The Fears Group at Morgan Stanley

Sonia Balfour-Fears is a Financial Advisor and Global Sports & Entertainment Director with Morgan Stanley. She founded the Fears Group, which was Merrill Lynch’s first and only African American mother-daughter wealth management team.

Sonia focuses on the business development efforts for the team and provides her clients with access to the resources needed to help accomplish their goals. She understands the vast complexities in various stages of wealth and believes that successful, long-term planning involves more than investments. She sees the importance in educating and providing clients with holistic guidance to help achieve their goals.

Sonia began her work within the financial services industry in 2000. She joined Bank of America/Merrill Lynch in 2006. She recently transitioned to Morgan Stanley as a Global Sports & Entertainment Director in January 2021.

Sonia gained nearly two decades of invaluable experience as a business owner, mortgage specialist and tax professional. In her entrepreneurial role as a medical supply dealer, Sonia developed a relationship through the Trade Commission of the United States Department of Commerce and landed a highly lucrative contract with a client in Spain. She believes this cultural and professional exposure provided her with distinctive insights into the discipline and foresight needed to compete in a global economy. Sonia also leverages her mortgage and tax experience to help clients make proactive, tax-efficient financial decisions.

Sonia holds a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP^®) certification, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. She also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC^®) designation. She holds her Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA registrations, and holds life, accident, sickness, and variable products insurance licenses.

Sonia attended Howard University & University of Maryland, College Park where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. She is active in her community and board certified by the United Way. She actively serves on the board for the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce and is the Chairwoman for the Downtown West Development board. She also volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity and Hands on Atlanta. Sonia has been a member of Friendship Baptist Church since 2016 and currently serves on the leadership team of the Women’s Ministry.

Sonia currently lives in Powder Springs with her husband Ayron. They have three children, Rhea, Ayanna, and Ayron. She enjoys reading, gardening, boating, and spending time with her family.

Ayanna Fears is a highly qualified Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, where she specializes in relationship management and financial planning. Her extensive training and specialized knowledge enable her to assist clients in reviewing, discussing, and updating their financial plans, with a particular emphasis on understanding their short- and long-term goals. Ayanna brings a unique approach to her work, drawing on her academic background in Public Health, where she concentrated in Healthcare Administration. Additionally, she has received training as a Medical Assistant and Environmental Specialist, which allows her to take a holistic planning approach and effectively address various pain points that individuals may experience.

Ayanna's expertise, combined with her deep understanding of clients' needs, make her an invaluable asset to Morgan Stanley. Her well-rounded skill set and ability to adapt to clients' unique circumstances allow her to provide tailored and sophisticated financial advice.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Ayanna leads an active lifestyle, enjoying traveling to explore different cultures and leisurely participating in sporting activities. Her dedication to excellence extends to all aspects of her life, making her a truly exceptional individual.

Terence Dowling is an esteemed Financial Advisor, affiliated with The Fears Group at Morgan Stanley. Notably, Terence holds the prestigious designation of a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field. This distinguished certification necessitates the successful completion of a comprehensive, multi-year, multi-step process, enabling CFP^® professionals like Terence to better serve their clients by honing their skills and acquiring valuable real-life experience. Additionally, Terence plays a pivotal role within the team, actively contributing to client acquisition efforts.

With a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration Management from the University of Georgia, Terence has amassed an impressive 11-year tenure in the financial industry, including six months of exemplary service at Morgan Stanley.

Beyond his professional achievements, Terence finds great joy in his role as a proud father to two beautiful girls, aged 10 and 7. He is happily married to his college sweetheart of 13 years, a bond that continues to flourish. Terence's passions extend beyond the realm of finance, as he revels in pursuits such as golf and ardently supports both college and professional football, always remaining a dedicated fan of his beloved UGA Bulldogs.

Additionally, Terence serves as the chairman of his school's community foundation, making a positive impact within his local community.

Shalo Watts is our Portfolio Associate who has been with Morgan Stanley for 26 years. Shalo primarily focuses on providing first-class client service and strategic operational and administrative support to our valued clients. In many ways, she's the first point of contact for all client questions. Each day she opens and monitors new and managed accounts, handles administrative/operational matters and executes buy/sell orders.

Shalo is Series 3, 7, 63, 9 & 10 as well as her Life, Health and Accident Insurance License.