The Meridian Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley

Michel Wagner is a Managing Director, Family Wealth Director, Lending Specialist and Senior Portfolio Management Director at Morgan Stanley. As a founding partner of The Meridian Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley, Michael helps lead and execute the team’s dynamic client experience.

Michael draws on his diverse business experience to develop investment and planning solutions for clients as well as manage The Meridian Wealth Management Group. His specialty is helping successful families navigate and simplify the complexities of multigenerational wealth. He has a particular focus on helping entrepreneurs and corporate executives understand and manage concentrated equity positions. Michael believes in being a life learner and staying current with ever-evolving markets to grow and benefit his clients and the team. Michael holds Morgan Stanley’s designations of Family Wealth Director and Lending Specialist while also maintaining the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.

Michael joined Morgan Stanley in 2012 after 11 years as a successful wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he started out as a member of the M.B.A. Executive Management Program. After two years in management, Michael joined one of Merrill’s accomplished private wealth teams, and in 2008 he became a team leader and managing advisor for the group that is now The Meridian Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley.

Prior to his career in financial services, Michael was in senior leadership with the Franchise Management Group, a group of franchise companies. He began his career with Household Finance in the accelerated management program and spent two years with Comdisco, Inc., in their European offices as an international market maker.

Originally from outside of Chicago, Michael earned an undergraduate degree in business entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University.

Michael and his wife, Melissa, reside in Atlanta with their three daughters. Away from the office, he prioritizes time with his family and is always pursuing opportunities to engage in outdoor sports and activities.

Michael Spector is a Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Director, and Senior Portfolio Management Director. As a founding partner of The Meridian Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley, Mike helps lead and execute the team’s dynamic client experience.

As a Family Wealth Director, Mike is part of a select group of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors who have extensive experience in helping high-net-worth clients and families manage the complexities associated with their wealth. It is not uncommon for Mike and his team to work with three generations of the same family, helping each to create and implement a wealth management plan that addresses their unique goals and aspirations.

Mike joined Morgan Stanley in 2000, where he began his career providing financial planning guidance and subsequent investment strategy to corporate executives and high-net-worth families. After completing the firm’s branch manager assessment, he became a National Development Officer at Morgan Stanley's training center in Warren, New Jersey, where he coached over 1,800 new financial advisors. In 2010, Mike relocated to the firm’s Southern Region in Atlanta, where he was responsible for the training and performance management of new financial advisors. Later that year, he was named the Business Development Manager for the Buckhead complex, serving in that capacity until he helped found the Meridian Wealth Management Group in 2013.

Originally from New Hampshire, Mike graduated from The Derryfield School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College double majoring in Political Science and Spanish. Mike and his wife, Rachel, have three daughters and reside in Atlanta. Outside of the office, he is active in his church and the Southeastern junior golf community. Mike currently serves on the board of directors of PGA Reach Georgia, the charitable arm of the Georgia Section of the PGA of America.

Elizabeth Layne is a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, and Portfolio Management Director with The Meridian Wealth Management Group. She has four decades of experience in finance and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2016. Elizabeth holds a Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation and has been named to Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State list for 2023 and 2024.

Elizabeth draws upon her extensive knowledge and experience to help families live their best life. Financial education, advice and planning are the cornerstones of her practice. She takes pride in having collaborated with clients for decades, guiding families through various life stages - from planning for their children’s education to retirement to succession planning for the next generation.

Her introductory meeting with a client starts with active listening. She strives to understand their history with money and investing, what a financially successful life looks like to them and their family, and the financial and personal legacy they wish to leave. After determining the client’s objectives, Elizabeth utilizes a comprehensive wealth management process to develop actionable plans tailored to the individual’s unique situation. To ensure clients are comfortable with her approach, Elizabeth takes the necessary time to educate and explain priorities.

She is the Co-Chair for the Buckhead Complex Women in Wealth Chapter and Team Lead for Morgan Stanley's Atlanta Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk to raise funds for breast cancer research. Elizabeth volunteers regularly with Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, currently serving on the Board of Trustees, and previously serving as Chair of the Administrative Board and President of United Methodist Women. Additionally, she is a Member of Ribbons of Hope-Invest in Women, Inc., since the organizations inception in 2012, and has served on the Grant Committee for several years.

Elizabeth and her husband Michael live in Atlanta and proudly serve as "second parents" to their nieces. She is an avid reader, enjoys traveling and likes hiking trails recommended by locals.

