The Chen Group

Within the team, Robert provides institutional-level perspective and service while working with clients on their overall investment picture.

– Robert holds the Senior Portfolio Management Director designation and focuses on overall asset allocation for client portfolios as well as hedging strategies for exposure across sector and style allocations.
– He evaluates and constructs the Alternative Investments allocations for clients. He focuses on risk management across all asset classes and maintains oversight over portfolios.
– Robert works with families to develop comprehensive financial plans that incorporate family values and dynamics, education, wealth transfer, asset protection, and business succession planning.
– He is an Executive Financial Services Director with vast subject matter knowledge in delivering specialized services to, among others, corporate executives and board members of public companies.

Robert has been named to Forbes “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” in the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions, #4 in New York City and #32 in the country in 2022. In addition to the Top Next Gen awards, he has also been named to Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Robert, Chairman's Club Member in 2023 and 2024, has over a decade of experience in helping high net worth individuals and family clientele shape and implement their overall asset allocation strategies and over 18 years in the financial services industry.

– Robert began his career at Credit Suisse First Boston in the Investment Banking division as a financial analyst in the Financial Sponsors / Leveraged Finance Group in New York. Robert spent the next 4 years investing in credit and private lending for two credit-focused hedge funds and 2 years at a long/short equity hedge fund based in Los Angeles and New York. He started his wealth management career at Merrill Lynch before ultimately being recruited to Morgan Stanley in 2014.
– Robert is a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics.

Robert is an active member of the Brown University Alumni Committee, currently serves on the Woodberry Forest School Advisory Council, the Associate Board of the Cancer Research Institute, and the Board of Directors for the Museum of Chinese in America. He and his wife, daughter, and dog reside in Manhattan.


2017 - 2022 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 2017 - 2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.

2021-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2021-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Asset Allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.

Libby is a Financial Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She customizes strategies to help her clients achieve their financial goals and grow their wealth.

• Libby focuses on multi-generational estate planning strategies, investment planning, lending and cash management services. She thoroughly enjoys taking the time to get to know her clients and their loved ones.
• Libby believes that understanding family dynamics, motives, and values is a critical part of her role.

Libby joined Morgan Stanley in 2013 to enter the competitive two-year Wealth Management Rotational Analyst program.

• The program provided her with a holistic view of the wealth management business and a deep understanding of the products and services offered to our clients.
• Following the Analyst program, Libby worked as a Wealth Advisory Associate, collaborating with financial advisors and their clients to create comprehensive financials plans.
• Libby graduated from the University of Miami, Florida with a Bachelor's degree in International Finance and Marketing.

Libby is an avid tennis player who trained at Bollettieri Tennis Academy. She is also a contemporary art enthusiast, an admiration which grew during her studies in Miami and Paris. Libby resides in Manhattan.

James brings a balanced perspective to building portfolios, leveraging his prior experience as a risk officer and investment professional. He takes a holistic approach when addressing client financial needs.

• James works with clients, their families and businesses to determine their goals, needs and objectives. He focuses on both sides of the client balance sheet to help maximize efficiency and watch for blind spots, including estate planning solutions.
• As an Alternative Investments Director, James monitors portfolio performance, researches new investment opportunities and strategically allocates appropriate investments to qualified client portfolios.

His career in the financial services industry began in 2006 as an institutional risk manager and asset steward at a bulge bracket investment bank before transitioning into wealth management. He also owned several small business and first began investing in equities in 7th grade— his prior experience fosters a great sense of empathy when understanding client needs.

• James began his career in the Treasury Group at Deutsche Bank. He held a hybrid role that included liquidity risk management, hedging foreign capital reserves in Latin America and funding the bank’s various business lines. While at Deutsche Bank his team helped shepherd the bank through the Great Recession. This instilled a deep appreciation for the value of risk management, providing a skill set applicable to personal finance.
• After five years at Deutsche Bank, he began his career in wealth management at Merrill Lynch. He spent two years at Merrill Lynch and four years at Wells Fargo before joining the team at Morgan Stanley in Fall 2019.
• James received his Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business with a double major in Finance and Management.

He currently resides in Manhattan and is an avid skier and tennis player. He is also a proud uncle and godfather to a cohort of nieces and nephews.

Talal Bazzi is a financial advisor with The Chen Group at Morgan Stanley, focusing on providing tailored wealth management solutions for high-net-worth families, finance professionals, partners at law firms and doctors. With a client centered approach Talal is committed to building trust and guiding his clients through every step of their financial journey.

