Welcome

Bringing more than half a century of combined experience, the Bernhardt Wheeldon Group at Morgan Stanley helps successful executives, individuals, and families simplify their finances and widows, widowers, and divorcees navigate the complexities of tough life transitions.

Whatever you’re trying to achieve, we believe that success starts with a comprehensive wealth strategy. We will help you define what is most important to you and then formulate the strategies that are appropriate for your needs. Our process means more than providing our clients with investment advice. We establish meaningful relationships with our clients and help them maintain the financial independence they’ve worked their whole lives to achieve.

Behind us stands Morgan Stanley’s broader firm, with meaningful intelligence about every major asset class and a presence in every major market. Our firm is one of the nation’s leading firms to help clients with their personal wealth. As your advisory team, we have experience with the unique challenges, styles and strategies that distinguish wealthy investors.

To learn more about our capabilities, start the conversation today with the link below.

*Brian Bernhardt 26 years; Simon Wheeldon 31 years
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Approach

Discovery Process
Investing the time to learn about you and your family; your assets and liabilities and the risk exposures, enables us to formulate strategies and customize the relationship to your needs.
Formulation of Tax, Trust and Estate Strategy
Working with your tax and legal advisors, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
Creation of Customized Strategic Asset Allocation
Your customized asset allocation reflects risk, opportunities and taxation across multiple entities, while integrating your investing and estate plans.
Integration of Tactical Asset Allocation
Short-term adjustments seek to capitalize on temporary market distortions. Before making adjustments, we analyze the impact of taxes and trading costs on potential returns.
Implementation of a Customized Wealth Strategy
After comprehensive due diligence and analysis of expected results across multiple market scenarios, strategies are chosen from our expansive investment platform.
Ongoing Assessment
In coordination with your other advisors, we can conduct ongoing reviews and comprehensive reporting to ensure that your strategy adapts to changing financial and family needs.

Navigating Transition

As with any major life transition, divorce is often tumultuous and raises its own unique set of challenges. We believe that a solid financial foundation can help you manage your financial future and simplify your financial life. The articles below offer considerations as you begin the difficult transition. We are here to help – start the conversation by clicking the “Contact Us” link above.
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    Divorce: Planning for a New Beginning
    Major relationship transitions can be overwhelming in both a personal and practical way. Dealing with the impact of divorce on your financial life can make an emotionally difficult time even more challenging. Although it’s seldom easy, you can prepare for it.
    Divorce Factsheet
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    Money and Divorce: 6 Financial Mistakes to Avoid
    Navigating the division of assets in a divorce can be a long and difficult process. Learn how to avoid mistakes and plan for your future.
    Money and Divorce
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    Making the Most of Your Sudden Wealth
    Making the Most of Your Sudden Wealth
    Financial gains can take many forms:
    • Legal settlements
    • Proceeds from sale of a business, real estate or other assets
    • Executive bonuses
    • Equity Compensation
    This fact sheet will help you identify the issues involved with managing, preserving and maximizing your new wealth.
    Making the Most of Your Sudden Wealth
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    Taking Control of Your Finances After Divorce or Death of a Spouse
    Divorce or the death of a spouse can turn the best laid financial plans upside down. Here are a few considerations to help manage the transition.
    Taking Control of Your Finances

Estate Planning Strategies

Your Trust & Estate strategy has the potential to be incredibly powerful if executed effectively. We are here to discuss various tax, trust, and estate strategies with you and your external tax and legal advisors to help facilitate implementation of those strategies. Our goal is to provide you with strong analysis and communication of your complex situation, tailored to your unique needs to help quantify the gravity of making or not making a decision.

PODCASTS & RESOURCES

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    GIC On the Markets
    Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
    Read the Latest Report
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    GIC Weekly
    The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
    Read the Latest Report
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    Thoughts On the Market Podcast
    With perspectives on the forces shaping the market, join Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief US Equity Strategist for Morgan Stanley, as he and his colleagues discuss a variety of viewpoints regarding the latest trends in the financial marketplace.
    Watch the Latest Episodes
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    What Should I Do with My Money? Podcast
    Managing our money is one of the most important aspects of our lives, and yet, many people don’t have someone they can depend on for help when they need it.

    On this podcast, we match real people, asking real questions about their money, with experienced Financial Advisors.
    Watch the Latest Episodes
    Morgan Stanley Portfolio Solutions (photo) - DO NOT EDIT CONTENT - MUST USE AS IS
    Morgan Stanley Portfolio Solutions
    Portfolios that harness Morgan Stanley's industry-leading advice, resources and risk management—calibrated to your specific goals.
    Global Investment Office - (photo) - DO NOT EDIT CONTENT - MUST USE AS IS
    Global Investment Office
    The Morgan Stanley Global Investment Office provides you with world-class thought leadership timely market commentary, and portfolio ideas to help guide your investment decisions.
    Morgan Stanley Portfolio Insights

Location

Two Urban Centre 4890 West Kennedy Blvd
Ste 700
Tampa, FL 33609
US
Direct:
(813) 286-5600(813) 286-5600

Meet The Bernhardt Wheeldon Group

About Brian Bernhardt, MBA

Securities Agent: DC, OH, ID, TX, CT, AR, NM, NJ, IL, AZ, AL, VA, NY, NC, MI, FL, CO, MT, MO, KY, WA, TN, MD, MA, GA, CA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 2664944

About Me

Securities Agent: NY, MT, MI, MD, MA, IL, GA, OH, MO, CT, CO, AL, AR, NC, AZ, TX, NM, FL, CA, VA, ID, TN, NJ, WA; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2665634
CA Insurance License #: 0I61465
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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Bernhardt Wheeldon Group today.
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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3Morgan 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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4Morgan 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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5Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.

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6When 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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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)