Matt Genco is a Financial Advisor with The Meridian Wealth Management Group. Matt works in relationship management and business development capacities for the Meridian Covered Call Strategy, and he serves as a lead advisor for many of Meridian’s private client relationships. He has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2011.

Matt has a broad background in finance. Before joining Morgan Stanley, he worked in private wealth and traditional banking at Wachovia Bank and BB&T for 10 years. His experience in banking and wealth management provides Matt with a unique perspective to analyze his clients’ financial position and to create effective solutions for their goals.

Prior to joining the team, Matt was a private banker covering the Southeast region for Morgan Stanley Private Bank, and in 2015 he was the recipient of the Summit Club award, an honor given to the top private bankers at Morgan Stanley.

He is a 2001 graduate of Elon University with a degree in Business. Matt married his wife Page in 2007, and the couple have two daughters, Scarlett, and Juliet. They live in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta. In his spare time, Matt enjoys traveling, working out, and is an avid football fan.

James Hole is a Senior Vice President, Global Sports and Entertainment Director, and Senior Portfolio Manager with The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He has spent over four decades in wealth management and has been with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms since 1984.

Jim has extensive experience advising high-net-worth families, business owners, physicians, as well as current and former MLB players. By putting his clients first and caring about their future, Jim has developed a successful practice dedicated to building and enhancing long term relationships.

He uses a systematic wealth management process to develop actionable plans tailored to individual situations. Jim is dedicated to thoroughly understanding each client’s financial position, long and short-term goals, and appetite for risk. He uses this information along with the firm’s modern wealth management analytics and risk management tools to formulate customized strategies.

Jim graduated from Marshall University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He supports Boca Helping Hands, a local food bank, and has a lengthy history of helping The Sunrise Chapter of the Boca Raton Rotary Club.

Jim and his wife, Sarah, are long-tenured residents of Boca Raton. The couple enjoy playing golf and taking cruises. Jim also likes back-county fishing in the Florida Keys.

Charles Cartwright is a Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor, and Partner of The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He has over 25 years of financial industry experience and has been with the firm since 2003. Charles holds his Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Family Wealth Director, and International Client Advisor designations.

Charles leverages his extensive experience and training to design tailored strategies for high-net-worth families, focusing on multigenerational wealth. His collaborative approach recognizes each client’s unique circumstances. By developing an understanding of the family dynamic, he creates individualized plans to help clients achieve their objectives.

He takes pride in having worked with clients for decades, guiding families through various life stages - from planning for their children’s education to retirement and succession to the next generation. From his experience as a CFP, Charles has developed a passion for estate planning. To ensure accessibility and attention, he limits the number of clients in his practice.

Charles began his career in the securities industry at Merrill Lynch in 1996 as an Associate Vice President where he spent 7 years in Equity Trading for Corporations and Institutions. He graduated from the University of Florida with a BSBA from the Warrington College of Business with a concentration on Finance.

Charles and his wife, Ali, reside in Boca Raton, Florida with their two children Benjamin and Amelia. He is supportive of his local community in a variety of ways and is currently an active board member of the Florida Atlantic University Foundation.

Spencer Curtis is a Vice President and Financial Advisor with The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He has over 10 years of industry experience and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2013. He holds a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation and Life, Health, and Variable Life insurance licenses.

Spencer is focused on helping families and individuals succeed and building long term relationships. He combines his knowledge and training with Meridian’s experience to develop comprehensive financial plans designed to help client’s reach their goals and aspirations. When meeting with a prospective client, he not only conducts a detailed review of their finances, but takes the time to learn about their family, values, dreams, financial objectives, and tolerance for risk.

Spencer is passionate about finding unique solutions for his clients’ needs. He utilizes Morgan Stanley’s extensive network of specialists in insurance, structured solutions, estate planning, and lending services to deepen the advice the team offers.

Spencer honed his interest in wealth management while working as an intern at Morgan Stanley during college. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2012 with a degree in finance, Spencer started his career at Merrill Lynch. He subsequently joined Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management division in 2013.

He is married to Molly, and the couple have a young daughter, Margot. Spencer is a member of the Northside United Methodist Church. In his free time, he enjoys golf and tennis.

Angelique DeLeva is an Associate Vice President and Financial Advisor at The Meridian Wealth Management Group. She has over 40 years of experience in personal finance and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2013. Angelique is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and the team’s subject matter expert for Social Security, Medicare, and long-term care insurance solutions. She is also life-insurance licensed and holds the long-term care certification.

