Our Story and Services

As your Financial Advisors, we can help you identify all your unique goals and create a comprehensive financial plan to achieve them within your desired time frame. You will benefit from our extensive industry experience, Morgan Stanley's world-class resources and our unparalleled commitment to exceed your expectations every day. We will work tirelessly to find high-quality investments for your portfolio and will monitor those holdings closely to ensure they remain the most appropriate for your financial situation. At the Cheng Group, our mission is to make sure you are comfortable every step along the path to your desired financial destination
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Who We Serve

We want to be by your side throughout all of your financial milestones, ranging from retirement planning to leaving a nest-egg for your family. We at the Cheng Group have the capabilities to help you with whatever life may throw your way.

Our practice is built upon the development and creation of strong relationships with all of our clients and their families. Thus, allowing us to deliver a vast assortment of wealth management services.

We work with a broad range of clients who value and respect the advice that we carefully cultivate for them in their search for financial wellness. Some of their goals include:

- Simplifying their financial picture
- Planning for an enjoyable retirement
- Managing risk and protecting assets against all types of markets
- Minimizing investment related taxes through the use of the Morgan Stanley tax division
- Addressing long-term health care needs
- Educating the next-generation on how to manage finances and prepare for the future
- Allowing for philanthropic opportunities


The advice and solutions that we provide to you will be carefully planned. We take the time to understand your needs and desires, and through this, create a strong relationship of understanding and problem-solving. We are confident that we can help you through every part of your financial life.


We want to be the CFOs of your family's wealth.
Our Clients Include
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Business Owners
  • Employees with Concentrated Stock Positions
  • Pre-retirees and Retirees
  • Multi-Generational Families
  • International Clients

Awards, Recognition, and Designations

Thanks to the unwavering commitment to helping clients and families achieve their goals, members of the Cheng Group have been awarded and granted the following designations and awards.
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    CFP®
    Individuals certified by the CFP® Board have taken the extra steps to demonstrate commitment and professionalism by voluntarily submitted to the rigorous CFP® certification process that includes demanding education, examination, experience, and ethical requirements. These four cornerstones set the foundation for the CFP® professional's ability in helping clients achieve their goals.
    Why CFP?
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    CPWA®
    The Certified Private Wealth Advisor® certification is designed for experienced advisors who work with high-net-worth clients. It focuses on the full cycle of wealth—accumulation, preservation, and distribution. Earning the CPWA® designation gives you the skills to identify and analyze challenges facing high-net-worth (HNW) clients and develop specific strategies to help minimize taxes, monetize and protect assets, maximize growth, and transfer wealth.
    Learn More
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    International Wealth Management - International Client Advisors
    Working in international wealth management requires Financial Advisors with a keen sense of global awareness. The Cheng Group comes from a diverse set of backgrounds, with clients residing in both the United States and in China. We are fully equipped to help both domestic and international clients with their wealth management needs.

    Bonnie and Justine are both fluent in Mandarin; Bonnie is also fluent in Cantonese.
    International Wealth Management

Comprehensive Financial Planning

Whether you are in the beginning of your career, nearing retirement, or anything in between - we at the Cheng Group can and will help you plan and achieve your financial goals.

Using an immense collection of tools from Morgan Stanley, we work with you to create a detailed, realistic, and stable strategy that integrates the various aspects of your financial life, including your investments and cash management needs.

We will build a personal roadmap to achieve and protect your goals - a framework that makes the connection between you life goals and your financial resources, and will provide a baseline for all future decisions.
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    2024 Income Tax Tables
    This resource outlines the 2024 tax schedule, the limits on health and education account limits, deduction and retirement limits, and lots of other important information. It always seems like tax season is just right around the corner, we recommend to everyone to keep yourself informed and updated.
    Click here to access the 2024 tax tables
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    Manage Debt
    We take a deep look at your mortgage, car loans, credit cards, and other debts you have in order to help determine where you can save on interest and create a scheduled debt repayment timeline. Prioritizing which ones should be payed off first.
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    Insurance
    Insurance is always a big consideration of ours. We take a extremely detailed look at the type(s) of insurance that most fit your needs, whether it be life insurance, car insurance, home insurance, or anything else. We determine if these policies are fit and suited for your goals.
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    Retirement
    Leading up to and through retirement, the Cheng Group will help you identify the best ways to obtain the income you need and help you achieve your financial goals.

