Our Story and Services

In our view, successful wealth management requires four things:

1) clearly articulated goals

2) investment strategies and processes that are rational, disciplined and customized to your needs

3) a unified strategy to drive all financial decisions, and

4) the discipline to make intelligent choices in the face of market volatility.

Like most endeavors, successful wealth management starts with defining a goal or goals – once goals are determined, we can choose strategies designed to help achieve them, and use new data to make adjustments as needed.

The Kernus Watson Group at Morgan Stanley has developed a process that begins with your goals, layers in your preferences and risk tolerance, and helps to implement established tactics that are appropriate to each client.

Our approach to investments is similarly based on accepted principles, again customized to your particular goals and preferences. Our team’s portfolio managers help recommend investments chosen specifically for you, whether traditional equities and/or bonds or alternative investments. We leave “hunches” and “playing the market” to others – everything we do is rational, backed by research and experience.

But our team is about more than investments – we help clients with virtually every aspect of their financial lives – tax management strategies, legacy planning, cash management and much more. That’s why it’s important to note that all three of our team’s Financial Advisors are all CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERSTM, a coveted credential that reflects our knowledge and experience with the full gamut of wealth management decisions.

Finally, we believe that wealth management is more of a science than an art, so we adhere to disciplined strategies and tactics to keep clients focused on their goals. It’s a combination that works well for our select group of clients.
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Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

How Setting Goals Can Make a Difference

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We believe that successful wealth management begins with setting goals.

These may be based around life's transitions such as retirement, or specific things like a second home, a "bucket list" trip, or paying for a child's or grandchild's education.

Whatever the goal, we believe that pursuing specific goals leads to better outcomes for investors.

There's more. By establishing goals, we can recommend an investment portfolio designed to achieve a particular return – which can, in turn, help manage undue risk.

Furthermore, knowing where you want to end up means we can more rationally decide if and when adjustments need to be made – without needless guesswork.

And, goals allow us to consider the non-investment elements of your wealth management plan – questions around life insurance, risk management , cash flow and dozens of other questions, all of which can be more accurately assessed within the context of an overall strategy.

Goals are all about you – what you want to achieve, who you want to support. what you want your legacy to be. At the Kernus Watson Rudolph Group, it's where we start every wealth management engagement.

Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

Our 5-Step Process Is Built Around Your Goals

At the Kernus Watson Rudolph Group, we try to remove guesswork from financial planning. That’s why we follow a carefully defined yet flexible process, which we’ve refined over many years of working with our clients.


Our process is straightforward:
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    Step 1: Assess current situation
    Where are you right now? What are your assets and liabilities? Do you have proper safeguards in place? When did you last conduct a review? This “deep dive” allows us to build a strategy that can help reach your goals.
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    Step 2: Articulate your goals
    Have you established goals? If you have not, don’t worry – many of our clients come to us without ever really thinking about it. We can help you codify what’s important to you.
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    Step 3: Define the most logical approach possible
    Life throws many variables and potential roadblocks at us, which is why we consider a wide variety of “what if” scenarios before recommending any solutions. This process is interactive – our recommendations are flexible, and we work with you to ensure you are comfortable with your choices.
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    Step 4: Implement recommended solutions
    What’s the best mix of asset classes for your investment portfolio? What about specific assets? Who are the best providers for non-investment products? We research many possibilities before arriving at recommendations that are both consistent with your needs and risk tolerance.
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    Step 5: Review progress and refine as needed
    They say the only constant in life is change. You may retire early or start a business. Markets may evolve. Investment performance may surprise us. So, at least once per year, we prepare a comprehensive review and measure it against both your goals and defined benchmarks.

Our Principles of Portfolio Management

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We build portfolios around three core principles:

Asset Allocation
This is often the most important predictor of overall performance. Choosing the right mix of asset classes allows us to create a diversified portfolio designed to help reach your goals with the minimum required risk.

Diversification
This principle drives the selection of each issue within an asset class. A properly diversified portfolio can give you opportunity for upside growth with risk management.

Rebalancing
Over time, some assets will increase (or decrease) in value. When that happens, the portfolio no longer matches the initial strategic balance and needs to be adjusted. We do this on a regular basis, often quarterly but perhaps more frequently as circumstances dictate.

We implement these strategies because they are appropriate for the clients we serve – successful individuals and families may be focused on wealth preservation more than above-market growth. Our job is to help you reach your goals with the minimum risk required to get there.

