The Elements Group at Morgan Stanley

Executive Director
Portfolio Management Director
Family Wealth Advisor
Financial Advisor


Susan joined Morgan Stanley in 2000 and is passionate about taking care of clients and guiding them to make prudent financial decisions throughout their lives.

Susan uses her behavioral science education and business experience in assisting clients to develop a clear and well defined wealth and investment management process. Her group is regarded as a trusted resource who can help clients and their family make informed decisions about any financial decision they may encounter. Susan believes every person has an opportunity to create and live the life they desire and is passionate about guiding and taking care of each and every client.

Susan has been recognized as a Forbes ‘Top Women Wealth Advisor’ and ‘Best-in State Wealth Advisor’ in 2019 to 2025. Susan has a deep appreciation for personal relationships which enables her to support her clients in an intelligent, easygoing and accessible manner.

Susan has held various leadership positions at Morgan Stanley having represented the Chicago North Complex as a member of the Great Lakes Regional Advisory Council as well as serving for 4 years on the National Advisor Council (FAAC) in New York representing the Great Lakes Region. These positions act as a liaison between Morgan Stanley colleagues and Senior Management, creating an open two-way communication channel to discuss and provide feedback and insight on key initiatives and enhancements within the organization.

Susan graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a MBA in Business Administration. She is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP^®) professional. This nationally recognized certification is awarded to individuals after successfully completing a series of Financial Planning classes and exams administered by Northwestern University as well as passing the national exam issued by the CFP^® Board.

Susan currently serves on the Executive Board and Board of Directors of Temple Jeremiah in Northfield, IL. Susan serves as Treasurer, Co-head of the Investment Committee and chairs the Budget Committee as well. For over a decade, Susan served on the University of Illinois Alumni Advisory and Psychology Department Advisory Board of Directors. She also served as a Vice President of the Board of Directors for Game-On Sports Camp for Girls.

Susan lives in Deerfield, IL with her husband Dan. She enjoys spending time with her grown children and the ‘little ones’ who thankfully live close by. Golf, paddle tennis and long walks help Susan stay active throughout the year.

2019 - 2025 Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors & Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State (formerly referred to as Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2019 - 2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in Sept of year prior to the issuance of the award.

NMLS #1279145
CA Lic# OE41884

Mike utilizes 11 years of wealth management expertise to craft detailed investment strategies to achieve optimal outcomes. His investment philosophy focuses on goal centric planning to educate clients on the optimal path to protecting and growing their wealth.

Mike gained a very strong interest in investing at a young age. His passion for finance drew him to advance his education at Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Right out of the Kelley school he accepted an investment consulting position with FactSet Research. While at FactSet, he consulted with large institutional money managers to help analyze their portfolio performance and screen for attractive equity investments.

Through his experience, Michael has gained insight into market and investment trends that are currently present in today’s economic climate. Mike uses this expertise to execute detailed financial plans consistent with client objectives. He has a passion for using technology to enhance the client experience. While at Morgan Stanley, Michael has received numerous rewards from Forbes, those including Forbes Best In State Wealth Management Teams 2024; and Forbes Next Gen Best in State Advisor 2022 - 2024.

Mike lives with his wife and two boys in Northbrook, IL. In his free time he loves watching college basketball and playing sports with his kids. Mike has been at Morgan Stanley since 2015, and works with high net worth families and business owners.

Joe joined Morgan Stanley in 2017 as a financial advisor and works with high net worth and high-income individuals. After spending his previous 11 years at other wealth managements firms, Joe moved to Morgan Stanley for the breadth of investment resources, financial planning resources, and family office resources.

Joe believes there are three elements that helped create his experience within the industry. First, a love for finance that started at a young age which led him to secure a finance degree and develop his passion for the industry. Second, his competitive nature from playing sports which helped to develop a work ethic centered around improving his clients’ outcomes. Third, a passion for helping others while growing up within a small, rural community. He loves educating and creating strong relationships with everyone he works with.

Joe’s focus is working with individuals in the world’s most competitive professions to help manage the financial rewards of their success. Whether it is a professional athlete, an entrepreneur, or a surgeon, Joe and his team work to tailor financial strategies that help clients towards their goals. It starts with an in-depth plan that helps create a blueprint for the future. Then the team develops an investment portfolio that helps seek client’s goals while focusing on diversification across asset classes, tax management investment strategies, and continuously monitoring new opportunities. This is all while coordinating with the client’s outside advisors like estate planning attorneys, accountants, insurance specialists, and their family office.

