
The Admiral Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
The Admiral Group
The Admiral Group at Morgan Stanley is a leading Wealth Management team with two locations: Philadelphia and Newtown Square, PA. As a boutique wealth advisory group within one of the largest and most established wealth management firms in the world, The Admiral Group aims to deliver unparalleled financial guidance for our clients. We are deeply committed to providing sound advice, clear communication, along with a deep understanding for our client's unique needs while supported with a personalized approach and tailored solutions. Providing a unique client experience with exceptional client service is paramount with each client interaction.
Our approach is guided by a strong moral compass while providing clients the ability to maximize the value of their investment and family capital to create an enduring family legacy.
We look forward to speaking with you.
- Retirement PlanningFootnote1
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote2
- Wealth ManagementFootnote3
- Financial PlanningFootnote4
- Asset Management
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote5
- Divorce Financial AnalysisFootnote6
- Endowments and FoundationsFootnote7
- Executive Financial ServicesFootnote8
- Lending Products
- Cash ManagementFootnote9
- Philanthropic Services
- Business Succession PlanningFootnote10
Working with you
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
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
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
Meet The Admiral Group
About David R Schaeffer
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.
NMLS#: 1253033
About John D. Oakes, Jr.
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.
NMLS#: 1773584
About Linda DiMichele
About Shawn Gies

Contact David R Schaeffer

Contact John D. Oakes, Jr.
Awards and Recognition


The Power of Partnerships
About Lauren Akers
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.
Lauren began her career in financial services in 2011 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2013 with the Home Loans Division. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a Credit Analyst at PHH Mortgage.
Lauren is a graduate of Rider University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. She and her family currently reside in Chesterfield, New Jersey.
Outside of the office, Lauren dedicates her time to her family and several volunteer activities. She also enjoys spending time with her 2 kitties, cooking, baking, reading, gardening, shopping, traveling, and going to the beach. Lauren remains active by exercising and participating in 5K runs.
About Adrian Schwartz
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 Victor Diune
Victor has spent the last 22 years at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Most recently, he was a Director, Wealth Strategist, working with Merrill Private Wealth Advisors and Financial Advisors, along with their UHNW clients advising them on estate and legacy planning, wealth transfer strategies and philanthropic planning. He was also responsible for developing, consulting and implementing business succession plans as well as providing advice on fiduciary investment management and tax reduction strategies.
Victor received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, received his JD/MBA degree from Suffolk University Law School/Sawyer School of Management, and his LLM in Tax from Boston University School of Law. He holds a Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. He currently lives in Hopkinton, MA with his wife and their 4 children.
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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.
2025 Midyear Economic Outlook: A Widespread Deceleration
Portfolio Insights
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Financial Wellness
- Reduce employee stress,
- Improve retention and engagement, and
- Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
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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.
3Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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Awards Disclosures