Our Story and Services

Our team comprises of highly experienced Financial Advisors, Michael Berger, Drew Skelly, and Stephen Wright CFP®, CRPC®, who together possess a wealth of knowledge in the financial industry. With over 80+ years of combined experience*, our advisors have navigated multiple market cycles and have the knowledge and insights to help you achieve your financial objectives. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of personalized service and care and we are dedicated to helping you reach your financial goals.

At The Heritage Oaks Group, we understand that each client has unique needs and goals, and we work closely with you to design a tailored financial approach to help you achieve what matters most to you. We focus on every aspect of your financial life from portfolio management and financial planning to alternative investments, long-term care, lending, estate and tax planning strategies, philanthropy and generational wealth transfer. Stephen’s time at E*TRADE profoundly enhanced his understanding of equity compensation, and allowed him to gain invaluable experience in the new age of investing.

As part of the Morgan Stanley family, we have access to global resources and advanced technology designed to provide you with excellent investment opportunities and financial strategies. We place you at the center of the wealth management process, providing customized solutions that are aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. Whether you are planning for retirement, saving for your children's education, or looking to grow your wealth, our team is here to provide you with the guidance and support you need to succeed. We are committed to building long-lasting relationships with our clients and providing them with the exceptional service they deserve.



*Michael Berger, Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Advisor: 43 Years of Experience
Drew Skelly, Associate Vice President, Financial Advisor: 28 Years of Experience
Stephen Wright, CFP®, CRPC®, First Vice President, Financial Advisor: 13 Years of Experience
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

PHILANTHROPY

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    Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer
    For over 20 years Mike has volunteered at the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer and for over 11 years, after being introduced to the organization by Mike, Stephen has also volunteered his time to this organization and cause. The Michael Hoefflin Foundation is a non-profit organization that assists children diagnosed with cancer and their families. For over 28 years, the Foundation has provided individualized, caring support that addresses the various ways in which life is disrupted for families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis. The aim of the Michael Hoefflin Foundation is to ensure families have what they need so that their child can concentrate on getting well.
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    Chairman of the Board for Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles
    For over 25 years now, Mike serves as a member of the governing body of the Barlow Respiratory Hospital. While overseeing the hospital Mike and the other members of the board are responsible for making important strategic and financial decisions as well as choosing and monitoring an effective CEO. Mike stays educated in the healthcare industry to ensure the hospital is providing quality care and also acts as a representative of the Barlow Respiratory Hospital in the community.
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    Mental Health Board of The Child and Family Center of Santa Clarita
    On the governing board Mike oversees the management, finances and quality of the Center. Assisting in setting a strategic direction, building community relationships and establishing ethical standards, values and compliance. Mike also plays a key part in selecting and monitoring the CEO of The Child and Family Center of Santa Clarita.
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    Former Trustee for College of the Canyons
    For over 12 years as a member of the board of trustees, Mike assisted in developing and approving the College of Canyons mission, strategic goals and objectives and establishing policies related to programs and services. Along with these responsibilities Mike also helped with approving the annual budget.
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    Past President and board member of Rotary Club of Santa Clarita
    As a Member for 35 years, Mike and the Rotary Club provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through their fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders throughout the world.

OUR PROCESS

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The Heritage Oaks Group believes that every family that works with us at Morgan Stanley deserves a financial plan that is regularly updated and monitored, evaluating the risks you are comfortable taking to achieve your goals and access to industry leading technology tools to ensure ongoing communication about your progress.
1. Meet with you and your family to understand your unique circumstances
2. Understand your family's financial goals
3. Utilize Total Wealth View to analyze your family's global financial picture
4. We will confirm the existence of estate planning documents such as medical directives, wills and trust documents, and offer referrals to outside professionals as appropriate
5. Complete review of all outstanding liabilities, including mortgage, business and personal loans
6. Budgeting and cash management needs
7. Bringing Morgan Stanley's network of global resources to bear to help solve even the most complex financial situations for your family or business
What You Can Expect From Us

- Regular updates about your performance, fees, investments and financial plan progress
- Continued profiling of your risk tolerance
- Periodic email updates, timely phone calls and annual in person reviews
- 24 hour response time if you leave a message for a member of the team

