approach, helping to ensure that every recommendation aligns with her clients' core values and long-term goals. Lisa’s bespoke approach to financial planning is rooted in understanding each client’s unique values and aspirations. She excels at identifying and addressing “financial blind spots” that are often overlooked, helping to ensure that her clients' strategies are tailored to their specific needs and goals. Her experience with Morgan Stanley has refined her ability to harness the firm's vast capabilities for her distinguished clientele.

Lisa’s background as an educator enriches her financial advisory practice, underscoring her commitment to listening, educating, and empowering clients with carefully researched investment recommendations. Integrity and professionalism form the foundation of her practice, where she builds deep, trust-based relationships through personalized service and continuous engagement.

Dedicated to addressing the unique financial challenges faced by women, Lisa is passionate about partnering with them to navigate their specific needs and aspirations. Her expertise extends to a diverse clientele, including investors who have experienced sudden wealth and those with complex, sophisticated financial requirements.

A proud Washington D.C. native, Lisa has made Texas her home for over 20 years. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Alabama and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Known for her genuine care and relatability, Lisa helps to create an environment where clients feel truly understood and supported. Her commitment to giving back is evident through her active involvement in community service, including supporting Habitat for Humanity, reading to children at local schools, and advocating for financial literacy through various organizations.

In her personal time, Lisa embraces new challenges and personal growth by pursuing long-distance running and learning French. She enjoys a balanced lifestyle that includes hiking, cooking, and traveling, reflecting her belief in achieving excellence and fulfillment in all areas of life.

Michael Bueche has been with Morgan Stanley for 25 years and is a founding member of The Abeyta Bueche & Sanders Group at Morgan Stanley[1]. He has worked with retirement plans, both qualified and non-qualified since 2000.

Michael directs new business development for the team’s Corporate Client Group and provides investment management for the Individual Client Group. Michael, as a Corporate Retirement Director, Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist^®, Financial Wellness Director and Equity Compensation Advisor supports Corporate Retirement Plan Sponsors with fiduciary training and education as well as working with participant enrollments and education.

Before coming to Morgan Stanley[1], Michael owned a business for over twenty-four years in the Awards & Recognition Industry. During this time, he served a term as a board member for the Awards & Recognition Association, a national trade organization.

Michael is a San Antonio native and he and his wife have called San Antonio home for over 70 years. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in the Class of 1970 and went on to join the armed forces from 1971-1977. While serving in the United States Air Force, he attended Texas Lutheran University and graduated in July 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

Michael loves the local San Antonio culture and community. He has passionately donated his time and skill to charitable organizations like the San Antonio Food Bank, The Museo Alameda, the Guadalupe Cultural Art Center, LULAC through supporting two Rey Feo Scholarship, Inc. campaigns, the Opera Guild of San Antonio and the Michael Twist Scholarship Fund.

With more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Monica brings a wealth of knowledge and a broad perspective of the investment world to our clients.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Amherst College in 2009, Monica began a long career in various segments of the financial services industry. The extensive experience Monica acquired culminated in 2018, when she joined the Operations Team at Morgan Stanley as a Senior Service Associate. In 2020, Monica had the opportunity to work alongside Lance Childress, serving as a Client Service Associate then quickly worked her way up to Wealth Management Associate on the team. She is responsible for practice management, day to day operations of the team, complex service issues, and financial plan preparation and maintenance.

Monica and her husband Miguel, are both employees of Morgan Stanley and have been married for 16 years. They live in San Antonio, TX with their two children, Delia and Miguel Jr. Coming from a large family, outside of work, Monica loves spending time with her family celebrating events and supporting her extended relatives. In her spare time, Monica also enjoys photography and traveling.

Jessica has over 27 years in the financial service industry. She began her career in investments operations acquiring an extensive background in reconciling bank and brokerage transactions for taxable and retirement accounts, handling corporate actions, cost basis, and executing transfers and rollovers from employer qualified plans. She also gained valuable client service experience while working in a wealth management call center for six of those years. Jessica has continued her growth with Morgan Stanley as a Senior Registered Client Service associate adding experience in portfolio management and financial planning. She has a passion for helping others improve their financial security and educating clients so they can attain their financial goals and secure generational wealth. Her goal continues to be providing world class client experiences.

A San Antonio native, Jessica obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration’s Degree in Business Management from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2001 and her Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2004.

Jessica and her husband Roy have been married for 16 years and currently reside in Helotes, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at her church and the San Antonio Food Bank, bike riding, and family trips to the beach with their children, Roy Jr., Giana, and Gabrielle.

Grace is a Senior Client Service Associate with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has been an integral part of the team since its founding in 2005 and is the team’s primary contact for all client needs. She builds trusted relationships with clients and their families to provide the best service experience possible. She also focuses on learning new ways to improve the way the team communicates and interacts with clients. Grace helps clients maximize their benefits of Morgan Stanley’s rewards programs and assists them in accessing the multitude of available technologies.

Grace manages all of the team’s Corporate Client and Individual Client Events. Her unique flair and attention to detail consistently impress participants of these festive events. She also collaborates closely with team members to ensure that every event reflects the team’s commitment client satisfaction.

Raised in New York City, Grace has traveled and lived around the world, embracing diverse cultures and different perspectives, which she brings into her client interactions. She has made San Antonio her home since 1999, where she enjoys exploring the city’s rich history and vibrant community. Grace’s happy attitude, pleasant personality, and dedication to outstanding service are key contributors to the team’s ongoing success.

John brings a wealth of experience from over 20 years in numerous positions within the healthcare revenue cycle before joining the team. Before coming to Morgan Stanley, he worked as a Revenue Operations Analyst where he excelled working to put clients first along with listening to their needs. He also worked as a Physician Support Analyst, requiring a keen attention to detail during his day-to-day tasks working as the liaison between healthcare providers and Information Management.

A fast learner with a passion for meeting new people, John is excited to transition into the financial sector. His enthusiasm for delivering exceptional client service along with his ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously makes him a valuable addition to our team.

Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife, four children, and their dog. When he has free time, he enjoys mountain biking and tossing a football with his kids.

Lauren joins Morgan Stanley after a successful career with Accenture, where she focused in client service management, operations, and recruitment. She brings experience in building trusted client relationships, leading high performing teams, and driving process improvement.

Lauren was born and raised in San Antonio. She is a graduate of Baylor University and is married with three children. Outside of work, you can often find Lauren cheering on her kids at sporting events or traveling to the beach or the mountains.