Welcome

As your Financial Advisors, our mission is to help make your wealth work as hard as it can. To accomplish this goal, we must ask the right questions, find appropriate strategies and put all of our experience and resources at Morgan Stanley to work for you.  You can count on us to understand the life you envision, and only then can we help create wealth management strategies aimed at meeting the objectives that matter most to you.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working with you

At Morgan Stanley, we believe that identifying financial solutions begins with a solid understanding of each client’s situation, goals, objectives and risk tolerance
We follow a disciplined process that enables us to work with you to craft a solution that helps to meet your individual financial needs:
Develop a thorough understanding of your financial goals and objectives

Review and analyze your current financial situation

Identify and tailor solutions that can help you meet your individual needs

Implement your customized strategy, including personalized services and benefits

Review your strategy, meeting periodically to discuss your goals and needs
Whatever your financial goal—whether to grow your wealth, preserve it or pass it on to others, you can count on us to help you with a strategy that is:
Personal

Highly individualized and committed to helping you achieve financial success

Flexible

Responsive to changes in your life and in your priorities over time

Comprehensive

Covering a broad array of investment products and services, with preferred benefits tied to your valued status with us

Forbes Best-In-State

Forbes America’s Top Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Nov 2022) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21 – 3/31/22.
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure/

Location

1650 Market St
42nd Fl
Philadelphia, PA 19103
US
Direct:
(215) 854-6000(215) 854-6000
Toll-Free:
(800) 652-1766(800) 652-1766
3803 West Chester Pike
Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
US

Meet The Admiral Group

About David R Schaeffer

David has more than 25 years of financial investment experience with ultra/high-net-worth families, corporate executives (section-16) and middle market institutions. As a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley, David embodies the highest values of integrity, commitment and loyalty to his clients. With a deep comprehension of trust and estate planning, he and his resource partners at Family Office Resources (FOR) implement wealth transfer and protective strategies to families around the world. This enables a holistic approach to wealth management while addressing client's concerns surrounding legacy planning, family governance and intergenerational wealth transfer.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley more than 20 years ago, David was a Vice President within Alex Brown & Sons’ Private Wealth Management division which later became Deutsche Bank AG. David also worked at the Park Avenue location in NYC for Hambrecht & Quist's Private Client Group.

David holds a degree from Villanova University and has attended select developmental business courses at The Wharton School of Business.  David is the President of Divine Providence Association, a non-profit organization for handicapped children.  He has also served on the committee for The Philadelphia Zoo’s Zoobilee, Franklin Institute, Friends of the Red Cross and The Oblates of St. Frances DeSales. David was named by Forbes 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors Ranking.

David and his wife, MaryBeth, and their six children reside in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
Securities Agent: NJ, NH, MD, ID, GA, WA, TN, OR, CO, TX, NV, SD, SC, PA, NY, IL, AR, VA, DE, CT, RI, NC, ME, MI, KY, DC, AZ, PR, WI, OH, CA, MA, IN, FL, AL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1253033

About John D. Oakes, Jr.

John is a Vice President with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Philadelphia, PA. Having spent 15 years at Morgan Stanley and nearly 18 years in the financial services industry, John has a diverse background across various financial sectors including institutional trading, research, portfolio and wealth management. Prior to Morgan Stanley, John served as the lead financial analyst to one of the largest power/energy trading teams in the country engaging in market analytics, hedging and trading strategies.

John’s financial experience, along with his talented understanding of the capital markets, allows him to meaningfully develop financial planning models, portfolio investment strategies and prudent risk management. John’s primary focus is portfolio management with an emphasis on wealth planning strategies while providing clients with individualized and custom portfolio solutions.

John holds Morgan Stanley’s Financial Planning Specialist designation along with Series 7, 31, 66 and Insurance Licenses. John holds a B.A. degree in Economics from The Pennsylvania State University.

