

The Cypress Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
Our Story and Services
Your hard-earned wealth comes with both opportunity and responsibility. Our goal is to help simplify the management of your finances so you can more fully appreciate the richness of all dimensions of your life — from personal and professional achievements to extraordinary experiences and relationships.
The Cypress Group operates as a boutique, family office-style practice with team members in both San Francisco and Newport Beach. Our clients are affluent families up and down the Pacific Coast who have built and led successful enterprises and created personal wealth in the process. Our role on their team is to create, coordinate, implement and maintain highly customized strategies to protect their assets, support their lifestyle and leave enduring legacies.
Our highly decorated and diverse team consists of 6 partners and 3 analysts and includes two advisors who hold Morgan Stanley's coveted Family Wealth Director designation, a distinction held by less than 4% of advisors at Morgan Stanley. We combine our individual talents and perspectives into a cohesive practice that consistently provides a world class, white glove experience. Drawing upon our own unique experiences and the vast global resources of Morgan Stanley, we deliver comprehensive wealth management capabilities and dedicate ourselves to helping our clients make more enriching decisions.
- We focus exclusively on providing the highest level of personalized concierge service to a small number of families with significant financial resources and complexities.
- We follow a disciplined investment approach, establishing a core portfolio based on time-tested solutions for wealth preservation and accumulation. We believe this traditional foundation is essential for a carefully constructed portfolio. Our strategy is to manage customized portfolios grounded in conservative investments, while offering access to the market's latest growth opportunities.
- For over 30 years, we have helped successful entrepreneurs and executives create tax-efficient strategies for managing concentrated equity positions and low basis securities, transition family businesses and transfer wealth to younger generations.
- Business Succession PlanningFootnote1
- Executive Financial ServicesFootnote2
- Financial PlanningFootnote3
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote4
- Trust Services*
- Philanthropic ManagementFootnote5
- Cash Management and Lending ProductsFootnote6
- Life InsuranceFootnote7
- Long Term Care InsuranceFootnote8
- Corporate Retirement PlansFootnote9
- Stock Option PlansFootnote10
For Corporate Executives

At The Cypress Group, we have developed a comprehensive wealth management process tailored to busy executives. This process guides you through the complexities associated with pre- and post-IPO concentrated stock, taking into account tax optimization and immediate liquidity needs to construct a long-term strategy for diversification.
For Business Owners

Planning for business succession or transition is a complex, technical endeavor. You are faced with difficult questions:
• What factors dictate my company’s valuation?
• Who will carry on my vision?
• Do I want to maintain some control?
• Will the proceeds from the sale of my business be enough to support the lifestyle and retirement I envision? If not, how do I make up the shortfall?
• What tax and estate planning issues do I need to be thinking about?
At The Cypress Group, we focus on helping owners of closely-held, private businesses make informed decisions about their financial futures. With our firsthand experience in navigating the complexities of a family business, we understand how challenging it can be to balance professional and personal priorities. We know the right questions to ask and we have the experience, network, and resources to help you plan for both your liquidity event and the chapters of your life that follow.
For Equity Compensation

