

The Mellos Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
THE MELLOS GROUP
The Mellos Group is a multigenerational wealth management team dedicated to providing expert financial advice to affluent investors. Our team is committed to delivering exceptional service by fostering continuous dialogue and education to thoroughly understand our clients' objectives and support informed decision-making.
In 2025, The Mellos Group was recognized by Forbes as one of the Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, reflecting our dedication to excellence and our clients' success.
We collaborate with specialized teams within both the Private Wealth Management and Greystone Institutional Consulting divisions of Morgan Stanley when it aligns with our clients' needs, ensuring comprehensive, tailored solutions.
Contact us to learn more about how we work with clients to help them achieve their financial goals.
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2025) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC for the period 3/31/23-3/31/24
- Wealth ManagementFootnote1
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote2
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote3
- Trust AccountsFootnote4
- Financial PlanningFootnote5
- Retirement PlanningFootnote6
- Business Succession PlanningFootnote7
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote8
- 401(k) Rollovers
- Sustainable InvestingFootnote9
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote10
- Cash Management and Lending ProductsFootnote11
- Philanthropic ManagementFootnote12
- SyndicateFootnote13
- Executive Financial ServicesFootnote14
- Divorce Financial AnalysisFootnote15
- Corporate Retirement PlansFootnote16
- Endowments and FoundationsFootnote17
- Life InsuranceFootnote18
- Long Term Care InsuranceFootnote19
PROTECTING YOUR ONLINE SECURITY
The firm is actively supporting multiple layers of security. Security includes the following; Strong encryption protocols designed to protect your data, continuous monitoring to help detect and prevent fraudulent activity in your accounts, routine testing of our systems to identify potential vulnerabilities, and independent reviews by outside security firms to penetration test our applications and evaluate our processes.
- Safeguarding your personal information is one of our highest priorities. While many of us continue to work from home we find ourselves utilizing technology more now than ever. For some tips and tricks that can help you be more secure check our cybersecurity center.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Alerts and Notifications
- Automatic Session Time Out
- VoiceID
- Fraud Detection and Prevention
- Digital Tools
- Cybersecurity Fusion Centers
- Threat Landscape Monitoring
- Employee Training and Testing
Location
Meet The Mellos Group
About Faye Mellos
She enjoys working with families, with a primary focus of maximizing tax efficiency, wealth preservation and developing next generation plans. It is this holistic approach that helps clients to understand the intricacies of investing and estate planning.
She is currently serving on a team of five professionals that are mentoring a young student from Cambodia through the non-profit “SheCan”; an organization that builds female leadership in post conflict countries by empowering young women with education and providing mentorship to develop the leadership skills needed to affect change in their nations.
Faye is currently working as a volunteer with “Homeless Action Sonoma”; bringing attention to the homeless issue in Sonoma, California and by helping prepare meals each Sunday allowing housed and unhoused folks to come together to break bread. In this environment the housed get a better understanding of what homelessness is and its impact on our entire community.
Faye is also currently serving on the International Finance Committee for Zonta Foundation for Women, a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. She has been a member of this organization for decades and is a charter member of the Zonta e-Club of Silicon Valley, with a mission to locally advance women and girls in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Faye enjoys hiking in the hills of Sonoma County, wine tasting and gardening in her expansive garden in Sonoma. Most weekends you can find her experimenting with local produce to create tasty garden-to-table dishes. Faye and her husband, Michael, live in downtown San Francisco and spend leisure time at their home in Sonoma County.
NMLS#: 1394665
CA Insurance License #: 0B76089
About Eric Peterson
A graduate with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he majored in Anthropology, Eric also completed the Harvard Business School’s Core Program in 2017, gaining expertise in Accounting, Economics, and Statistics. Outside of work, he enjoys running, skiing, and playing basketball, finding balance and purpose through his active lifestyle.
NMLS#: 1507453
About Philip Peterson
After completing a tour of duty in the early seventies with the US Army in Germany, Philip attended the University of North Dakota. His financial career began at EF Hutton and Co. in 1979 helping clients meet their financial goals. Over the years Philip has also developed an extensive banking and lending expertise that has included a position as Wells Fargo's Regional Banking Consultant for Southern California. He joined the present-day Morgan Stanley initially in 1999 and works currently with The Mellos Group utilizing Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s extensive intellectual capital and wide range of services tailored to benefit affluent families and investors.
As a member of The Mellos Group at Morgan Stanley, Philip’s activities are client relationship centered with a focus on asset management strategies, risk management and investment capabilities customized for each client. Philip also provides his clients with access to banking and lending services. The Mellos Group reflects his strong belief in the power of the collaborative process. Each member of the group brings exceptional knowledge and experience that helps craft the best possible results for their clients.
Philip’s wide ranging business background has also included ownership for several decades of a diversified grain operation and cattle ranch in North Dakota. Philip is a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.
NMLS#: 1347354
CA Insurance License #: 0G91542

Contact Faye Mellos

Contact Eric Peterson

Contact Philip Peterson
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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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4Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and 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 matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.
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6When 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.
7Morgan 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.
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 always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.
9The 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.
10Alternative 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.
11Morgan 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
12Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and 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 matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
13Participating in a new issue/syndicate is subject to availability. IPOs are highly speculative and may not be appropriate for all investors because they lack a stock-trading history and usually involve smaller and newer companies that tend to have limited operating histories, less-experienced management teams, and fewer products or customers. Also, the offering price of an IPO reflects a negotiated estimate as to the value of the company, which may bear little relationship to the trading price of the securities, and it is not uncommon for the closing price of the shares shortly after the IPO to be well above or below the offering price.
14Morgan 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.
15Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and 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 matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
16When 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.
17Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and 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 matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
18Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
19Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
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