The Braun Elwell Group

Significant wealth brings opportunity—but also complexity. Investment strategies grow more sophisticated, estate planning and succession become more urgent, and even philanthropy can introduce new challenges. Our team’s mission is to simplify these intricacies, helping clients manage, preserve, and grow their assets in ways that advance their goals and enrich their lives.

With over 38 years of experience advising successful entrepreneurs, executives, private investors, family offices, and multi-generational families, I’ve earned national recognition as one of America’s top wealth advisors. In 2025, I was again honored by Barron’s as one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors and by Forbes as one of the country’s Top Wealth Advisors. I’ve guided clients through multiple market cycles and built a global network of professionals whose expertise we bring to bear on behalf of those we serve.

Today, I lead a 10-person team within Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. We often function as a client’s outsourced family office and Chief Investment Officer. Ours is a multi-generational team with shared values, diverse perspectives, and decades of collective experience. We listen intentionally, place ourselves at the center of our clients’ financial lives, and offer advice that integrates investment strategy, family dynamics, estate planning, and philanthropic vision—especially during life’s major transitions.

By combining deep experience with an objective, consultative approach, we deliver the personalized service of a boutique firm while leveraging Morgan Stanley’s global breadth of resources and intellectual capital. With tailored strategies, steadfast guidance, and white-glove service, we help clients meet the challenges of significant wealth—so they can focus on the opportunities it creates.


Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors
Source: Barron's.com (Awarded Apr 2025) Data compiled by Barron's based on time period from Dec 2023 - Dec 2024

​Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Aug 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/24 - 3/31/25

Dana began her career at Morgan Stanley in 2005 and has since established herself as a dedicated advisor to high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families, and family offices. With a focus on building comprehensive and highly customized wealth management strategies, she guides clients through the complexities of financial planning, investment management, and intergenerational wealth transfer. Her practice is rooted in a disciplined approach to both quantitative and qualitative investment research, with an emphasis on aligning clients’ financial plans and portfolios to their long-term objectives and life goals.

As a Family Wealth Director, a designation awarded to a select group of Morgan Stanley’s premier wealth management professionals, Dana is committed to delivering an objective and elevated advisory experience, leveraging the breadth of resources and intellectual capital which Morgan Stanley’s industry leading platform provides. She focuses on helping affluent families navigate the intergenerational dimensions of wealth, including goal-based financial planning, risk management, tax-efficient investment strategies and philanthropic and legacy planning.

Dana holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a Certified Financial Planning emphasis and a Minor in Accounting from the University of Idaho. She is also a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP^®), a credential that underscores her commitment to the highest standards of financial planning excellence.

Recognized for her leadership and expertise in the industry, Dana has been honored by Forbes as one of the Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State (2023) and America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors (2019, 2022). These accolades reflect her consistent dedication to client service, innovation, and ethical standards in wealth management.

Dana is a former NCAA Division 1 collegiate athlete who remains passionate about soccer. She enjoys travel, hiking, and spending quality time with her family.

Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors & Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 9/30/21 - 9/30/22.

Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State 2019, 2022 (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2019, 2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.

Securities Agent: AK, AZ, CA, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KS, LA, MA, MT, NC, NV, NY, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures

NMLS#: 1268439

Gretchen has been an integral member of our team since 1997, bringing nearly three decades of experience in delivering exceptional service to high-net-worth clients and family offices. As our primary client service liaison, she plays a vital role in ensuring a seamless and responsive client experience across a broad spectrum of administrative and operational needs.

Her responsibilities include overseeing new account onboarding, funds disbursements, account transfers, gifting, and account maintenance. In addition, she manages digital client services and provides specialized administrative support tailored to the unique needs of family office clients.

Known for her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to client care, Gretchen serves as a trusted resource for clients, helping them navigate both routine and complex transactions with professionalism and efficiency.

Gretchen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University and is recognized for her dedication to upholding the highest standards of service and integrity in wealth management.

Michael joined Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in 2010 and brings over 15 years of experience serving high net worth individuals and families. He plays a key role in the team’s wealth management efforts, leveraging his exceptional analytical skills to deliver in-depth investment product research, customized wealth planning analyses, and comprehensive performance reporting. Michael is instrumental in developing sophisticated, goal-based financial planning models tailored to help clients navigate complex financial decisions and achieve long-term objectives. He combines both qualitative insight and quantitative rigor to support informed, strategic decision-making. Michael earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Washington.

For nearly 15 years, Tim has helped ultra-high-net-worth and emerging high-net-worth families navigate the complexities of significant wealth. Tim began his career as a Client Service Associate and advanced to Wealth Management Associate before assuming his current role as Vice President and Group Director on our ten-person team at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management.

In this leadership position, he oversees our business management, operational strategy, and client service delivery. His focus is on ensuring our advisors and supporting team are empowered with the right structure, resources, and efficiencies to deliver a truly differentiated experience. Tim plays a key role in shaping our strategic direction, coordinating with Morgan Stanley’s global network of specialists, and serving as a central point of connection between clients, advisors, and partners.

With a consultative mindset and a commitment to disciplined execution, Tim helps deliver seamless, white-glove service across multiple dimensions of our clients’ financial lives.

Raised in both Seattle and Orange County, Tim earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance, graduating cum laude from California State University, Long Beach, and an MBA from Seattle University. He is proud to call the Pacific Northwest home and remains an avid supporter of Seattle’s sports teams, especially the Mariners.

Whether managing complex operational priorities, supporting our advisors in delivering bespoke strategies, or cultivating trusted long-term relationships, his mission is clear: to provide the leadership, structure, and personalized service that allows our clients to focus fully on the opportunities their wealth affords.

Katherine joined the team at Morgan Stanley in 2016 after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Major in Finance and Minors in Philosophy and Economics. Her responsibilities on the team include portfolio analytics, financial planning, and retirement planning.

Katherine enjoys working out, reading, traveling, and trying new foods to pair with Sriracha. Originally from Orange County, California, Katherine now resides in Seattle.

Hayley joined the team at Morgan Stanley in 2021. Prior to working at Morgan Stanley, Hayley spent the first five years of her career at TIAA, working as both a licensed retirement consultant and later a portfolio analyst for their Private Asset Management. Her responsibilities on the team include portfolio analytics and financial planning. She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2016 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Economics and a Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics.

Hayley loves to ski, paddle board, try new restaurants, and spend time in the park with her two French bulldogs. She has lived in Seattle, WA for the last three years.

Connor joined the team as a Client Service Associate in 2023 but started at Morgan Stanley in 2022 as a Wealth Management Operations Associate. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Connor was a Project Manger for a Seattle based startup. He graduated from Gonzaga University in 2018 with undergraduate degrees in History and Classical Civilizations. Connor currently attends the University of Washington where he is earning his MBA at the Foster School of Business Evening Program.

Outside of the office Connor enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with his cat, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his beagle puppy.

Marissa joined Morgan Stanley in 2022 and our team in 2023. She is a fourth generation financial professional and comes to the team fully registered with previous operations experience at both New York Life and Northwestern Mutual. In her current capacity, she is responsible for client account administration including new accounts, trading, money movement, account transfers, and advisor strategy implementation. Marissa graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in both Mathematics and Communication from the University of Washington.

Outside of the office, Marissa enjoys singing jazz, spending time with her family in Eastern Washington, and DIYing improvements to her 100-year-old home.