We build investment portfolios using a "pyramid" structure of asset classes. Then we apply proven methods to select each component in that portfolio. For additional information, please see the brochure.

Asset Allocation, Diversification and Rebalancing do not protect against a loss in declining financial markets. There may be a potential tax implication with a rebalancing strategy. Investors should consult with their tax advisor before implementing such a strategy.

Why Investing and Emotion Don't Mix

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As an investor, how should you react to a substantial market decline?

Many investors would sell off a sizable portion of their portfolio. And who can blame them – surely it's better to get out while you still can.

Similarly, if the market goes up, you'd be inclined to get in on a good thing, right?

Wrong. If you've built a portfolio wisely, ignoring short-term market fluctuations has been the smarter course over time. If anything, it may be advantageous to buy when the market drops and vice versa.

So why do investors sell in a declining market? Fear. That's just one of the emotions that can undermine the performance of a portfolio. Emotions also lead investors to hang on to an overvalued stock, clinging to hopes for a rebound. This "fallacy of sunk costs" can also lead to poor investment decisions.

These insights come from the emerging field of "behavioral finance," which shows that human beings often act in ways inconsistent with their own best interests – in a nutshell, they react to changing markets with emotion rather than logic.

At the Kernus Watson Rudolph Group, we are strong adherents to the principles of behavioral finance. Our mission is to act as your "voice of reason" to guide you with logic, data, facts, and evidence. So you can avoid the pitfalls of mixing emotions with investment tactics.

The individuals mentioned as the Portfolio Management Team are Financial Advisors with Morgan Stanley participating in the Morgan Stanley Portfolio Management program. The Portfolio Management program is an investment advisory program in which the client's Financial Advisor invests the client's assets on a discretionary basis in a range of securities. The Portfolio Management program is described in the applicable Morgan Stanley ADV Part 2, available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV or from your Financial Advisor.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
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 investments listed may not be appropriate for all investors. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment will depend upon an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or its affiliates. All opinions are subject to change without notice. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
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WORKPLACE FINANCIAL BENEFITS WITH MORGAN STANLEY AT WORK

Our mission is to help your company elevate your workplace financial benefits—helping you to attract and retain top talent. Our end-to-end solutions support your company and employees at any stage of growth through a powerful combination of modern technology, insightful guidance, and dedicated service.

    Equity Solutions

    Equity ownership is a powerful motivator. Streamline equity management through our leading-edge technology and provide global audit-ready reporting and insights, alongside customizable participant experiences to engage and educate your employees on how to make the most of their benefits. Our global solutions support private and public companies at any stage of growth.

    • Equity Administration and Financial Reporting
    • Liquidity Events
    • 409A Valuation Services and Cap Table Management

    Learn more
    Retirement

    For your employees, retirement is more than a date in the future—it's a milestone that takes time, hard work, and the right tools. Through our consultative process, we strive to assist with the management of your fiduciary responsibilities and risk, simplify plan management, and help you improve retirement readiness for your employees.

    • Defined Contribution Consulting
    • Solutions-Oriented Plans
    • Fiduciary Investment Oversight

    Learn more
    Deferred Compensation

    Access a range of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plan services or pick the ones that best fit your needs. We provide recordkeeping and plan design, portfolio construction services, and plan education for your executive talent. We help you determine the appropriate plan design and inform a funding strategy through a needs-based assessment and consultative approach.

    Services include:

    • Recordkeeping and Plan Design
    • Portfolio Construction
    • Wealth Management Services
    Learn more
    Executive Services

    Our dedicated team provides concierge-level support for your executives' equity compensation plans, from 10b5-1 trading plans to form filing related to Rule 144 transactions, to access to wealth management and tax-optimization strategies, so helping them navigate their complex financial needs with greater confidence and certainty:

    • Equity Compensation Services
    • Equity Award Analysis
    • Specialized Solutions
    Learn more
    Saving and Giving

    Saving and Giving benefits can make a real difference in your employees' lives as they can support the things that matter most to them—like saving for education and repaying student loans. Show that you are committed to your employees' priorities with leading-edge solutions that help them chart a path toward financial well-being.

    • College Savings
    • Student Loan Repayment and Refinancing
    • Charitable Giving
    Learn more
    Financial Wellness

    We offer Financial Wellness with every solution we provide. Through a powerful combination of education, digital tools and guidance, Financial Wellness is designed to address the unique needs of your employees and empower their financial journey at every stage. Give your employees the confidence to take charge of their finances.