One of her favorite responsibilities as a Financial Advisor is helping clients transition from work to retirement. Angelique employs a multi-step process that addresses all aspects of this transition and the important decisions one must make. Her work includes comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, advice and advocacy, and legacy planning. To ensure clients are comfortable with her approach, Angelique takes time to educate and explain the options available.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Angelique spent 32 years at Bank of America, more recently as a private banker, helping clients and their families navigate the resources of a large bank to meet their financial needs.

She has been married to Chris for over 43 years and they have two happily married sons who live and work in the Atlanta area. The couple have lived in Hampton for 27 years and both enjoy cooking, stand-up comedy, travel, and spending time with their family.

Brooke Sberna is a Financial Advisor with The Meridian Wealth Management Group. She has over 10 years of industry experience and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2014.

Brooke is a relationship manager for the team and helps clients create and implement a wealth management plan that addresses their unique goals and aspirations. Her work includes comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, advice and advocacy, and legacy planning. As a lifelong learner, she enjoys working with and educating many of the children and grandchildren of existing clients.

Brooke earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising/public relations from Texas Christian University. Brooke and her husband, Roger, have two young sons. Outside of the office, she enjoys volunteering, reading, attending shows at Alliance Theatre, and supporting Atlanta United.

Hunter Podlin is a Financial Advisor with The Meridian Wealth Management Group. Hunter was named to Morgan Stanley’s Pacesetter’s Club, a global recognition program for Financial Advisors who have demonstrated the highest professional standards and first-class client service.

Hunter became an intern for Meridian in October 2016 at the start of his sophomore year at Georgia Tech. From that point forward, he worked part-time while taking classes and full-time when his class schedule permitted. During his last semester, he supported the team while studying and passing his licensing exams.

Hunter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgia Tech. He is married to Anna and the couple have two dogs, Stella and Buddy. They currently reside in Sandy Springs (Atlanta). In his spare time, Hunter enjoys cooking, traveling, basketball, Atlanta sports, and scuba diving. He volunteers with other Morgan Stanley employees in the PowHER program where they develop a community of confident middle school girls through financial literacy and enriching experiences.

Max Renke is a Financial Advisor and Portfolio Manager at The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He holds the Certified Portfolio Manager (CPM), as well as the Financial Planning Specialist designations and was named to Morgan Stanley’s Pacesetter’s Club from 2021 – 2023. Max joined Meridian following his graduation from Emory University in 2019 where he was a NCAA Team Champion student-athlete tennis player.

At Meridian, Max’s primary focus is supporting the team’s discretionary portfolio management strategy, Meridian Covered Call Strategy (MCCS). Max covers various sectors, manages existing partnerships, and fosters new relationships. In addition, he leads marketing, content creation, and business development initiatives for the team.

Max draws upon his strong background in finance and economics to deliver quantitative analysis and unique solutions for the team and clients. He received a BA in Quantitative Economics and Econometrics from Emory University and a BBA in Finance from the Goizueta Business School whilst also studying abroad at the London School of Economics. During his studies, Max completed summer internships in Institutional Sales and Trading, Asset Management, and Wealth Management.

Max was fortunate to travel the world from a young age through tennis, which provided him with a unique perspective and open mind. As an athlete, the concepts of adaptability, discipline, and consistency were the pillars of his success. These values now guide him in wealth management and creating financial freedom for his clients.

Max believes in giving back to the community. He dedicates his time to supporting local and national non-profits by assisting their development teams. He also volunteers at PowHer and the Goizueta Business School. He is married to his wife, Gaby. Max enjoys traveling and has visited 96 countries, with a particular fondness for visiting his family in Europe. He also has interests in Formula 1, Sporting Clays, Golf, and Horology.

Olivia Mills is a Financial Advisor and additionally she holds a Dedicated Equity Plan Specialist designation. Olivia joined The Meridian Wealth Management Group in 2017 after she graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Finance and Economics.

Olivia’s primary responsibilities are relationship management and trading. She communicates regularly with partners and clients. Her favorite aspect of her role is helping clients navigate complex decisions in a collaborative manner and determining innovative solutions to generate additional cash flow. In 2020, Olivia transferred from Meridian’s home office in Atlanta to Miami, where she works out of Morgan Stanley’s Miami complex.

