The Briese Group

The Founder of the Briese Group, Michael Briese brings more than two decades of wealth management experience, servicing an elite clientele of successful business owners, corporate executives, professional athletes, alternative fund managers, nonprofit organizations and other stewards of generational wealth. Focusing his attention on a relatively small number of relationships, Michael guides his clients through periods of complexity and transition, offering the perspective needed to help make well-informed decisions on complex financial matters. He also leads the team’s efforts to craft highly customized investment portfolios and multigenerational wealth plans to help each of their clients grow, preserve and transfer wealth.

Thanks to the trust his clients have placed in him and his team, Michael was recognized as one of Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, New York, in 2023, 2024, 2025; and as a one of Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors in 2022 & 2023. His team was also recognized by Forbes as a Best-In-State Team in 2025.

Michael’s passion for the wealth management business is evident in the networking events he hosts for his clients and his quarterly conversations with more junior advisors at the firm. He also speaks regularly with undergraduate students at NYU Stern Business School about starting and building a career in wealth management.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2025, Michael spent 18 years at JP Morgan Wealth Management, including 14 years as a Private Client Advisor. He earned a B.A. in Business Economics from the State University of New York, Oneonta.

Originally from Brooklyn, Michael now splits his time between Manhattan and East Hampton with his fiancé, Christine, and golden retriever rescue, Jackson. Outside the office, he enjoys skiing, chess, photography, tennis, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

2023-2025 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2023-2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2022-2023 Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (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 2022-2023). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based for the period 3/31/23-3/31/24.

Drawing on eight years of experience, Will Garrity crafts highly customized wealth plans and portfolio management strategies for highly accomplished individuals and their families and foundations. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER PROFESSIONAL^® (CFP^®), Will employs a disciplined, goals-based approach, leveraging the powerful resources and extensive capabilities of Morgan Stanley to create and implement solutions designed to help clients grow, preserve and transfer wealth. Working to build trusting relationships at every interaction, Will prides himself on paying attention to every detail and being responsive to every client’s needs.

Will’s passion for the wealth management industry was ignited in 2016, when he held a Wealth Management Internship at Morgan Stanley. He joined J.P. Morgan in 2018 as an Assistant Vice President and, in 2025, he returned to Morgan Stanley as Vice President and a member of the Briese Group. He earned his B.S. in Economics and Business from St. Lawrence University, where he was a college athlete named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team. He now serves as a mentor with the University’s LINC program.

Active in the community, Will is a member of the New York Road Runners and New York Harriers, an organization devoted to running, racing and thriving on the streets of New York City. He enjoys spending time with family and particularly playing Uncle Will to his 2-year-old twin nephews. A five-time marathon runner, Will has recorded a personal best time of 3 hours and 13 minutes. He enjoys skiing, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

As the team’s Chief Operating Officer and Group Director, Matt Curley oversees The Briese Group’s day-to-day operations. Matt plays a central role in delivering exceptional, proactive service to the team’s clients, often introducing them to experts within Morgan Stanley and beyond to help them achieve their objectives. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER PROFESSIONAL^® (CFP^®)*, Matt also offers the team’s clients highly personalized wealth planning advice that aligns with their specific financial and life goals.

Matthew joined the Briese Group in 2017 as a Private Client Investment Associate and moved with the team to Morgan Stanley in 2025. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Loyola University of Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business. At Loyola, Matt was also a member of the club baseball team.

An avid traveler, Matt lived in Denmark for four months and in Thailand for one year, where he taught English to elementary school students and worked on a team that built a city hall for the Akha Hill Tribe in Chiang Mai. He continues to enjoy doing volunteer work as much as time allows.

Matt lives with his wife, Caroline, and dog, Albie, in his hometown of Huntington, New York. In his free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants with his wife, golfing, jiu-jitsu and scuba diving.

*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice

Drawing on over a decade of diverse wealth management experience, Lia Kranjac delivers an extensive range of wealth planning services to the team’s ultra high net worth clients. Lia combines a highly personalized services orientation with a disciplined approach to business processes, working to build long-term, highly productive client relationships. In 2023, Lia was named one of Irish America’s Wall Street 50 Honorees, a title recognizing the best and the brightest Irish-American and Irish-born leaders in the financial sphere.

Lia has served in corporate and advisory roles at Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan, where she became a member of the Briese Group. She moved with the team to Morgan Stanley in 2025. Lia earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.

Lia is a passionate advocate for breast cancer research and awareness, having served on the Susan G. Komen Young Professionals Executive Board. Lia enjoys skiing, tennis, reading and traveling.

Irish America’s Wall Street 50 Honorees is not an investment advisory or brokerage award. As such, criteria associated with financial services including, but not limited to, industry experience, client retention, assets under management, investment performance, revenue, quality of advice or client experience are not factors for consideration.

As Chief Investment Officer of the Briese Group, Michael Agoglia leads all facets of the team’s investment strategy, including manager sourcing and due diligence, asset allocation design, and portfolio implementation. Michael has deep experience in the alternative investment space. He leverages this knowledge to identify institutional-quality strategies that align with client objectives, and to help enhance portfolio diversification. Michael also maintains strong relationships with top-tier managers and research providers to ensure access to cutting-edge insights and opportunities.

In addition to portfolio construction and strategy development, Michael plays a key role in client communication—translating complex investment ideas into actionable insights. He works closely with clients to help them navigate evolving market conditions, align their portfolios with long-term goals and make well-informed decisions with confidence.

Michael began his professional career as an Investment Associate at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2021 and joined the Briese Group in 2022. He moved with the team to Morgan Stanley in 2025.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University. He lives in Manhattan and, outside of the office, enjoys golfing, skiing and fishing.

Responsible for a broad range of operational and administrative duties, Charlie Struzziero contributes to an outstanding service experience for clients of the Briese Group. Working in support of the team’s senior advisors and portfolio strategists, Charlie’s primary responsibilities include trade execution, facilitating operations, asset transfers, cash movements, performance reporting and helping clients with their lending needs.

Charlie earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from College of the Holy Cross in 2024, graduating summa cum laude. She began her career as a commercial real estate intern and transitioned into finance as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Natixis CIB. In 2024, she began working with the Briese group at JP Morgan and joined Morgan Stanley with the team in 2025.

Charlie currently lives in Manhattan and enjoys competitive skiing, tennis and golf.