Location
Meet The Cypress Group
About John Lin
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, the standard of excellence in financial planning
• Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, a certification that reflects his ability to apply the latest tax and estate planning strategies to address the complex needs of successful individuals and families
• Certified Exit Planning Advisor®, a highly-regarded designation signifying his ability to help business owners optimize the value of their companies and coordinate the mechanisms in business transitions
John also holds Morgan Stanley’s Family Wealth Director designation, which demonstrates his experience with the unique, often complex, needs of wealthy families. He has also been recognized as a Presidents Club (2022 - 2024) and Masters Club member (2015-2021), an honor reserved for the firm’s top Financial Advisors.
Since joining Morgan Stanley, he has successfully navigated The Cypress Group through the retirement of two business partners and is currently in the process of a third retirement transition. Previously, John worked in his family’s privately-owned real estate sales business. He earned his BA in International Business with a minor in Business Law from Cal Poly.
Born in Taiwan, John is conversational in Taiwanese and Mandarin. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Julie, and their two daughters. He enjoys exploring the Bay Area food scene, reading history, and staying current on the markets.
*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.
NMLS#: 1255397
CA Insurance License #: 0D85958
About Scott Caston
Scott joined Morgan Stanley in 2005 and has dedicated his entire career to serving the sophisticated financial planning and investment management needs of corporate executives and business owners in the Bay Area and Southern California.
He and his team have garnered recognition from Forbes as one of the top wealth management practices in California. Recent accolades include:
• Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Team (2023-2025)
• Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (2021-2024)
• Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors (2017-2020)
Scott attained the prestigious Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation from Yale School of Management and Investments & Wealth Institute™, and is a Family Wealth Director, an advanced designation achieved by less than five percent of the advisors at Morgan Stanley. Scott is also a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and holds a B.A. in Finance from California State University, Fullerton - College of Business and Economics.
Outside of work, you will find Scott with his family - his wife, Lauren, and their two active sons!
Awards Disclosures: https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure.html
* 2023-2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2023-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in March of year prior to the issuance of the award.
*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.
*2017-2020 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 2017-2020). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.
NMLS#: 1290463
CA Insurance License #: 0G49645
About Marco Salerno
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2012, Marco proudly served five years active duty overseas in the United States Navy where he acquired a true appreciation for the value of working as a team and having an exceptionally high attention to detail. Those lessons continue to be practiced and have carried over into his role on the team. Working predominately with affluent senior executives and serial entrepreneurs, his primary focus is providing a high-touch, custom approach to comprehensive wealth management.
Marco earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. He later earned the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation from Investments & Wealth Institute™ and Yale School of Management. He also received a B.A. in Finance from San Francisco State University – College of Business.
Keeping in line with the military’s core value of selfless service, Marco donates much of his time across a variety of non-profits, most notably American Corporate Partners and The Guardsmen. Marco lives in Burlingame with his wife, Elena, and their son & daughter.
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2022-2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/21 - 6/30/22
NMLS#: 1265337
CA Insurance License #: 0J18745
About Paul Ireland
With over 30 years in the financial services industry, Paul works with high-net-worth families to develop and manage customized, multi-generational wealth management plans. Areas of focus include asset allocation and financial planning analysis, selection and ongoing due diligence of money managers and funds, performance measurement and estate planning. Paul holds the designation of Alternative Investments Director, a specialists title given to an elite group of highly trained and experienced advisors with an expertise in private equity, private credit and hedge funds.
Before getting into the financial services industry, Paul was a CPA with KPMG.
Paul is a graduate of University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC and maintains his Series 7, 31, 63 and 65 Securities Licenses.
Originally from the East Coast, Paul has called the Bay Area home for more than 2 decades. He and his wife Elizabeth have three adult children and live in San Anselmo, California. Outside of work, Paul enjoys golf, cycling and spending time with his new grandson.
NMLS#: 557602
About Michal Grommunt
Michal holds a Financial Planning Specialist designation and volunteers on the Diversity and Inclusion Council at Morgan Stanley. He joined the Cypress Group in 2019. Since joining the team, he has had myriad opportunities to work closely with the business owners we serve, gaining valuable insight into how their businesses work and what challenges they face in balancing their business plans with their personal goals and aspirations.
Michal has always been fascinated with the markets and the dynamics of money. He feels privileged to be able to use his diverse background and knowledge to help clients translate their wealth into opportunities to enhance not only their own lives, but also the lives of those around them and in the community. Having previously founded and/or operated several small businesses, he also has firsthand experience with business ownership.
Born in Poland, Michal moved to the US on his own at age 18 to pursue the American Dream. Instilled with a sense of discipline and diligence since childhood, he was the Polish champion in the martial art of wushu. Outside of work, he is passionate about alternative energy, home automation, cars and motorcycles and finds joy in keeping up with modern trends in music, electronics, and efficiency solutions.
NMLS#: 2432106
CA Insurance License #: 4269197
About Tobias Leonardos
His advice centers on comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and access to lending. Utilizing Morgan Stanley’s extensive research, premier trading platform, and full spectrum of investment choices, Tobias creates tailored strategies to help his clients achieve their complex and unique financial goals.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2020, Tobias worked at Mutual of Omaha as an Advisor. Tobias holds the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation, completing his coursework through the University of California, Berkeley and awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. In addition, he has received his B.A. in Economics and Business Management from the University of Redlands where he was a collegiate athlete. Originally from Half Moon Bay, CA, Tobias resides in San Francisco and stays active on the weekends with volunteering and outdoor activities.
*2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2023). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
NMLS#: 2464701
About Lisa Zengel
I especially enjoy the personal aspects of my client relationships. I’ve discovered that we share many of the same passions and priorities. Like many of you, I love to travel. I’ve traveled to all seven continents and over 50 countries. My husband and I are committed to teaching our sons to enjoy nature, culture, and adventure through travel, hiking, and camping. Whether it is volunteering across Central and South America, cage diving with great white sharks in Africa, or taking the polar plunge in Antarctica, I value the importance of being challenged with unique and thoughtful experiences.
I am a graduate of Boston College with a BA in economics and an MBA in finance from the University of Southern California. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, I worked in investment management and private equity. I moved to Morgan Stanley to combine my analytical skills with my desire to help individuals and families reach their financial goals, as well as develop lasting relationships.
About Juan Gachet
I joined Morgan Stanley in 2014, and in May of 2018 I received the Academic Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to the personal financial planning program at UC Berkeley extension for my academic work in the classroom, as well as my work within the San Francisco Bay Area Latino community.
Originally from Ecuador, and with my multilingual background in Spanish, I'm able to work with clients in a language that is most comfortable to them. While earning my bachelors of science degree in Economics from San Jose State University, I learned the value of hard work and responsibility and gained my first exposure to the world of finance.
I also serve as Executive Vice-President for the San Francisco Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA), where I'm dedicated to building business relationships to help the next generation of Latino Professionals find their dream job and start their professional journey.
I live in Santa Rosa, CA with my wife Julia and son Leo. We enjoy camping, biking, and spending time with family and our friends.
About Keaton Covillo
Keaton holds a Master of Business Administration from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, a Master of Music from New York University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Denver, where he received a scholarship for opera. He lives in San Francisco with his partner, Amir, and their dog, Alvin.
About Nidhi Gupta
Prior to joining Morgan Stanly Nidhi built an extensive background working in the operations department of several global investment banks. She holds a Masters in Finance and a Chartered Financial Analyst from ICFAI Business School, India.
Nidhi recently returned to the Bay Area with her Husband, Varun and their 2 young children - Gianna and Yuvan. Outside of work Nidhi is a self-described “foodie” seeking out the amazing and diverse cuisines San Francisco has to offer. In addition she loves to travel and has keen interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, jogging, walking, cycling.
About Sophia Oh
Formerly a Director of Business Strategy at Morgan Stanley, she was responsible for the development, implementation, and management of a wealth management team’s overall business processes and client experience. Prior to this, she held a VP Senior Registered Associate position where she possessed the skills to lead the operations of a large, high performing team and manage its members. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with an emphasis in public policy and holds the Series 7, 66, and insurance licenses.
Sophia and her husband Chris recently moved from San Diego to the OC for their daughter Chloe to attend the Orange County School of the Arts. She is thrilled to be back in her hometown and in her free time loves running, travelling, and watching live theater.