Our Services

When managing wealth, there are many aspects that must be covered in order to get a complete plan. Take a deeper look into what we provide:
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    Estate Planning
    When it comes to leaving your legacy to your loved ones, effective and proactive estate planning is essential. From receiving beneficial tax treatment and avoiding legal burdens to streamlining the inheritance process, estate planning makes this possible. We can help with this process and make sure that you are up-to-date when hitting milestones in your life.
    Estate Planning Brochure
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    Financial Planning
    Financial planning is a dynamic process that is based on the client’s changing wants and needs both in the short and long term. Short term goals take priority in current planning while long term goals are considerations that influence a client’s full analysis.
    Plan For Your Future
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    Retirement Planning
    Retirement Planning is a core component of wealth management. Taking into consideration potential future costs such as living expenses, travel costs, and education funding is crucial in developing an effective retirement plan. By quantifying your financial needs, creating an action plan, and tracking progress, we can assist you in implementing a plan tailored to you and your goals.
    Planning Your Goals
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    Insurance Review
    Making sure you and your family are protected from the unexpected is a very important aspect of a plan. Reviewing your policies is just as crucial, to ensure that you are getting the most protection for your premium and have enough coverage to take care of your needs.
    Understanding Insurance

MS Digital Tools

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    Morgan Stanley Online (MSO)
    With Morgan Stanley Online and the Morgan Stanley Mobile app, your investments and everyday finances are never more than just a click away.
    Learn More About MSO
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    Total Wealth View
    Complete your financial picture with Total Wealth View. By linking your external account information, you will benefit from more informed and comprehensive wealth planning and convenient connectivity.
    Learn More About Total Wealth View
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    Morgan Stanley Reserved
    MS Reserved is a complimentary loyalty program available to Morgan Stanley Clients with a minimum of $1M in AUM. As a reserved member, clients will have access to exclusive partner offers and discounts, as well as thought leadership content and a variety of lifestyle and personal finance topics.
    Learn More About MS Reserved
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    Morgan Stanley Signature Access
    Signature Access, the highest tier of Morgan Stanley's loyalty program Reserved Living & Giving, gives clients with $10 million or more in assets at the firm access to world class services such as Private Health Advisory, Personal Cybersecurity services, Aircraft Management and more all in addition to the discounts and content available through Reserved Living & Giving.
    Signature Access Lifestyle Advisory Concierge
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    Planning
    Our team uses a suite of planning tools that includes goal-specific analysis that we can use with clients to created a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of an individual's financial life, including investments and cash management needs. Our tools provide progress-to-goals reporting and can also illustrate complex planning strategies.
    Take Control of Your Financial Future Today
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    Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention
    At Morgan Stanley, safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities. Learn about our extensive security measures and take advantage of our numerous resources and ideas to help you stay protected online.
    Protect Your Legacy
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    Portfolio Risk Platform
    Morgan Stanley's Portfolio Risk Platform is powered by BlackRock's Aladdin risk engine, a state-of-the-art, innovative tool used by several of the world’s largest institutional asset managers, using this tool provides comprehensive risk analytics and a sophisticated view of the risk/return dichotomy across your financial portfolios.
    Manage Your Risk

Location

24300 Town Center Dr
Ste 200
Valencia, CA 91355
US
Direct:
(661) 290-2000(661) 290-2000

Meet The Heritage Oaks Group

About Michael D Berger

Michael started with EF Hutton & Co in 1981, the predecessor to Morgan Stanley and is currently a Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Advisor with Morgan Stanley, Wealth Management in Valencia, CA.

The team offers a broad range of investment strategies and wealth management services to affluent individuals, families, business owners and foundations. As an essential resource to their clients, the team provides extensive oversight to the complex financial affairs of managing wealth for multiple generations.

A keen understanding of a client’s life priorities are at the forefront of every client interaction. Michael excels at helping clients identify their long-term financial goals and values in order to determine an appropriate course of action to achieve their desired outcomes. The group’s comprehensive planning approach includes personalized advice on specific investment strategies while effectively working with clients to help manage both their assets and liabilities.

He and his team have maintained a long history of client loyalty and satisfaction and are committed to delivering the high level of service their clients demand. The team also collaborates with clients' CPAs, Estate Planning Attorneys and other trusted advisors for a simplified experience to help clients more effectively achieve their long-term financial objectives.

Michael was born in Santa Monica and grew up in Woodland Hills, CA. He attended College of the Canyons and then transferred to California State University Northridge. Today, Michael resides in Santa Clarita, CA with his beautiful spouse Melina.

