The MDM Group

Mercedes Paratje is a Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, International Client Advisor, and a Portfolio Management Director for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. Drawing on over 30 years of experience as an investment professional, Mercedes Paratje advises a global clientele of ultra-high net worth families and select institutions on their investment portfolios. Dedicated to helping her clients address their most complex financial issues, she works to develop and implement highly customized solutions across all asset classes.

Mercedes earned an undergraduate degree in telecommunications engineering from the Polytechnic University of Barcelona and holds an MBA in finance and a M.A. in labor & industrial relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to her financial career, Mercedes spent five years working as an engineer for Phillip Electronics. She then launched her finance career with JPMorgan Chase’s Private Bank Investment Management group, where she helped manage global balanced portfolios. She later transitioned to Citibank, where she served as the head of Equity Advisory Service and an advisor to ultra-high net worth families from Latin America, Canada, and Asia Pacific. After Citibank, Mercedes served as the global head of Investment Advisory at Barclays Bank, where she was responsible for investment advisers in New York, London, Geneva, Monaco, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her teams consisted of product specialists who developed sophisticated investment solutions for Barclays Private Bank clients around the world. She was also responsible for creating the Private Bank’s FX, derivatives, and structured notes platform.

Since arriving at Morgan Stanley, Mercedes has been recognized by major financial publications as one of the top advisors in the country. Internally, she is a member of the Chairman's Club, an elite group composed of the Firm’s top Financial Advisors. Thanks to her experiences across the globe, Mercedes is fluent in Spanish, Italian, French and Catalan.

Mercedes is a member of the Economics Club of New York. Additionally, she is a board member of the Catalonia America Council. In her spare time, Mercedes enjoys yoga and wine tasting. She is also an opera and classical music fan.

David Lew is a Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, International Client Advisor, and Alternative Investments Director for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. David focuses on developing complex investment solutions across asset classes to address the specific needs and goals of his clients.

David graduated with a bachelor’s degree biology, with minors in mathematics and economics, from New York University and went on to earn an MBA in finance from Fordham University. He started his banking career in 1985 at Citibank, where he worked for 14 years across several investment product groups including precious metals trading, FX trading, and OTC derivatives structuring and sales. While at Citibank’s Private Bank, he became a senior investment counselor for clients from Mexico, Brazil, EMEA, Canada and Asia/Pacific. After Citibank, David transitioned to Barclays Bank, where he focused on the needs of sophisticated individual investors based in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada. He was instrumental in the development of the private bank’s FX, derivatives, and structured notes. David joined Morgan Stanley in 2002, where he has since provided highly customized investment advice to ultra-high net worth clients and their single & multi-family offices across firm business verticals, as well as a select group of small financial institutions. His primary geographic coverage is in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. He speaks conversational Cantonese.

A native New Yorker, David is a member of the firm’s Chairman’s Club, as well as the Economics Club of New York. Additionally, he serves as trustee and treasurer for the U.S. Asia Institute.

Miguel “Micky” Bacal is a Managing Director for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. Micky works with high net worth families across Latin America, specifically in Panama, Colombia and Central America.

Upon graduating from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Venezuela, Micky went on to earn his MBA from the William E. Simon School at the University of Rochester. Micky launched his professional career with Banco Central de Venezuela, where he traded precious metals and foreign currencies. He then accepted a position with Citibank as an equity analyst and portfolio manager for some of the institution’s largest Private Bank clients. Several years later, he joined Barclays Private Bank as a product specialist, where he helped develop the asset allocation, derivatives and structured notes platforms for the firm’s Private Bank. After being promoted to a senior investment advisor at Barclays, he ultimately joined Morgan Stanley and more specifically, the MDM Group. Since joining the firm, Miguel has become a member of an exclusive group of financial advisors, the Chairman's Club. Micky is fluent in both Spanish and Hebrew.

Micky lives in the greater Miami area with his wife and three children. Outside the office, he enjoys skiing, biking and partaking in various adventure sports.

Guy Magen is a Vice President, Financial Advisor, International Client Advisor, and Private Wealth Advisor for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. His focus is on the development of relationships with entrepreneurs, founders, and VC’s based in Israel and abroad.

Guy is a graduate of Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and English. Guy began his career at Morgan Stanley in 2010, where he supported the PWM’s fixed income trading desk: he later directly serviced PWM domestic clients. While working with clients and advisors, he focused on portfolio analysis, trading, and client servicing needs. Several years later, Guy transitioned to Bank Leumi USA as a commercial banker, where he acted as a bridge for businesses looking to strengthen their presence between the US and Israel. Guy's client base included both private and public companies. In his role, Guy provided commercial banking services for various companies including financial institutions, Real Estate, Cargo Airlines and pharma focusing on liquidity and FX solutions for their commercial businesses. He supported his commercial clients by offering a large array of commercial banking products from cash management to FX hedging strategies. Guy rejoined Morgan Stanley PWM in 2020 as an advisor focusing on Israel. Guy is a native Hebrew speaker.