With seven years of experience in the wealth management industry, Talal has risen to become a partner at The Chen Group. His dedication and performance have been recognized through his membership in Morgan Stanley's prestigious Pacesetters Club for three consecutive years, most recently in 2024. Before entering finance, Talal earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami, along with the Series 7 and 66 licenses.

Talal grew up in Miami, Florida, and his upbringing instilled in him a love for connecting with people and serving his community outside of work he is passionate about animal welfare and co-founded the Voltaire Foundation, where he serves on the board. An avid sports enthusiast, Talal enjoys playing golf, basketball, soccer, and ping pong and is a die-hard Liverpool fan.

Rocky is the newest member of The Chen Group and works in the Charleston, SC office. Rocky works with families and family-owned businesses to develop holistic financial plans. He understands the planning process begins with a deep understanding of each client’s personal values and long-term goals. Through the process, he provides solutions in Investment Consulting, Advanced Planning and Relationship Management.

He graduated from Woodberry Forest and earned a Business Economics degree at Wofford College.

• Rocky has always enjoyed helping people, solving problems and working with numbers.
• Rocky’s favorite part of his career is building long term relationships with clients.

Rocky is a South Carolina native. Rocky is an avid golfer, enjoys skiing, hiking and spending time with his nieces and nephews

Scott is a Business Development Director with the Wealth Management division of Morgan Stanley. He brings first class service and support to clients and the team. His responsibilities range from account opening and maintenance to assisting clients in trading, IPO participation, portfolio modeling, asset allocation, and providing equity research and performance reports.

Scott began working with Smith Barney in 2010, prior to the merger with Morgan Stanley.

• He immediately obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 licenses and has since worked within the Wealth Management Division.
• Scott is a graduate of George Mason University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics.

Originally from Virginia, he enjoys hiking, camping, basketball and spending time with family and friends. He also lends his time to volunteering for a variety of charity and community organizations. He and his wife Amy live in Brooklyn with their two sons.



*Disclaimer: This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice

Nick joined Morgan Stanley’s 522 5th Avenue Office in 2021 as an Investment Consultant – Nick focuses on developing financial plans for clients with cash flow, income tax and estate planning strategies.

He brings over 9 years of wealth management industry experience, over 5 years he spent supporting advisors across multiple teams in financial planning.

• After a year-long stint as an intern on Wall Street in 2011, Nick returned to the industry when he joined UBS as a Client Associate in 2014 in Beverly Hills, CA.
• By 2015, Nick was promoted to Wealth Planning Associate, supporting financial advisors across 5 Southern California branches. While at UBS, Nick worked mostly with high-net-worth individuals on complex estate and tax issues
• In 2018, Nick founded a registered investment advisor firm that delivered planning online for a fixed retainer. When Nick’s partner matched to graduate school in New York City in 2019, Nick joined Merrill Lynch as a branch planner for the Rockefeller Center Complex. At Merrill, Nick worked with a high volume of affluent clients on retirement and education issues. Nick was recruited by a team at Merrill that moved to Morgan Stanley late 2020.
• Nick graduated University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy.
• He also earned in Master of Science (M.S.) in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University.
• Nick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner with several professional designations in various planning areas.

Nick enjoys running and is a longtime technology enthusiast. He and his husband reside in their new home in Brooklyn.

Disclaimer:
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.

*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice

James started at Morgan Stanley as an intern in 2015 . After his internship, James applied for a full-time position. In February of 2016, James was brought on as a full-time employee working exclusively for the Complex Management Team.

In the beginning of his tenure, James assisted the management group in onboarding international financial advisor groups from UBS, Credit Suisse and other financial institutions. James was also responsible for handling all IT and Property Services matters, as well as entitlements, market data services, and assistance in onboarding new employees. He also project managed the Flagship Renovation Project at the 399 Park Avenue office.

​James began his career with The Millman, McGee & Ennis Group in 2019. His core responsibilities include onboarding new clients, facilitating asset & account transfers and operational “book of business” maintenance. He also served as dedicated family analyst for over 50 relationships, providing assistance with matters such as financial planning, asset allocation & portfolio reviews.

James joined The Chen Group in 2023, his responsibilities range from account opening and maintenance to assisting clients in trading, portfolio modeling, asset allocation, and providing equity research and performance reports.

James has his Associates Degree in Business Administrations. James currently holds a Series 7 & Series 66 license.

James currently resides in Hoboken, New Jersey. During his free time, James enjoys golfing, mountain biking & swimming.