Benjamin J Panos
Executive Director, Financial Advisor
Phone:
(816) 932-7609(816) 932-7609
The Bluestem Strategic Planning Group at Morgan Stanley
Direct:
(816) 932-7827(816) 932-7827
Direct:
(214) 661-7143(214) 661-7143
Our Mission Statement
Clarity. Discipline. Confidence.
We deliver a disciplined investment process and proactive financial planning designed to bring clarity and structure to your financial life.
We deliver a disciplined investment process and proactive financial planning designed to bring clarity and structure to your financial life.
The Genesis of Bluestem
We are a carefully assembled team of experienced Financial Advisors focused on bringing clarity and discipline to an increasingly complex financial world. We believe some investors may fall short of their goals not due to a lack of effort, but because they may not have a comprehensive plan. Bluestem was established to help address that challenge by delivering comprehensive, evidence-based planning, designed to support long-term objectives.
Many of our clients are first generation individuals and families who have built their financial success through discipline and perseverance, values that align closely with our team's own background. Grounded in Bluestem's Midwest roots and shaped by a practical long-term perspective, we serve clients across the country with thoughtful, personalized financial guidance.
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
The Process
Our Clients
Our clients are often the first generation in their family to have accumulated $1 million or more. They typically fall into one of two categories: retirees or mid-career professionals.
- Define and prioritize retirement goals
- Provide retirement projections
- Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies
- Social security planning
- Design investment strategies aligned with your objectives
- Analyze early retirement projections
- Implement tax efficient investment strategies
- Evaluate charitable giving approaches
- Plan thoughtfully for education costs and other long-term family goals
Retirees
Whether you are currently retired or planning to retire in the next five years, we help individuals and families develop a thoughtful plan for the next phase of life. We focus on the following areas to help you approach retirement with greater clarity and confidence:
By coordinating all the moving pieces, we strive to help you make informed decisions and address potential risks along the way.
Mid-Career Professionals
We work closely with mid-career, high-income earners who face increasingly complex financial decisions as their professional responsibilities and compensation grow. We focus on the following areas to help clients manage their wealth in alignment with their objectives:
Proactive and consistent guidance can be key, to help support strategies as goals change, circumstances shift, and new opportunities or risks emerge over time.
Experienced Financial Advisors
Bluestem Financial Advisors average 18 years of experience at Morgan Stanley, a key element of the Bluestem difference.
Our Financial Advisors have spent years guiding clients through multiple market cycles, shifting political landscapes, and life transitions that don't show up in textbooks or planning software.
Experience isn't just a credential, it's the difference between theory and real-world judgment.
Industry Leading Firm
Working with a firm like Morgan Stanley can help provide clients with an added layer of confidence.
As an industry leader founded in 1935, Morgan Stanley provides world class resources, scale, online security, and regulatory oversight. Recommendations are supported by robust controls and transparent processes.
Through innovative solutions and a 90-year legacy of serving clients, Morgan Stanley helps individuals and families build, preserve, and manage wealth at every stage of life.
Rigorous Investment Philosophy
The core of the Bluestem investment philosophy is to provide clients an approach backed by academic research and decades of data.
In an industry where opinions change daily and people rely on hunches and guesswork, clients need a disciplined process customized to their specific goals and objectives.
In a world full of uncertainty, we aim to simplify and focus on the fundamentals.
Location
4520 Main St. 8th Floor
Kansas City, MO 64111
US
Direct:
(816) 932-7827(816) 932-7827
5001 Spring Valley Road
Suite 900W
Dallas, TX 75244
US
Direct:
(214) 661-7143(214) 661-7143
Meet The Bluestem Strategic Planning Group
Phone:
(816) 932-7827(816) 932-7827
Phone:
(214) 661-7143(214) 661-7143
Thad Blevins
Client Relationship Analyst
Phone:
(816) 932-7821(816) 932-7821
About Benjamin J Panos
Born and raised in Lenexa, Kansas, Ben received his bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from Rockhurst University. Upon graduation in 2003, Ben started his career as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley in Kansas City. He resides in Leawood, Kansas with his wife Ali and their four children.
Securities Agent: CO, ME, VA, PR, NY, NE, MN, MI, KS, AR, SC, FL, TN, NJ, ND, CA, AZ, MA, IA, HI, RI, VT, CT, OR, KY, PA, NH, MT, IN, IL, NC, GA, NV, NM, WI, WA, TX, OH, MS, MD, ID, DE, AL, WY, UT, SD, OK, MO; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1278977
NMLS#: 1278977
About Harrison P Hill
Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Harrison received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Kansas. Upon graduation in 2003, Harrison started his career as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley in Kansas City. He resides in Prairie Village, Kansas with his wife Danielle and their three children
Securities Agent: NE, AR, MT, MI, KY, FL, CO, TN, OR, NM, ME, KS, AL, VA, ND, IN, WY, OH, MS, WA, SC, NC, IA, DE, RI, NY, MA, ID, VT, TX, NV, GA, CT, CA, AZ, UT, SD, PA, MN, LA, WI, OK, NJ, NH, MO, MD, IL, HI; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1951658
NMLS#: 1951658
About Miles Gill
Miles brings a decade of experience serving families and professionals seeking thoughtful, disciplined financial guidance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and an MBA from the University of Kansas and has earned the Certified Financial Planner™ certification as well as the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ designation.
Miles believes strong advice begins with listening. He approaches financial planning with thoughtful preparation and careful attention to detail, so that each recommendation aligns with a client’s long-term goals and values. Known for his responsiveness and steady work ethic, he aims to deliver guidance clients can trust over time.
Born in Chicago and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, Miles now leads Bluestem’s Dallas office. Outside of work he enjoys traveling with his fiancé, Haley, and spending time with their golden retrievers.
Miles believes strong advice begins with listening. He approaches financial planning with thoughtful preparation and careful attention to detail, so that each recommendation aligns with a client’s long-term goals and values. Known for his responsiveness and steady work ethic, he aims to deliver guidance clients can trust over time.
Born in Chicago and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, Miles now leads Bluestem’s Dallas office. Outside of work he enjoys traveling with his fiancé, Haley, and spending time with their golden retrievers.
Securities Agent: IA, MD, TX, OR, MO, ME, ID, WI, UT, OH, MI, NY, DE, AZ, AR, VA, NE, CA, IN, IL, NJ, NC, MT, KY, CO, TN, OK, NM, MN, KS, SC, WA, GA, FL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1560674
NMLS#: 1560674
About Thad Blevins
Born and raised in Shawnee, Kansas, Thad received his bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Kansas. Thad began as an intern in 2018 then started his full-time career at the firm in 2020. He resides in Prairie Village, Kansas.
Contact Benjamin J Panos
Contact Harrison P Hill
Contact Miles Gill
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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
A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup
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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
Rational Investing in an Age of Uncertainty
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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
529 Plans: A Powerful Tool to Save for Education
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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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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
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Bluestem Strategic Planning Group today.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
3Morgan 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.
4When 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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.
5Morgan 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
6Alternative 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.
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 Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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 | Morgan Stanley
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.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.
3Morgan 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.
4When 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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.
5Morgan 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
6Alternative 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.
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 Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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 | Morgan Stanley
CRC 4665150 (8/2025)
