Our Story and Services

As your Financial Advisors, we can help you define and strive to meet your goals by delivering a vast array of resources to you in the way that is most appropriate for how you invest and what you want to achieve. Working together we can help you to preserve and grow your wealth. You’ll have access to some of the world’s most seasoned and respected investment professionals, a premier trading and execution platform and a full spectrum of investment choices.
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Recognition

    Forbes
    The Barron Group was proudly named to the 2023 & 2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams Ranking

    Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
    Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2022 and Jan 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21-3/31/23.

Location

777 S Flagler Drive
Suite 700E
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
US
Direct:
(561) 650-7529(561) 650-7529
Toll-Free:
(833) 719-1177(833) 719-1177

Meet The Barron Group

About Michael Barron

Michael is the senior member of The Barron Group at Morgan Stanley. He is an Executive Director, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and a Senior Portfolio Management Director. Michael started in the financial services industry in 1994 and after spending the last 12 years at UBS, he joined Morgan Stanley in 2020.
Michael graduated from the University of Florida with honors, earning a B.S. in finance with a minor in economics. He carries FINRA Series 7, 31, 63 and 65 securities licenses, as well as State of Florida Life Insurance and Variable Annuity agent licenses. Michael has been recognized among the top advisors in the industry. In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and & 2020 he was named to Barron's Top 1200 Advisors and in 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2023 Michael was named as a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, accolades that represent a very high level of achievement in serving clients’ wealth management needs. The Barron Group was named to the 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams Ranking. An accolade we are proud to have achieved.

In his free time, Michael enjoys golf, working out, traveling and spending time with family and friends. He has been a Florida resident since 1978, and resides in West Palm Beach with his wife, Brenna, son, Evan Levi and dog, Bailey Blu.


2015-2020 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2015-2020).  Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award. 
2018-2020, 2023 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2020, 2023).   Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21-3/31/22.
Securities Agent: WI, VA, NY, MO, MI, MA, FL, NJ, HI, KS, LA, WA, WY, CA, ID, IN, MN, OR, NE, AL, AZ, MD, RI, PR, OH, NV, NM, KY, GA, AR, AK, DE, ME, NC, PA, TN, WV, CT, DC, IL, NH, SC, TX, UT, CO, VT; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 2026155

About Ronald Simpson

Ronnie C. Simpson is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor SM (CRPC®), First Vice President and a Portfolio Management Director. Ronnie entered the financial services industry in 2001 and after spending the last 12 years at UBS, he joined Morgan Stanley in 2020.

Ronnie attended University of Florida, where he earned a B.S. in biological systems management. Throughout his college career, Ronnie was a member of the University Athletic Association. He received a scholarship as a Student Football Equipment Manager and took part in three SEC Championships in addition to the 1996 National Championship.

Ronnie holds FINRA Series 7, 31, 63 and 65 securities licenses as well as State of Florida Life Insurance and Variable Annuity agent licenses.

The Barron Group was named to the 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams Ranking. An accolade we are proud to have achieved.

In his free time, Ronnie enjoys tennis, boating and spending time with his family. Ronnie is a lifelong Florida resident, and resides in West Palm Beach with his wife, Sari, daughter, Sophia, and son, Charlie.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21-3/31/22.
Securities Agent: DE, FL, PR, WA, UT, OR, NE, AR, AZ, MD, NC, AK, NY, SC, MO, KY, ID, NJ, MI, CO, NM, WV, WI, CA, TN, GA, DC, WY, RI, NV, IN, NH, IL, MA, MN, VT, LA, KS, VA, TX, PA, ME, HI, OH, AL, CT; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 2039096

About Arnold Cohen

Arnold Cohen is a Senior Vice President. Arnie holds a Bachelor's degree from Boston University and a Master's degree in Business Management from New York University. He brings 35 years of experience as a financial advisor. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2020, he joined The Barron Group in 2016. He carries his FINRA Series 7, 24, 52, 63 and 65 securities licenses as well as the state of FL Life Insurance and Variable Annuity agent licenses.