    • Financial Education
    • Digital Tools
    • Financial Guidance

    Learn more

Location

333 John Carlyle St
Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22314
US
Direct:
(703) 838-8629(703) 838-8629

Meet The Kernus Watson Rudolph Group

About Me

Mitchell leads the team in providing comprehensive wealth management, from investments and wealth transfer through long-term strategy and client education. He focuses on helping clients with complex financial needs create holistic strategies for their wealth, advancing their personal, professional, and philanthropic goals.

As a Senior Portfolio Manager, Mitchell creates customized investment strategies and manages discretionary portfolios, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Morgan Stanley Model Portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. He has provided advice and guidance to clients for more than two decades. Mitchell joined Morgan Stanley in 2022, after leading teams at Merrill Lynch and UBS.

A native of Washington, D.C., Mitchell earned his B.S. in Business from the University of Maryland. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

Mitchell and his wife Jean have made Alexandria their home since 1992. They have two children, Kendall and Maxwell. When not in the office, Mitchell enjoys spending time with his family, reading, golfing, and playing classical piano.
Securities Agent: TX, NM, NJ, ME, MD, WI, MA, LA, AZ, OR, NC, GA, SC, FL, WV, VA, UT, MI, CT, TN, PA, NV, IL, DC, CO, WA, NH, OK, CA, NY; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1083645

About Me

Kieran works with our clients to deliver high-level planning, including goal identification and articulation, strategic asset allocation and a goals-based analysis of public and private markets. He has worked with individuals, families, and institutional clients for more than 20 years.

Kieran’s credentials and experience reflect the complex needs of our clients. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), he has demonstrated a deep understanding of the full range of wealth management needs. He has also earned the Certified Portfolio Manager designation, reserved for Advisors who have demonstrated the ability to guide clients beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Kieran can integrate a wide variety of innovative solutions into a long-term goals-based financial plan.

Kieran earned a B.S. in Finance and Economics from George Mason University.

He is a passionate supporter of No Kid Hungry, an organization dedicated to feeding the one in six American children living with hunger. He also fosters dogs who need extra TLC to overcome prior abuse or illness. In his remaining spare time, Kieran enjoys golf, tennis, and the emerging sport of pickleball.
Securities Agent: WI, IL, CT, GA, TN, NM, NH, FL, UT, MA, CO, VA, OK, LA, OR, MI, WV, WA, ME, MD, NY, PA, NV, NC, DC, AZ, TX, SC, NJ, CA; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 638920

About Me

Karen plays an integral role in developing and maintaining client relationships with successful individuals and their families.

A thoughtful and committed listener, Karen helps solve problems and offers forward-thinking ideas on a wide variety of financial strategies. She believes in a systematic, dynamic, and disciplined wealth management process, which helps her identify clients’ objectives and define the true purpose of their wealth.

Karen graduated from the University of Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications studies and a Master’s degree in education. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional and holds the Certified Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation.

Karen and her husband, Rust, live in Alexandria, Virginia, with their two children, Aubrey and Alex. Karen’s hobbies center around her children’s various activities, including soccer, cheerleading, and horseback riding.
Securities Agent: OR, MD, CT, UT, SC, PA, GA, ME, CA, WV, MA, CO, TN, NY, NM, NJ, VA, NC, NV, MI, LA, DC, WA, NH, IL, FL, AZ, TX, WI, OK; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1741661

About Cassandra Campbell

Cassandra joined Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in 2022 after spending 16 years with Merrill Lynch. Prior to joining the Wealth Management industry, she had a career in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Assistance. She is conscientious, professional, and quick to respond to requests of all kinds. She strives to make every client contact a positive experience.

About Jeanette Ruchelman

Jeanette works with our clients on a daily basis to facilitate proactive solutions and help make their financial lives easier. She assists the team with planning, implementation, record-keeping, and a variety of wealth management details. Jeanette joined Morgan Stanley in 2022 and brings more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry. She holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management from Old Dominion University and volunteers with the middle school ministry at her church.
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

This is a video content

Equity Compensation

Helping you make the most of your equity awards and better understand how it may fit into your your larger financial picture – today and tomorrow.

  • Vesting events
  • Option expirations
  • Restricted stock units
  • Tax implications

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
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Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
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  • Alternative Investments
  • Impact Investing
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Family

Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
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  • 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
  • Long Term Care Insurance
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Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
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  • Qualified Retirement Plans
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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
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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.

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.
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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 Kernus Watson Rudolph 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.

1Morgan 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.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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2Morgan 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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3When 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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4Morgan 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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5Alternative 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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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)