The Focal Group at Morgan Stanley

With more than 50 collective years of experience in the financial services industry, The Focal Group has designed a streamlined process that is built upon UNDERSTANDING, PROFESSIONALISM, and COMMITMENT. We understand clients and companies are unique. There isn’t always a simple solution to your complex problems. Our team practices personalized planning and approaches problems with a holistic perspective. Through goal-based planning, we consider the full picture and account for potential pitfalls. Professionalism is our discipline. It is our commitment to provide the highest standard of care. We provide unbiased judgment, exercise disciplined investment philosophies, and practice transparency. Your best interest is our first priority. We have a firm commitment to our clients. Our relationship is built on trust, integrity, and dedication. We encourage collaboration when making a decision. Furthermore, our service doesn’t stop with the task on hand.  We take the initiative in providing you future opportunities along with alternative solutions.  Our core principles enable us to help clients manage risk, provide solutions to complex problems, and deliver our suite of services. The Focal Group will provide you the resources to make confident financial decisions and guide you through life’s greatest challenges.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Wealth Management Process

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Our team provides broad-based financial planning, investment management services, and estate planning strategies. Our clientele consist of corporations, high net worth individuals, pre-retirees, and new retirees so we have gotten very versed in designing and implementing income, asset allocation and cash management strategies. We focus on preservation strategies, alternative investments and tactical asset allocation modeling within our portfolio management, and have created a key principle to guide investment selection that suits our clients’ needs by helping deliver efficient portfolios.
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Through our consultative process we strive to help you improve:

ERISA Fiduciary Services 3(21) & 3(38)
Participant Engagement
Management of Your Fiduciary Responsibilities and Risk
Investment Oversight
Plan Design
Provider Management
Fees Benchmarking and assessment
At Morgan Stanley, we understand the regulatory challenges you face as an executive and key insider when trying to access the assets within your corporate equity compensation plan. The experienced professionals on our Executive Financial Services (EFS) team can work with us to deliver specialized guidance and tailored solutions to help you meet your unique needs. We help you navigate complex regulatory issues and gain flexible access to wealth.
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Location

1901 Main Street
Ste 700
Irvine, CA 92614
US
Direct:
(949) 809-1366(949) 809-1366
Toll-Free:
(800) 533-3402(800) 533-3402

Meet The Focal Group

About Bryan Welbaum

An experienced Financial Advisor, Bryan with over 40 years of experience.  His educational background, extensive knowledge and experience through a variety of markets make him a solid investment strategist, able to assess the needs of clients based on lifestyles and the life cycles that are always changing to meet the unique individual needs of clients and companies and employees in managed plans.   
Bryan has achieved the level of being designated as an Executive Financial Service Director for Morgan Stanley, a team of highly experienced Restricted Securities professionals and 10B5-1 traders, whose position delivers the Firm's Wealth Management services to corporate executives and holders of concentrated positions. The Executive Financial Services team focusing in providing transactional, advisory services and branch training to this very important client segment, including the sale of restricted, control, concentrated stock under SEC Rule 144.

He is also a Senior Portfolio Management Director at Morgan Stanley enabling him and his group to provide clients with portfolios managed on a discretionary basis Lines of Business: Retirement Planning and Wealth Management

Bryan advises high-net-worth clients with a perspective in wealth management, implementing computer-based research seeking to ensure the best investment decisions are made for his clients, representing 300 million in assets as of July 2017. 

Bryan is a graduate of the University of Central Florida; he is an avid fan of playing basketball, having played in college. He is passionate about youth opportunity through education. This includes his service and support for providing education in the DRC with Africa New Day, as well as being appointed to the Pepperdine University Parent Board as an advisor, supporting excellence in education. Bryan and his wife of 30 years, along with their family, reside in Southern California.
Securities Agent: SC, PA, WA, OR, AZ, WI, KY, DC, CA, NV, NC, MO, MA, FL, CO, NY, MT, GA, OH, NM, IA, DE, UT, TX, TN, MI, HI, AL; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1273110
CA Insurance License #: 0A15475

About Peter Irvin

Peter Irvin has more than 18 years of industry experience as both a corporate executive, triple director and banker, he is among a select group of Financial Advisors at Morgan Stanley to earn the Corporate Retirement Director, Executive Financial Services Director and Portfolio Management Director titles. Most recently he has earned the Workplace Advisor - Equity Compensation title. Your equity compensation can play a significant role in your overall financial picture.

As your Workplace Advisor for Equity Compensation and a Financial Advisor, he is here to help you align your equity compensation strategy with your broader financial goals. Peter’s aim is to help you to preserve and grow your wealth, connecting you with the resources you need when you need them.

EXPERIENCE
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Peter enjoyed a career with Wells Fargo Business Banking. As a banking specialist, he provided a full range of business banking products and services to his customers. Throughout his career, Peter has held various positions in the investment group, including serving the needs of high-net-worth clients.

EDUCATION
Peter received a Bachelor of Science from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and holds the title of Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor through the National Association of Plan Advisors. Recently, he completed executive education at the Yale School of Management Wealth Management and theory Program.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Peter currently lives in Orange County, California, with his wife and their two boys. In his free time, he enjoys working out, traveling, golfing and snowboarding.
Peter joined Morgan Stanley in 2008 and has over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Peter worked for Wells Fargo Business banking unit which provided a full range of business banking services to customers. 

Peter earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He holds certification in Series 7 - General Securities Representative, Series 66 - The Uniform Combined State Law, Series 31 - Executive Financial Services Director certified, Life & Health Insurance License, Bloomberg Certified, Fidelity Advisor Panel, Certified Portfolio Manager and a Certified Plan Fiduciary Adviser.

