The Davidson-McNair Group at Morgan Stanley

Bob focuses on financial planning that seeks to simplify the complexities of his clients’ lives by customizing strategies to manage virtually all aspects of their financial well-being. He believes frequent communication and a written plan are the foundation for a successful long-term client relationship.

Bob has almost 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. In 2011, he became a member of Morgan Stanley’s distinguished Masters Club, an elite group of the firm’s top advisors. Bob holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist designation, and he is a past president of the Financial Planning Association for South Carolina. A graduate of Davidson College, Bob served as a military intelligence officer in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army, receiving the Bronze Star in Operation Desert Storm.

Outside the office, Bob enjoys spending time with his wife, Donnelly, and their three children, Gage, Graham and Gracie. In his free time, Bob is active with several nonprofit organizations, as well as the Executive Association of Greater Columbia, where he is an immediate past president. He also enjoys in-shore saltwater fishing and bird hunting.

Clarke is committed to helping clients coordinate and organize their financial lives, while providing the financial education they need to make informed decisions throughout the process. He helps them customize a detailed plan that targets their objectives while incorporating their personal priorities and values. For every milestone, challenge or accomplishment that comes their way, Clarke wants to be there to support them, whenever and however they need it.

Clarke has 23 years of experience in financial services, offering him a long-perspective that he can share with his clients as they navigate life’s major events and transitions. Clarke began his career at Morgan Stanley in 2000 and subsequently became a member of the firm’s distinguished Presidents Club, an elite group of its top financial advisors. In addition, he was recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Wealth Advisor from 2020 to 2023. He holds the Portfolio Manager designation from Morgan Stanley and is the team’s lead capital markets professional. Clarke is a graduate of Hampden Sydney College, where he majored in economics.

Clarke and his wife, Robin, have three daughters. Outside the office, he an active member and officer of Presbyterian Church of Columbia. Clarke also enjoys spending time outdoors, and when he isn’t farming or gardening, he may be hunting for turkey and doves or fishing off the coast for flounder and redfish.

​2020-2023 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded ​2020-2023). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Virginia works with clients to define and strategically pursue their personal and professional objectives. She is responsible for portfolio construction, retirement income planning, education planning, estate planning strategies and other key areas as dictated by clients’ needs. She also monitors their accounts to stay on top of changing market environments and their personal circumstances, helping them gain confidence about staying on track toward their goals.

After five years in private banking at First Citizens Bank, Virginia joined Morgan Stanley in 2015. She holds the Series 7, 66 and South Carolina Life & Accident/Health Insurance licenses, and she is a graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South with a degree in economics.
However, Virginia believes her greatest industry education came from her father, Dan Roach, who served the team’s clients for 40 years.

Virginia and her husband, Henry, live in Columbia with their new baby and golden retriever. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, and in her free time, she serves as board chairman of the YMCA of Columbia.

Will advises clients on the asset allocation of their investable assets in concert with their financial goals. He also makes recommendations to clients with regard to Morgan Stanley’s lending capabilities and how these resources may support their objectives. In addition, he communicates information about financial markets to aid them in their decision-making.

With 45 years in the financial services industry, Will has gained broad experience in equities, fixed income and management. He began his career at a regional bank in the fixed income department, where he was responsible for sales and trading, and he moved to BB&T Securities from 1996 to 2013. Will subsequently become a branch manager at Morgan Stanley for seven years before joining the team. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with an M.B.A. and a B.S. in business administration.

Will and his wife, Beth, enjoy spending time with their three children and six grandchildren. Outside the office, he like travel and outdoor activities such as freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, golfing, and biking.

Samantha directs and coordinates the six-person service team to help provide a top-tier experience to clients. She also supports the Financial Advisors of the team as they establish and cultivate relationships with new and existing clients. In addition, Samantha personally handles the more complex issues that require a higher level of dedication.

When Samantha joined the team in 2011, she began as a Client Service Associate, eventually becoming registered and transitioning into the role of Wealth Management Associate and then Group Director. Her diverse background has allowed her to gain extensive knowledge of service processes and team operations, which she uses to help the clients resolve issues every day. Samantha is a graduate of the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina with majors in business management and marketing.

Samantha and her husband, Chris, have three children, Audrey, Palmer, and Simms. Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling with her family and spending time outdoors.

Laura generates tailored financial plans using Morgan Stanley’s broad wealth management resources. By working closely with clients to help them articulate their priorities and goals, she seeks to design a plan that reflects and aligns with these values. Laura brings extensive knowledge of Social Security benefits, estate planning strategies, and life and long-term care insurance issues to her role.

Laura has been a dedicated financial planning specialist with the firm since 2019, and has customized an extensive number of client plans. She holds the Series 7, 66 and South Carolina Life & Accident/Health Insurance licenses, and she attended the University of South Carolina Honors College, where she earned a B.A. in political science with a minor in marketing and public relations.

Laura and her husband, Alex, have three children: Charlotte, Chandler and Andy. Laura is a Columbia native and is a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and a good DIY home project.

Ruth handles a wide range of client administrative requests, such as trades, account maintenance and documentation, money movement, and estate and legal processing. She also assists the team’s financial advisors in preparing for client meetings.

Ruth has been with Morgan Stanley or its predecessor firms since 1979. She has worked with some of the team’s clients for more than 40 years, navigating through several company mergers along the way. Through the decades, she has gained extensive familiarity with clients and their families, as well as firm systems and procedures, which she uses to enhance the personalized and efficient service she provides. Ruth graduated from Georgia Southern College with a major in English and minors in philosophy and French. She also did post graduate study at the National Center for Paralegal Training.

Ruth and her husband, Reggie, are busy raising their grandson, Christian, and the family’s many cats and dogs. She is an active member of Spring Valley Baptist Church, and in her free time, she enjoys horses, reading, and arts and crafts.

Katherine is responsible for assisting the team with client service issues, including money movements, online support, account maintenance, day-to-day requests, and client inquiries. She also schedules client meetings and helps the team’s advisors prepare for those meetings and execute subsequent action items. She is integral to ensuring that clients’ needs are addressed quickly and correctly.

Since joining the team in 2015, Katherine has developed in-depth knowledge of its clients, which allows her to customize the service she provides. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where she majored in corporate communications. Additionally, she has a master’s degree in social work from the University of South Carolina.

A native of Columbia, Katherine enjoys gardening and spending time with her golden retriever, Penny.

Jabez offers a friendly and familiar voice on the phone when clients call with questions or requests, and he serves as a key point of contact for client account servicing, trading, and daily operational needs. He also helps the team’s financial advisors schedule client meetings and facilitates regular communication between clients and their advisor.

Jabez joined the team in 2021 after attending Presbyterian College, where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in economics and business administration. In addition, he holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses.

A native of Chapin, Jabez attends Chapin Presbyterian Church. Outside the office, he enjoys cooking, carpentry, hiking in upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina, and bird hunting.