Market Outlook and Interesting Articles

We strive to simplify complex financial ideas into a understandable format so that all our clients can truly understand the work that goes into planning for their future. We are firm and true believers in the idea that the best client is always an informed one. We seek to update clients on everything from market trends, analyses, and outlooks. The resources below provide in-depth and timely analysis on everything that can be affecting your portfolio.
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    GIC Weekly
    Please take a look at this week's latest Global Investment Commitee article for timely market information.
    Latest GIC
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    5 Ways to Bolster Your Finances for Any Environment
    Investors may see new economic and market uncertainty in 2023. These financial strategies can help you navigate what’s ahead.
    5 Ways to Bolster Your Finances in Any Environment
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    Top 5 Mistakes Investors Make in a Sudden Market Downturn—and What to Do Instead
    Whether it is panic selling, hiding out in cash, or trading frantically during bear markets, investors tend to make several mistakes that can hurt them long-term. Know how to spot—and avoid—the most common bad behaviors.
    Top 5 Mistakes Investors Make in a Sudden Market Downturn

Location

411 Borel Ave
Suite 220
San Mateo, CA 94402
US
Direct:
(650) 358-1811(650) 358-1811

Meet The Cheng Group

About Me

Bonnie Cheng is a Senior Vice President, Senior Wealth Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM with The Cheng Group at Morgan Stanley in San Mateo, Calif. In a career that has spanned more than two decades she has firmly established a solid reputation for reliability, professionalism and unwavering integrity.

Bonnie is deeply devoted to providing excellent service to her clients. “I sincerely care about making life easier for them,” she says. “I do this by consistently delivering -- and striving to exceed their expectations. I want them to feel they have a trusted advisor working hard for them every day.”

Bonnie’s caring spirit comes through in her very first meeting with an investor. She conducts a comprehensive interview in which she takes the time to understand fully all the details of the person’s financial life. She is an excellent listener and keenly adept at identifying what really matters to investors.

Following the initial meeting, Bonnie meticulously analyzes the client’s situation before making her carefully considered recommendations in a language that clients can easily understand. From there, she keeps clients well-informed through regular communications. Bonnie believes a well-informed client is a confident one, regardless of market and economic conditions.

Bonnie’s greatest satisfaction comes when she helps clients achieve their financial goals and they in turn entrust more of their wealth to her. Having helped countless clients through the years, she has received numerous referrals and now manages money for children of long-time clients.

Born in China, Bonnie has clients in both the U.S. and in Asia. She serves primarily high-net-worth clients, multinational corporations and business owners. She completed her undergraduate work in China and has an MBA from San Francisco State University. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, she worked more than seven years at Citi as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM and Senior Wealth Advisor.

Bonnie is married to her husband, Benny Huang, and they have one child, Claire. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and biking with her daughter.
Securities Agent: CT, WV, WA, CA, TX, OH, MD, UT, NY, MN, MA, FL, AZ, KS, NV; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1814494

About Justine Cramer

Justine Cramer is a Financial Advisor with The Cheng Group at Morgan Stanley in San Mateo, California. She specializes in creating diversified multi-asset strategies and providing personalized guidance on financial planning. Justine is passionate about helping individuals and families make intentional financial decisions that align with their goals.

Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, Justine spent 20 years as a Relationship Manager at Citi and HSBC. She holds FINRA Series 7, 65, and 63 licenses. With a deep appreciation for relationships and communication, Justine is a thoughtful and empathetic listener, allowing her to offer personalized financial guidance that addresses each client’s unique needs.

Originally from Taiwan, Justine faced the challenge of building a new life in the United States while navigating unfamiliar financial systems. With the support of her church community and her growing expertise in finance, she developed the tools to succeed. Today, she draws on her personal journey to help clients—including new immigrants—achieve financial security and plan for future generations.

As a single mother, Justine understands the vital role financial planning plays in creating stability and opportunity for families. She believes financial education starts with small, actionable steps and grows into a foundation for long-term independence.

Outside of work, Justine is active in her church and enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, Manya, and her close circle of friends.
Securities Agent: AZ, FL, CT, NV, NY, WA, OH, MN, TX, MD, UT, KS, WV, MA, CA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative

The Power of Partnerships

By partnering with experienced individuals across wealth disciplines, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors can align specialized resources with your custom needs and deliver strategic guidance through the familiarity and trust of existing relationships

About Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown is a Senior Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in California.

Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, while leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.

Ryan began his career in financial services in 2006, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2011 as an Associate Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Licensed Premier Banker at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Ryan is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a minor in Management. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California with his family. Outside of the office, Ryan enjoys playing golf, road and mountain biking, and spending time with friends and family. He also volunteers his time as a youth sports coach and at several non-profit organizations.
NMLS#: 465566
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.

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
  • Reduce employee stress,
  • Improve retention and engagement, and
  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
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The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Cheng Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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.

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2Morgan 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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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.
Morgan 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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4Alternative 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.

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5Morgan 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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6Morgan 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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7Morgan 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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8Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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Morgan 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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10Morgan 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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11Morgan 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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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)