Peter has a beautiful wife and two kids. He is also involved with local Orange County's Orangewood Foundation. When away from the office, he enjoys golfing, playing beach volleyball, reading books and articles, traveling to new destinations.

Areas of focus: Wealth Management, Portfolio Management, Financial Planning, Structured Investments, Cash Management, Retirement Planning, Annuities, Asset Allocation, Insurance, Corporate 401k plans, Building Relationships, Mentoring, Relative Strength Investing and Lending Solutions. Wealth & Retirement Planning: Trust Reviews, Insurance Reviews, Investment Strategies, Tax Planning Strategies. Corporate Services: Cash Management, Retirement Plans (401k/403b/Defined Benefit/Bonus/10b5-1), Restricted Securities and Lending Solutions.

CA Insurance Lic.# 0G15768
Securities Agent: UT, FL, SC, TX, CA, TN, NM, MI, MD, HI, DC, CO, AZ, OK, NY, MT, KY, IA, WA, MO, OR, OH, WI, NV, NC, DE, PA, MA, ME, GA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1264991
CA Insurance License #: 0G15768

About Jennifer Dorsi

As a Client Service Associate, Jennifer brings stellar experience in client service and account operations. She possesses valuable skills in business administration and has a real passion for supporting the client experience.

EXPERIENCE
Jennifer joined Morgan Stanley in 2015 and prior to that she was a Quality Control Coordinator and Regulatory Compliance Officer. She recently passed the Securities Industry Essential Exam and working toward her Series 7 and Series 66 Security License.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Jennifer enjoys spending time outdoors and participating in activities such as camping and hiking. As a devoted mother, she supports her children year-round in sports and dance activities.

The Power of Partnerships

By partnering with experienced individuals across wealth disciplines, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors can align specialized resources with your custom needs and deliver strategic guidance through the familiarity and trust of existing relationships

About Sean Lavin

Sean is a Regional Trust Specialist for Morgan Stanley based in Los Angeles. He is responsible for supporting Private Wealth Advisors and their clients’ legal counsel in developing trust and fiduciary solutions for families, institutions and charities. Sean works closely with clients and their legal and strategic advisors to help educate them on appropriate trust vehicles designed to meet the clients’ specific goals and objectives. Sean also provides advice on how to utilize the fiduciary services available through the Morgan Stanley’s comprehensive third party trustee platform that is available to clients.

Sean joined Morgan Stanley in 1999 including several years as a Senior Vice President and Regional Trust Specialist with Smith Barney and Citi Trust. Prior to then, Sean was a Senior Trust Officer with Merrill Lynch / Bank of America.

Sean graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received his master’s degree in business administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Sean holds the Certified Financial Planner and Certified Trust and Financial Advisor designations and is Series 7 and 66 licensed.

About Clint Eddy

Clint Eddy is an Executive Director with the Family Office Resources (FOR) team at Morgan Stanley. As a Generalist with FOR he helps clients and Advisors curate and navigate an expansive suite of highly specialized resources to address the complex, multifaceted challenges of managing significant wealth so clients may make complicated decisions confidently.

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.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Financial Advisers can conduct their business in several ways: individually, as a member of a team of Financial Advisors, or through the formation of a Strategic Partnership with another Financial Advisor or team of Financial Advisors. A Strategic Partnership is an arrangement between a Financial Advisor or a team of Financial Advisors with another Financial Advisor or team of Financial Advisors that has a unique focus or knowledge regarding a specific business concentration, product area, and/or client type. If your account is with an individual Financial Advisor, that Financial Advisor services all facets of your account. If your account is with a Financial Advisor who is a member of a team, any Financial Advisor on the team can service your account. If your Financial Advisor is part of a Strategic Partnership, his or her role in that Strategic Partnership may be limited to a specific business and/or product area and may not cover all facets of your account. The use of the terms “Partner” or “Strategic Partner” and/or “Partnership” or “Strategic Partnership” are used as terms of art and not used to imply or connote any legal relationship.

Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Retirement

Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
  • 401(k) Rollovers
  • IRA Plans
  • Retirement income strategies
  • Retirement plan participants
  • Annuities
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

Investing

Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
  • Asset Management
  • Wealth Planning
  • Traditional Investments
  • Alternative Investments
  • Impact Investing
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

Family

Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
  • Estate Planning Strategies
  • 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Trust Services
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
  • Business Planning
  • Qualified Retirement Plans
Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

Philanthropy

Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
  • Endowments
  • Foundations
  • Donor Advised Funds
  • Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.

Retirement for Plan Sponsors

End-to-End Services, Made Simple:
We can provide the tools and guidance to help you manage a retirement plan.
  • Plan Evaluation
  • Investment Management
  • Plan Management Support
  • Plan Participant Education
State of the Workplace Study 2023
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State of the Workplace Study 2023

Explore Morgan Stanley at Work’s State of the Workplace III Financial Benefits Study results. Discover workforce challenges and how to stay competitive.

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
  • Reduce employee stress,
  • Improve retention and engagement, and
  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
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The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Focal Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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2Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

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3An investment in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) involves risks similar to those of investing in a broadly based portfolio of equity securities traded on exchange in the relevant securities market, such as market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. The investment return and principal value of ETF investments will fluctuate, so that an investor’s ETF shares, if or when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the ETF. To obtain a prospectus, contact your Financial Advisor or visit the ETF company’s website. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

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4Morgan 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 legal matters.

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5Morgan Stanley 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 consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences or review our Understanding Your Brokerage and Investment Advisory Relationships brochure available at www.morganstanley.com/wealth-relationshipwithms/pdfs/understandingyourrelationship.pdf.

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6Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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7Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.

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8When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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9When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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10Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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11Morgan 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 legal matters.

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12Morgan 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 legal matters.

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Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.

The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.

Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
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The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

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. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney.  The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.

Awards Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024), 3582895 (6/2024)