Born in Israel and raised in Tel-Aviv, Guy moved to the U.S. after serving three years in the IDF.

Everardo “Ever” Vidaurri is a Financial Advisor for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. Among his many responsibilities, he focuses on portfolio analytics, asset allocation, manager selection, and ongoing due diligence. He also assists clients with domestic and emerging markets fixed income trading and derivatives strategies.

Upon graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2013 with a degree in Business Administration, Ever joined the MDM Group as an analyst: 7 years later, he became a partner at the group. His clients include the next generation of ultra-high net worth individuals from Mexico, Israel, United States, Canada, and Latin America. He also services institutional clients, which mostly consist of venture capital funds and insurance companies. Ever holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) designations, and he is a licensed registered representative in Canada for Morgan Stanley’s Canada operations. He speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Portuguese.

Ever lives in Miami with his wife, Luisa. He enjoys training for triathlons and spending weekends exploring new cities with Luisa.

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Aaron Cohen is a Wealth Management Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. His primary responsibilities include relationship management, trading, and alternative investment support.

Aaron graduated from Babson College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Finance. Since joining the team in August of 2019, he has exclusively provided an array of wealth management services to the team’s Israeli clients which consist of individual founders, entrepreneurs, and institutional clients. He is fluent in Hebrew speaks conversational Spanish.

Prior to his financial career, Aaron served as a combat solider in the Israeli Defense Force’s Golani Brigade. He credits this experience as one of the main reasons why he has been able to develop unique relationships and connect on a more person level with the team’s Israeli clients.

Victoria Oliveira is a PWM Wealth Management Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. She primarily focuses on providing our clients with first-class service by assisting them with their day-to-day operational and administrative needs.

Victoria graduated from Ramapo College with a bachelor’s degree in Finance in January of 2020. She joined the MDM Group in November 2021 as a Client Service Associate. Victoria has completed her Series 7 and 66 licenses.

She currently resides in Manhattan. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. Aside from that, she is also fond of staying active through activities such as running and hiking. Victoria has completed 2 full marathons and hopes to compete in more soon.

Nicole Szomstein is a PWM Registered Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. She is charged with administrative tasks, client account opening & onboarding, and Reg D operations.

Nicole graduated with Magna Cum Laude recognition from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s in Political Science and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, and a minor in Global Social Entrepreneurship. While in college, Nicole interned for a real estate firm in Madrid as a REIT intern, as well as Brown Brother Harriman in Boston as a securities lending intern. She credits her study abroad experience in India - where she focused on social entrepreneurship and sustainable development (specifically microfinance) – for sparking her interest in the wealth management field. Nicole is fluent in Spanish.

A native of Miami, Nicole’s hobbies include dancing (both personally and teaching), running, spinning, skiing, and traveling. In addition to volunteering at her local Jewish community center, she spends time at low income public schools and serves as a dance instructor.

Maribel Acosta is a Client Service Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. She is responsible for providing operational support for all the advisors & their clients.

A 21-year veteran of the financial services industry, Maribel began her professional career with Merrill Lynch. After 10 years, she moved to Morgan Stanley, where she has held several positions over the last 11 years. She ultimately transitioned to the MDM Group in April 2021 after a successful stint within the firm’s Private Wealth Management Operations. Maribel is fluent in Spanish.

Originally from New Jersey, Maribel has three children and three grandchildren: she has dedicated most of her free time to her grandkids, whom she loves spending time with.

Jordan Weinstein is a Client Service Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. He is tasked with handling administrative and operational responsibilities.

Jordan is a May 2022 graduate of the University of Miami, where he received his bachelor’s degree in strategic communication and minor in Economics. While in school, he interned at a wealth management team in Fort Lauderdale, FL affiliated with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. Shortly upon graduating, Jordan joined Morgan Stanley and more specifically, the MDM Group.

A native of Miami, Jordan currently lives in Manhattan. His hobbies include playing basketball, snowboarding, and spending time outdoors.

Ellie Loughlin is a Client Service Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. She is responsible for administrative tasks, including client account onboarding, cash movements and alternative investment support.
 
Ellie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fordham University in 2023 with a degree in finance and a concentration in value investing. While in college, Ellie interned for Brookfield Asset Management, where she worked on debt real estate funds, and at Raymond James Equity Research, where she covered consumer retail companies. After spending a year in equity research post-graduation, she joined the MDM group at Morgan Stanley.
 
Currently residing in Manhattan, Ellie enjoys spending her free time with friends and family, running, and playing basketball.

Andres Bacal is a Client Service Associate for the MDM Group at Morgan Stanley. Andres is responsible for providing exceptional operational support for every advisor and client.
Andres graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in May 2023, where he received a degree in Finance and Business Administration. During his time at Indiana, Andres completed several internships, including working with the MDM Group in the Summer of 2022.
Born in New York, Andres currently lives in Miami Florida. Andres loves to play golf and basketball during his free time, as well as take ski trips with friends and family.