Olivia believes in giving back to the community. She volunteers with The Way Forward Foundation, a non- profit based in Miami, Florida dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with paralysis.

Residing in Coconut Grove, Florida, Olivia is happily married to her husband, David. The couple share their home with a golden retriever named Chloe. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys cooking, tennis, boating, fishing, DIY projects, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Christopher M. Gannon is a Relationship Manager for The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He has over 25 years of experience in finance and has been with the firm since 2020.

Chris focuses the majority of his time on the Meridian Covered Call Strategy (MCCS). MCCS is a systematic, probability-based covered call writing strategy designed to seek additional income through call premiums on single concentrated positions or complete portfolios of concentrated positions. As a Relationship Manager, he is responsible for a large part of the team’s partnering efforts.

Prior to joining Meridian, Chris spent over 20 years in institutional equity sales at ABN-AMRO, Bank of America Securities, Cowen & Company, and Deutsche Bank Securities. During this time, he marketed equity research to money managers located predominately in the Southeast.

Chris enjoys working closely with Meridian’s partners/clients to develop customized solutions. His greatest skill is cultivating and deepening long term relationships.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History from Boston College. Chris is married to Erin, and they have three children: Paddy, Claire and Billy. Both Chris and Erin come from large families and love the fun and chaos of family gatherings. They are active members of Christ the King Catholic Church. In his spare time, Christopher likes to read and run.

Patrick Fleming is The Meridian Wealth Management Group’s Investment Director. He has over 25 years of financial industry experience and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Patrick has been with Morgan Stanley since 2020.

Patrick began his career in finance in 1999 as a trader for an Orlando-based hedge fund. For the next 15 years, he was a long/short equity portfolio manager at Caldwell & Orkin. During this time, Patrick developed key market experience, risk management skills, and navigated the financial crisis.

The Meridian investment team employs a detailed process used for both asset allocation and manager selection. The team’s strategy is grounded in quantitative analysis, ensuring an unbiased approach. Patrick’s day-to-day work involves developing an understanding of clients’ goals, investment horizon, and tolerance for risk and subsequently incorporating those factors into the team’s portfolio construction. He enjoys interacting with clients and communicating the investment team's current market approach and strategies.

He received a BBA in Finance from Stetson University. Patrick was drawn to the financial industry by his curiosity in global markets. He continues to find the field exciting and enjoys the challenge of operating in the ever-changing financial marketplace.

Patrick and his wife, Lissy, have lived in Brookhaven for 18 years. They have two children, Savannah, and Oliver. The couple is actively involved in the community and support their children's schools and extra-curricular activities. They also enjoy playing golf and pickelball, walking their two poodles and spending time with friends and family.

Corey Martin is a Business Development Associate at The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He has over 10 years of financial industry experience and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2011. Corey holds Series 6, Series 7, Series 9, Series 10, Series 63, and Series 66 licenses as well as Life and Health Insurance licenses.

Before coming to Morgan Stanley, Corey worked for Transamerica Retirement Services and helped Financial Advisors establish 401(k) plans for their business clients. Witnessing the positive impact the plans had on employees’ lives inspired Corey to work with individuals to address their financial needs and long-term goals.

At The Meridian Wealth Management Group, Corey assists with the day-to-day servicing of clients’ accounts, ensuring a positive experience. His responsibilities include cash movement, trading, account maintenance, onboarding of new clients, and asset transfers. He also addresses other requests and unique needs of the team’s clients and their families.

Corey is a graduate of Missouri State University. He participates in frequent community service projects that are sponsored by the local graduate chapter of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.

Corey lives in Marietta, Georgia with his wife Danielle and two sons. In his spare time, Corey enjoys reading, following football, traveling, exercising, and working on home improvement projects. He is also actively engaged in his sons’ high school and youth lacrosse programs.

As a Senior Client Service Associate, Shirley Barnes provides operational and administrative support for The Meridian Wealth Management Group and their clients. She draws upon her four decades of experience in the financial industry to assist with the operations of the team. These responsibilities include the opening of new client accounts, money transfers, trade settlements, estate-processing, online access, retirement/rollover transactions, and college savings plans. Shirley delivers a high level of service and takes great pride in her ability to build strong connections with clients.

Shirley and her family believe in giving back to the community. They volunteer at the Atlanta Mission and the food bank. They also help by donating clothes, shoes, and home goods.