One of Joe’s passions is giving back to the community. Joe serves on the Voices Corp. board of directors and on the IU School of Medicine Planned Giving Committee. Joe and his team try to help with financial literacy education throughout the nation. Joe has been a speaker at numerous IU School of Medicine events, colleges, high schools, local elementary schools, large corporations and healthcare specialty societies.

Joe lives in Westfield with his wife Keenan, son Talon, daughter Wren, and dog Bogey. He enjoys coaching and attending all of his kids’ sporting events. In his spare time, Joe likes attend all of his kids extra curricular activities and likes to play golf, soccer, and tennis.



Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 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 visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences.

The term “Family Office Resources” is being used as a term of art and not to imply that Morgan Stanley and/or its employees are acting as a family office pursuant to Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss in a declining financial market.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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. 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.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 4046622 11/24

Jim Phillips grew up in Lincolnwood, IL and currently resides in the north suburbs of Chicago. Jim received his finance degree and MBA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Shortly after achieving his MBA, Jim was hired as zone manager for Ford Motor Company. Jim managed the relationships between Ford and the various dealerships throughout the Midwest.

In the spring of 1979, Jim decided to pursue his passion for investments and enroll in the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter training program. Three years later Jim was appointed Regional Product Manager for Certificates of Deposit in the Midwest Region. In 1985, Jim was promoted to the title of Senior Vice President Financial Advisor.

Jim has been with Morgan Stanley for 45 years. In addition, Jim has been recognized as a top-performing advisor at Morgan Stanley, previously holding Chairman’s club designation for 10 years.

Today, Jim works on financial planning and execution of investment strategies for high net worth families. In his free time, Jim is a big Northwestern sports fan and very involved in philanthropy. He also loves spending quality time with his 5 grandchildren.

Ben Donathen works with affluent individual and institutional clients in the development and implementation of customized investment plans. With over 14 years of industry experience, Ben also consults clients on 401(k) plans, monitors the team’s financial planning, and is heavily involved in the team’s investment analytics. Ben is responsible for much of the team’s personal finance areas of focus (cash management and lending solutions, college savings, retirement savings, etc.).

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Ben served as a Financial Advisor at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. He began his financial services career at American Funds, after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Wabash College.

Ben lives in Westfield, Indiana, with his wife, Jackie, and their three sons, Desh, Dax and Drex.

NMLS #2476791

(317) 818-7438
ben.donathen@morganstanley.com

Christy is an Assistant Vice President, Business Development Associate, that has spent 23 years working within the industry at Morgan Stanley. She currently holds the Series 7, 9,10, 63, and 66 licenses. Christy works directly with clients on their daily and short term financial needs. She also spent some of her time in management roles and is a mentor and leader among her peers.

Christy lives in a suburb on the west side of Indianapolis with her husband and has one son who is currently in college.

Alan Banuelos joined Morgan Stanley in 2020 and brings with him a vast amount of knowledge in the financial industry. His career began with Citibank, and since then he has worked for firms such as Merrill Lynch, Fidelity Investments, and JPMorgan Securities. Alan has a long history of creating and maintaining long-standing client relationships. He has a strong customer relations background along with experience in the investment industry and helping families plan for their future. His approach to building relationships is applying his industry knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving skills to find the best possible solution for the client.

Alan has obtained his FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 registrations, along with his Life and Health Insurance licenses.


Alan currently lives in Lake in the Hills, IL. He enjoys spending time with his wife and his two dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer and going hiking.

Jon joined Morgan Stanley in 2012 and he has been in the industry since 2000. Prior to coming to Morgan Stanley, he worked for Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab, and Balasa Dinverno Foltz, an Itasca, IL-based Registered Investment Advisory firm.

Jon has focused on working with individuals and families assisting with their diverse investment, planning and service needs, but also has experience working with an institutional consulting team assisting on service needs and investment analysis.

Jon earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. He also has obtained his Series 7, 63 and 66 registrations. In 2007, he obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP^®) designation.

Disclaimer: This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice.

Jon lives in Wheeling, IL and enjoys spending time with his husband, Michael, his two children, Anna and Ben, and their dog, Perry.