The Barron Group was named to the 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams Ranking. An accolade we are proud to have achieved.

Arnie resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife Karen. Their two sons are both attorneys with Noel living in Los Angeles, California and Jordan living in Miami, Florida.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21-3/31/22. v
Securities Agent: CT, ID, NY, MI, MN, NM, RI, OR, DE, AZ, WA, TX, GA, FL, AK, CA, IL, WV, AR, DC, MA, MO, NC, SC, VT, VA, PA, NV, LA, OH, TN, NE, NH, KY, WI, AL, KS, MD, NJ, PR, WY, UT, IN, ME, HI, CO; General Securities Principal; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2034967

About Robbie A DeRooy

As a Senior Vice President of Investments, Robbie is responsible for the investment decisions, and financial planning for all wealth management clients. In the 44 plus years of working in the investment world, Robbie has maintained a prudent and disciplined philosophy in helping clients achieve their long-term goals. Our wealth management approach emphasizes asset allocation, preservation of capital, and defensive growth with income.

Robbie received his undergraduate degree in Journalism from Weber State University and furthered his graduate education at the University of Utah. Robbie has a 30-year-old daughter, Daisy DeRooy, who graduated from George Washington University in 2016 and Royal Veterinary College in London in 2021. She is currently a veterinarian at Shores Animal Clinic in West Palm Beach. Lastly, Robbie is a member of Westside Kiwanis in West Palm Beach, Florida where he served as a past president, board member and assists in many community action volunteer events.
Securities Agent: MA, MD, UT, PA, ME, DC, AR, AL, RI, DE, CT, AK, NY, MI, CA, FL, NJ, NC, KY, WA, WY, TN, NV, NH, MO, IL, GA, CO, AZ, VT, TX; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1877468

About Diana Shuman

Diana is the team's Director of Business Strategy and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She joined the Barron Group in 2013 after 2 years in the retail banking industry. As an experienced financial services professional, she is firmly committed to the continued growth and success of The Barron Group at Morgan Stanley. Diana is responsible for leading all operations of the team, including client service, day to day functions and team member management. Diana is also responsible for preparing and presenting financial plans in order to help clients reach their financial goals. She strives to maintain high quality service and deliver The Barron Group client experience to each and every client.

Diana is a lifelong Florida resident and grew up in Wellington, FL. She graduated from the Florida State University with honors cum laude, earning a B.S. in Economics and a B.S in Psychology. Diana carries her FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses as well as State of Florida Life, Health and Annuities insurance license. In her free time she enjoys watching sports, traveling and fine dining. She currently resides in West Palm Beach with her husband, Thomas and dogs, Sansa & Ajax.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 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 visit us at https://www.morganstanley.com/wealth-relationshipwithms/pdfs/understandingyourrelationship.pdf or consult with your Financial Advisor to
understand these differences.

About Andrea Testa

Andrea has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. As one of the team’s Senior Registered Associates, she is responsible for account maintenance, relationship building and providing clients with a high level of service. Andrea carries the FINRA Series 7, 63 and 65 securities licenses as well as her State of Florida Life, Health and Annuities license.

Andrea is a black belt in Kajukenbo and in her free time she enjoys spending time with family, traveling and Disney. Originally from San Francisco, she now resides in Wellington with her children, Grayson and Zoey.

About William Trainor

Billy is the one of the team’s Registered Client Service Associates, joining The Barron Group in 2024 after spending 4 years as a Golf Professional in the Palm Beach County area. Billy is dedicated to account maintenance, relationship building and providing clients with the upmost level of service.

Billy was born and raised in Michigan, where he graduated from Western Michigan University in 2020 with honors cum laude, earning a B.S. in Finance. In his free time, he enjoys working on his golf game and spending time with friends and family. He currently holds his FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses.
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

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.

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
Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse
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Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse

Financial planning after a divorce or death can be trying, but with the right approach and the right advice you can turn a difficult situation into empowerment.

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
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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 Barron Group today.
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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:
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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.

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*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)