Our Story

The average [American] investor faces an uncertain economy and more options for saving and investing than ever before. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or confused, unless you find a way to understand the big picture. As financial professionals, we diligently work to help bring clarity to your finances by developing a customized financial strategy for saving and investing, so in times of economic uncertainty you never lose sight of the big picture.
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Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working With You

With the country’s economy continuing to strengthen, personal financial security is still uppermost in many peoples’ minds. They’re eager for advice about their retirement, estate plan, insurance, emergency funds, liabilities and their asset allocation. It’s never been more important for clients and financial advisors to take a holistic approach – looking at an individual’s entire financial picture, not just one aspect or another. Working with a Certified Financial Planner™ professional helps assure that he or she is a credentialed professional who does just that, and performs to high ethical and professional standards.

The designation comes with extensive training in financial planning, estate planning, insurance, investments, taxes, employee benefits and retirement planning, as well as in CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, which are rigorously enforced. As a CFP® professional, I’m required to uphold my certification through continuing education – something to consider with new financial instruments appearing regularly on the consumer market. It’s little wonder that CFP® certification is the most recognized in the industry for personal financial planning. So as you think about your financial future, please bear in mind that only 21 percent of all financial advisors in the industry can claim this distinction, according to a 2015 survey by Cerulli Associates, Inc. – a leading independent research company.

Now is the time to develop a holistic plan to navigate through unusual financial times, and gain what money can’t buy: peace of mind.

Modern Wealth Management Tools and Resources

Morgan Stanley's comprehensive suite of digital resources has carefully been designed to help enhance each aspect of your financial portfolio. Take some time to learn about some of the many Modern Wealth Management resources that we offer to our clients.
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    Morgan Stanley Online
    Your investments and everyday finances are always just a few clicks away with Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) and the Morgan Stanley mobile app! Access your finances and invest in an instant with the help of this handy resource that is available 24/7.
    Learn more about Morgan Stanley Online
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    Total Wealth View
    Complete your financial profile with Total Wealth View. By linking your external account information you will benefit from more educated and holistic wealth planning, along with convenient connectivity.
    Learn More about Total Wealth View
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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 risk engine used by several of the world's largest institutional asset managers. Providing you with comprehensive risk analytics and a sophisticated view of the risk/return dichotomy across your financial portfolios. This helpful tool can assist you in making educated investment decisions with increased confidence.
    Learn more about the Portfolio Risk Platform
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    MS Reserved
    Reserved Living & Giving is a tiered complimentary loyalty program that rewards clients with over one million dollars in assets and liabilities invested at the firm. The program is designed to enhance your lifestyle and relationship with the firm beyond traditional wealth management services.
    Learn more about MS Reserved
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    Protecting your Smart Device
    Smart devices, we can't live without them. They know our voices, our search history, and much more. This can present security risks.
    Learn how to protect your smart device
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    Online Security Center
    Safeguarding your assets and personal information is paramount to us. Learn about our extensive security measures and take advantage of our numerous resources and ideas that are geared towards helping you stay protected on the World Wide Web.
    Learn more about online security

Location

2775 Sand Hill Road
Suite 120
Menlo Park, CA 94025
US
Direct:
(650) 926-7166(650) 926-7166
Fax:
(650) 926-7147(650) 926-7147

Meet The Kolb Group

About Michael E Kolb

Prior to joining the industry in 1983, Michael was a National Sales Manager for Cal Canners and Growers, an Operation Manager for John Sexton foods and graduated the University of Wisconsin Oshkosk with a B.S. in History.
Securities Agent: SD, PA, MN, NY, NH, IL, HI, WY, NJ, NC, CA, MO, CT, WI, OH, MD, DC, RI, MI, CO, TN, NV, MS, MA, ID, AK, WA, VT, VA, MT, FL, AZ, UT, OR, OK, GA, DE, AL, TX; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1262246

About Daniel Kolb

Securities Agent: AK, PA, MN, NJ, IL, WI, WA, MA, ID, GA, FL, SD, HI, AZ, OH, NH, TX, OK, CO, NV, DC, WY, UT, NC, MT, MD, DE, CT, CA, AL, MS, MO, VA, OR, NY, MI, VT, RI; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1273079
CA Insurance License #: 0J19771

About Brian Houle

Brian first joined Morgan Stanley after graduating from University of Oregon in 2018. Since then, he has gained valuable experience working for the Cornerstone Group Silicon Valley. After experiencing first-hand how rewarding it could be to help clients reach their financial goals, Brian joined the Kolb group, at Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor.
Securities Agent: CO, AL, AK, TX, OR, MD, LA, WY, OH, MO, IN, NM, IL, CT, TN, PR, MS, MA, GA, DE, AR, WI, VI, RI, NV, NE, ND, AZ, WV, UT, NC, MT, MI, KY, FL, VT, PA, NH, ME, IA, DC, VA, SD, SC, OK, MN, KS, CA, WA, NY, NJ, ID, HI; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
CA Insurance License #: 4418669

About In memoriam - Christina Tong

On June 26th, 2024, Christina Tong peacefully entered heaven. Christina was born on February 26th. 1967, in Hong Kong. She immigrated to the US in 1983. She went to high school at Balboa High in SF where she worked at a local produce store and a sandwich shop. She then went to SF State where she began her career at a commercial bank. From there, her career progressed by working for finance companies such as Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, and Merrill Lynch. Christina met her husband Ben in 1993 at Ben’s restaurant in SF and got married a year later. 10 years later, their first daughter Brianna was born and 5 years after, their second daughter Carlina was born. Christina loved playing with her cats, going on food adventures with her family, and always treated everyone with kindness and compassion.

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 Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown is a Senior Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in California.

Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, while leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.

Ryan began his career in financial services in 2006, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2011 as an Associate Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Licensed Premier Banker at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Ryan is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a minor in Management. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California with his family. Outside of the office, Ryan enjoys playing golf, road and mountain biking, and spending time with friends and family. He also volunteers his time as a youth sports coach and at several non-profit organizations.
NMLS#: 465566
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.

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 Kolb Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
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.

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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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3Morgan 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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4When 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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5When 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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

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6Alternative 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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7The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) aware investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because ESG criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.

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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:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.

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)