Contact John Lin

Contact Scott Caston

Contact Marco Salerno

Contact Paul Ireland

Contact Michal Grommunt

Contact Tobias Leonardos
The Power of Partnerships
About Wendy Fortenberry
Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.
Wendy began her career in financial services in 2001, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2015 as a Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Wealth Management Banker at Merrill Lynch.
Wendy is a graduate of San Diego State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. She lives in the Bay Area. Outside of the office, Wendy enjoys attending professional baseball games & performing arts events as well as spending time with family and friends.
About Clint Eddy
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, Clint was a Wealth Strategist at Merrill Lynch for over 15 years. Clint also practiced tax and business law at the law firm of Fox Rothschild for over six years. He was a member of the firm’s Estate Planning and Tax and Corporate Transactions groups. Clint is a member of Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and is actively involved in the WSBA’s Real Property, Probate and Trust section. He is the co-author of the Washington Partnership and Limited Liability Company Deskbook and was named a “Rising Star” by Washington Law and Politics magazine.
Clint received his Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, his Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon School of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. He is Series 7 and 66 licensed.
Outside of work Clint is an avid, but admittedly, pretty awful skier. He and his fiancé live in Seattle with their 10 year old Boston Terrier named Annie.
About Stephen Rothman
Stephen earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and received the Financial Planning Specialist® designation from the College for Financial Planning. Stephen is originally from Larchmont, NY and currently resides in New Rochelle, NY.
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