Outside of the office, Shirley enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with family and friends, having cookouts, and hosting game nights.

Harry Haber is a Registered Client Service Associate at The Meridian Wealth Management Group. He joined the firm in 2021 after graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned a Business Administration degree.

Harry’s day-to-day responsibilities include trading for private client portfolios, as well as the trading and analysis for the team’s options strategy. He also assists with reporting and analytics for both sides of the business. Additionally, Harry leads technology initiatives for the team.

Harry is proud of his community service. For his Eagle Scout project, he helped construct an information kiosk in a local park. The kiosk displays trail maps, pamphlets, and information about current events happening in the park. In his free time, Harry enjoys following football, playing video games, and building with Legos.

Susan LeBlanc is a Senior Client Service Associate at The Meridian Wealth Management Group. She has nearly ten years of experience in financial services and has been with Morgan Stanly since 2021.

Susan joined The Meridian Wealth Management Group after spending five years in client services at Ameriprise Financial. Prior to financial services, Susan had an impressive career in hospitality, working two decades for Hyatt, Hilton, and Renaissance/Marriott as a Director of Meetings/Events and Catering. She also spent 10 years as Vice President of an event company in Atlanta, designing and executing gatherings for corporate groups and private clients nationwide. She brings deep experience in client service and hospitality to the clients she serves today.

Away from her professional duties, Susan is passionate about Triathlon. She has completed four full Ironman triathlons, and in 2023, she qualified for the 2024 Ironman World Championship which is being held in Nice, France. After qualifying, Susan founded and launched "Endurance Athletes 2 End Alzheimer's", a non-profit dedicated to raising money for Alzheimer's Research. She has selected Emory's Goizueta Alzheimer's Research Center in Atlanta as the sole beneficiary, in honor of her father who passed away from the disease three weeks after his 65th birthday.

Susan is a graduate of SUNY Delhi where she studied Hotel & Restaurant Management. When not swimming, biking, or running, she enjoys playing golf and traveling with her family.

Curry Hartman is a Registered Client Service Associate with the Meridian Wealth Management Group. Her career with Morgan Stanley began as a summer Intern in 2022. She joined Meridian in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Finance. She holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.

At Meridian, Curry assists with client management, product knowledge, and utilizing the full capabilities of our team and Firm. Curry is focused on helping the group’s clients succeed and she takes pride in building long term relationships.

Curry is a longtime supporter of Safe Harbor Children's Center located in the Golden Isles as well as the Knox Martin Foundation for Brain Cancer Research.

Curry is from Saint Simons Island and looks forward to visiting her friends and family there. Growing up in a small community, she values strong relationships and supporting local efforts. Curry currently resides in the Chastain Park area.

Suzie Wrenne is a Portfolio Associate at The Meridian Wealth Management Group. She has over 4 decades of experience in the finance industry and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2005. She holds Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.

Suzie draws upon her extensive experience and time previously spent as a bank Operations Manager to provide exceptional client support. She takes pride in building long-term relationships and understanding each client’s financial situation. Suzie strives to service clients with compassion, while ensuring their financial needs are met.

For over 20 years, Suzie has volunteered in her local community for an organization that welcomes children and young adults with intellectual and physical challenges and children on the Autism Spectrum to participate in a soccer program. She is also involved with a worldwide Christian organization, Operation Mobilization, and is an active member of Advent Church in Boca Raton.

Suzie is married to her husband, Kevin. Together they have two grown children and a lovely daughter-in-law. She likes to stay physically active and enjoys running. Suzie also likes to travel and spend quality time with her family.

Jill Conrad is a Senior Client Associate at the Meridian Wealth Management Group. She has over 10 years of industry experience and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2020. She holds Series 7 and 66 licenses.

After graduating from Michigan State University where she earned a degree in Hotel Management and Business, Jill worked.at the Westin Walt Disney World Swan and the Four Seasons Palm Beach. In 2012, she made a career change and joined Ameriprise.

At the Meridian Group, Jill provides operational and administrative support for the team’s clients. She especially likes to help clients through their major life events from opening 529 plans to estate settlements.

Jill is member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, and its CCW group. She volunteers monthly at the parish food pantry.

Originally from Michigan, Jill has lived in Boca Raton for over 30 years. She is married and has two grown children. She enjoys traveling, trying new recipes, daily walks with her Aussiedoodle, Casey, and spending time at her lake house in Northern Michigan.