Michael has found great pleasure in giving back to the community. Over the last 40 years, Michael has sat on the board of many non-profits organizations. Santa Clarita Rotary Club, SCV Chamber of Commerce, College of the Canyons Foundation, Michael Hoefflin Children’s Cancer Foundation, Child & Family Mental Health Center and Barlow Respiratory Hospital. Michael was also appointed to three terms as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Santa Clarita and is the former Trustee for College of the Canyons, which he served as for over 12 years.

In 2006 Michael was named Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year.
Securities Agent: WA, UT, OH, NM, MT, MI, ID, DE, CT, TN, NJ, VA, IL, CO, TX, NV, NE, HI, CA, PA, NC, MD, LA, GA, AZ, MO, MA, OR, NY, FL; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1253124
CA Insurance License #: 0A63465

About Me

Stephen Wright takes a multigenerational approach to developing strategies for clients’ investment, estate planning, philanthropic, and lending needs. Stephen is also a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor who understands the unique needs of those looking to plan for retirement and a Certified Financial Planner to help create a well thought out plan in order to track and achieve your financial milestones. The diverse group of clients he serves also includes corporate executives, business owners, and real estate developers.

Stephen has over 12 years of experience working with affluent clients. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, Stephen was a Senior Financial Consultant at E*TRADE, where he delivered solutions and constructed tailored investment plans to help clients reach their financial goals. He actually began his wealth management career at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, shortly after earning a B.A. from University of California, San Diego in 2008.

Stephen is a volunteer at the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists local families who have children diagnosed with cancer. As a result of Stephen's involvement within the Santa Clarita Valley and it's neighboring communities, in 2024, he was recognized in the Santa Clarita Valley’s 40 under Forty. Stephen and his wife, Lindsay, live in Pacific Palisades with their two daughters, Emma and Pippa.
Securities Agent: CT, WA, NM, NC, MD, CO, LA, FL, DE, NE, IL, HI, GA, UT, MT, MA, CA, OR, TX, OH, NY, MO, VA, TN, ID, AZ, MI, NV, NJ; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2460332
CA Insurance License #: 0H11368

About Drew Skelly

Drew currently serves as a Financial Advisor and works closely with clients to help them develop financial plans, covering every aspect of their financial needs. Some of the other responsibilities Drew also takes on are:

- Retirement planning
- Education funding
- Asset allocation guidance
- Access to professional Investment Managers
- Alternative investments.
- Specialized guidance on concentrated stock positions
- Estate planning
- Investment banking needs.

Morgan Stanley has been Drew’s home since 1996 and prior to coming to Morgan Stanley he worked for American National Bank in Chicago and at The Chicago Board of Trade.

Outside the office Drew loves teaching young students about finances and has volunteered for the Junior Achievement of Southern California for many years. He is very passionate about swimming and as a masters swimmer, has held numerous age group world records and been named All-American twice. Drew attended the University of Arizona, receiving his bachelor’s degree.

Drew holds his Series 3, 7, 31, 63 and 65 licenses.
Securities Agent: MO, TX, PA, NY, MT, MI, ID, VA, TN, NM, OH, MD, WA, OR, NC, HI, DE, AZ, UT, NV, GA, FL, NJ, IL, CT, NE, MA, LA, CO, CA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 2410940
CA Insurance License #: 0C07236

About Suzan Cheek

Suzan is a Senior Registered Client Service Associate, she has more than 30 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry. Suzan holds the Series 7, 26, 63 and 65 securities licenses, as well as California Life and Health Insurance Licenses. She earned a B.A. Degree in Teaching from the University of Foreign Languages in Erevan, Armenia.

Suzan is responsible for all administrative services and operational support.

Outside of the office, Suzan enjoys reading, classical music and art. She has three daughters and lives with her husband in Northridge.

About Joselyn Alvarado

Joselyn Alvarado brings over 12 years of experience in Consulting, Client Relations, and Project Management, exceling at strengthening client relationships through proactive communication and exceptional service. She works closely with the team to open, setup, and maintain client accounts, facilitate money movement transactions, and enroll and train clients in adopting Morgan Stanley’s proprietary Modern Wealth tools. Joselyn’s strong background in strategic planning, effective communication, and detail-oriented execution, combined with her diverse industry experience, positions her as a trusted resource for clients. Her approachable and personable nature further enhances her ability to deliver outstanding service.

Joselyn is a proud graduate of the University of Southern California, Class of 2013. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, honing her golf skills, camping, and hiking with her rescue pup, Morpheus. She also loves making home-cooked meals with her fiancé.
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
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  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
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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 Heritage Oaks Group today.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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.

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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.

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*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)