John lives in Chester County Pennsylvania with his wife Lauren and their three children. John continually stays active with philanthropic organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley community.
Securities Agent: NY, ID, PA, NJ, NH, AZ, AL, RI, OR, KY, MD, VI, VA, OH, IN, GA, FL, CO, TX, NC, TN, SD, ME, DE, DC, AR, WI, WA, MA, CT, CA, PR, WV, SC, NV, MI, IL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1773584

About Linda DiMichele

Linda began her career in the financial service industry in 1980 at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Her career then took her to various Firms until she joined Smith Barney in 1992 as a Client Service Representative. Linda joined The Admiral Group in 2008 and brings a wealth of knowledge and depth of experience to the Group. Linda was born and raised in Philadelphia, where she raised her son, Lawrence. She enjoys spending time with her two grandsons, Lawrence and Matthew. Linda is both Series 7 and 63 registered.

About Shawn Gies

Shawn spent two years in the customer service industry before joining Morgan Stanley in 2018. After graduating from DeSales University in 2016, Shawn developed helpful and meaningful client relationships in his operation and support roles, including digital communication support. Shawn was born and raised in Philadelphia and currently resides in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading and is an avid reader.

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

About Fabienne Sarnecki

Fabienne Sarnecki is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in Pennsylvania.

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.

Fabienne began her career in financial services in 2009, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2016 as a Regional Analyst. Prior to joining the firm, she was an Internal Wholesaler at Lincoln Financial Group as well as an Account Manager & Marketing Coordinator at Navidor Merchant Services.

Fabienne is a graduate of New York University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. She lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania with her family. Outside of the office, Fabienne enjoys running, hiking, exploring new types of cuisines and traveling with her family.
NMLS#: 1879930

About Adrian Schwartz

Adrian Schwartz is a Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices the Greater Philadelphia and Coastal New Jersey markets. He is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients’ and prospects’ financial planning needs.

Adrian began his career in financial services in 2011 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2021. Prior to his current position, Adrian worked at TD Ameritrade in New York where he worked with some of the firm’s wealthiest clients in the region and managed two branches.

Adrian graduated from Rutgers Business School with an MBA and holds his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation. Adrian lives in Manalapan, NJ with his wife and two young children. Outside of work, Adrian spends most of his time with his family. When the opportunity presents itself, he also enjoys playing guitar and golfing.

About Chris Smith

Chris Smith is an Executive Director and Head of Morgan Stanley’s Trust Services Group. As a 30-year employee of Morgan Stanley, Chris is responsible for maintaining the “Open Architecture” trustee platform, which consists of thirteen third-party trust companies who can serve in a fiduciary, agency or custodial role for ultra-high-net worth client trust accounts. Chris and the Trust Services Group help Advisors, clients, prospects and the professional community understand the corporate trustee services available through Morgan Stanley and how our corporate trustee partners can be used to provide fiduciary solutions for clients. This involves reviewing trust document and statements as well as analyzing family dynamics. Chris then uses this information to recommend one or more of the firm’s third-party corporate trustee partners to possibly serve as trustee, co-trustee or administrative agent for a client trust account.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley (Dean Witter), Chris worked in the Retirement Plans department of Prudential Securities and prior to that the District Agency department of Prudential Insurance Company. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication/Journalism and Psychology from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. He lives in Saratoga Springs, NY with his wife Sharon and two boys, Ryan and Michael and has a passion for golf, skiing and horse racing.
Wealth Management
From Our Team

Estate Planning Essentials: 7 Key Steps


Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Investing

Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
  • Asset Management
  • Wealth Planning
  • Traditional Investments
  • Alternative Investments
  • Impact Investing
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

Family

Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
  • Estate Planning Strategies
  • 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Trust Services
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

Retirement

Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
  • 401(k) Rollovers
  • IRA Plans
  • Retirement income strategies
  • Retirement plan participants
  • Annuities
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
  • Business Planning
  • Qualified Retirement Plans
Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

Philanthropy

Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
  • Endowments
  • Foundations
  • Donor Advised Funds
  • Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.

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 Admiral Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
1When 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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2Morgan 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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3Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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4Morgan 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.

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5Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

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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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7Morgan 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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8Morgan 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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9Morgan 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

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10Morgan 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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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 Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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)