The Cornett Group at Morgan Stanley

Fred Cornett began his financial advisory career in 1983 with Merrill Lynch. Focusing on tax-free bonds and individual stock selection, his business quickly evolved and he was asked to join Prudential-Bache in Stuart, Florida in 1986. He enjoyed a long tenure with Prudential-Bache and its successor firm, Prudential Securities, before moving to Palm Beach Gardens to enroll his children in The King’s Academy, a private Christian school, and joining Morgan Stanley in 1999. He taught investment classes for more than 20 years in the Martin County Adult Education program and was one of the original founders of the Jensen Beach Florida Little League, coaching 23 teams of boys’ baseball and girls’ softball. He became a Certified Financial Planner in 1997, and concentrates on business, personal, estate and philanthropic planning.

Fred is a Morgan Stanley Senior Portfolio Management Director who designs investment portfolios that are tax efficient and easy for the client to understand and follow. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Palm Beach Gardens and are involved with several community endeavors.

Dave Cornett’s career began in ministry, where he served as an ordained minister in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. In this role, he developed strong leadership and coaching skills while managing large teams of volunteers and students. Dave played a key role in the expansion of one of the largest multi-campus churches in the U.S., contributing to the creation and growth of nine medium to large-sized congregations in South Florida, which collectively drew around 10,000 attendees each week by the end of 2016.

In 2007, Dave transitioned to the financial sector, joining Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor alongside his father, Fred Cornett. Despite navigating one of the most challenging financial periods in U.S. history, Dave and his father achieved significant business growth. Dave continued to balance his financial career with ministry, consulting for a large local church in 2010. By 2012, he made the decision to return to full-time ministry, motivated by a deep conviction to serve his community.

In 2017, Dave’s career took a new direction when he joined Chick-fil-A to lead the early market adoption in New York City. He oversaw human resources, administration, and operations for the second Chick-fil-A store in Manhattan. After the birth of his son in 2019, Dave and his family relocated back to South Florida, where he continued in hospitality as a General Manager for Chick-fil-A. His leadership led to a remarkable 60% sales growth until he retired from hospitality in 2023.

Dave rejoined Morgan Stanley in 2023 as a Financial Advisor with The Cornett Group, where he now applies his extensive experience to help clients achieve their financial goals. A Belmont University alumnus with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Dave is also a multi-instrumentalist and music producer, having collaborated with notable talent in the music industry. Residing alongside his wife Jess and their two children, Dave is active in his community, supporting various causes and enjoying water sports.

Joan is the Portfolio Associate for The Cornett Bendele Group. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2000 and in the financial services industry since 1997. Her primary responsibilities with the Cornett Bendele Group are to offer our clients excellent, personalized customer service, to reinforce our client relationships, and to handle our day-to-day administrative operations. Joan holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses.

Joan was born and raised in Rhode Island, earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Rhode Island, and is an avid Red Sox fan. She has been a Florida resident for 43 years and resides in Palm Beach Gardens.