About Us

Of the many decisions you make over your lifetime, the one likely to have a lasting impact on you and your family’s well-being is the choice of a financial advisor. Many financial advisors ask what you want. The best financial advisors understand why you want it.

With years of experience helping people effectively navigate up and down markets, life transitions, and a changing economic landscape, we understand that the decisions you make should be informed by your values and motives. Over the course of many years, we’ve developed an in-depth understanding of the challenges, goals, preferences and strategies that distinguish successful investors. Our process is designed to help you move forward in a way that’s meaningful to you.

Thoughtful planning begins with asking the right questions. As we evaluate your goals contextually, we narrow down the alternatives to create a plan to help achieve your specific goals, whether that’s planning for retirement, the cost of educating children or taking care of parents, managing risk in your portfolio, or finding ways to make more impact with your money.

You’ve worked your whole life to achieve what you have. You deserve an advocate who sits on the same side of the table. What do you need help with today?
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working With You

We believe that identifying financial solutions begins with a solid understanding of your situation, goals, objectives and risk tolerance. We follow a disciplined process and provide step-by-step guidance, which enables us to create solutions to help meet your individual financial needs.
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    Step 1- Discovery
    Develop a thorough understanding of your financial goals and objectives
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    Step 2- Analysis
    Review and analyze your current financial situation
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    Step 3- Financial Plan Presentation
    Identify and capitalize on solutions to help meet your individual needs
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    Step 4- Implementation
    Implement your customized strategy
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    Step 5- Continual Strategy Check-Ins
    Meet regularly to update and adjust course as circumstances change or your needs evolve

Investing With Impact

Every dollar you send into the world makes an impact. What do you want your impact to be?

Impact investing, also referred to as sustainable investing or socially responsible investing, is actively channeling investments to companies that align with an investor’s values. It’s investing that generates positive social and/or environmental change along with attractive investment returns.

There are several ways to approach this:
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    Restriction Screening
    Avoiding investments in specific industries and/or companies that detract from intended positive impacts, such as tobacco / gun manufacturers.
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    Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”)
    Investing in companies that are leaders in their environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) corporate practices. An example of this is encouraging and demonstrating gender diversity in their executive management and corporate boards.
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    Sustainability
    Investing in companies with products and services that are generating solutions to key sustainability challenges, such as clean water, renewable energy, disease eradication, and food availability.
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    Direct Impact
    Investing aimed at specific issues, from improving the quality of education or providing health care clinics in underserved parts of the world, to investing in bonds whose proceeds are designed to positively impact affordable housing, disaster recovery, minority neighborhoods, and/or seniors and disabled people in a particular geographic region in the U.S.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU WITH EQUITY COMPENSATION

Equity Compensation Workplace Advisors are positioned to service and educate on the full suite of workplace benefits and can help you address questions related to grants/awards, vesting events, restricted stock units, and more. Some common types of equity compensation include: Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs). Companies may offer a combination of equity compensation offerings to employees. For many, equity in their company is an important piece of their full financial picture and since everyone’s situation is unique, a Morgan Stanley Equity Compensation Workplace Advisor can help create a plan that caters specifically to your needs and goals.
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    Equity Compensation 101
    When you own company equity, you become a shareholder in your company. Equity programs vary widely, so it's important to understand the details and how it fits into your financial plan.
    Click Here to Learn More About Equity Compensation
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    Stock Options
    Employee Stock Options (ESO) gives an employee the right to purchase company shares at a fixed, predetermined price. Typically, ESOs have a vesting period, which refers to a period of time the employee must remain with the company to be able to exercise the options.
    Click Here to Learn More About Stock Options
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    Restricted Stock Units (RSU)
    Another form of equity compensation, RSUs represent a promise by the company to issue shares of stock to an employee. The employee receives a number of units that represent the right to receive shares at a specified point in the future, and they tend to vest over a period of time.
    Click Here to Learn More About Restricted Stock Units (RSU)
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    Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP)
    Certain companies allow employees to purchase company stock at a discounted price. They are typically purchased through payroll deductions, in which employees can contribute a portion of their pay to purchase company stock. There are also qualified or non-qualified ESPPs, which possess different tax treatment.
    Click Here to Learn More About Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP)

Staying On Track

We're sharing ideas designed to provide perspective on your financial life. Each column is intended to help you make incremental progress towards what you want and help you make more confident decisions over time.

Everyone is different, but many people share similar concerns and challenges. Your contribution to the conversation will likely help someone else. If you’d like suggest a future topic, please tell us.
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    How to Plan Instead of Panic in Volatile Markets
    Your financial plan is key to achieving your goals, especially when market drops knock you off pace. By outlining your goals, strategy and contingency options, a professionally developed plan can serve as your "north star" in volatile markets, helping you stay focused on what matters in the long run, instead of the latest headlines.
    Read Here
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    The Most Formidable Obstacle to Financial Success
    We procrastinate when we don’t ask the right
    questions and when we don’t give ourselves the
    space to consider possibilities. When we make
    financial decisions with a sense of purpose, we are
    more likely to continue making progress.
    Read Here
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    A Cash Flow Plan That's NOT Painful to Follow
    When an unexpected expense arises, we compensate by scaling back in another capacity. Some areas feel especially painful to reduce, though, and losing them stings. Those are the areas we want to look after, to avoid becoming discouraged and abandoning our spending plan. When your real priorities take a backseat, you don’t just feel a little pinched. You feel deprived. How can you commit to a budget that’s painful and unpleasant?
    Read Here
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    How Reframing This Dirty Word Might Change Your Life
    Budgeting. Given that most people don’t have unlimited funds, it’s important to navigate a balance between enjoying today and preparing for tomorrow. If we recognize and prioritize the non-negotiable items in our budgets, it’s easier to both get and give what we want, and still stay on track financially by eliminating less important items to compensate.
    Read Here
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    What to Do If You Are Off Track on Your Goals
    You can check in periodically to see if you’re on track and the amount you’re saving and investing is on pace to equal the money you’ll need when the time comes (with some margin for error). But what if you’re off track? The earlier you become aware that you are off track, the more time you have to make the necessary adjustments to help you get back on track.
    Read Here
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    When Should You Take Social Security?
    For many, Social Security is a critical source of income in retirement—offering guaranteed, inflation-adjusted monthly income for life. However, the age at which you decide to claim those benefits can make a big difference in how far they go to support your retirement income goals.
    Read Here

Location

2400 Lakeview Pkwy
Suite 300
Alpharetta, GA 30009
US
Direct:
(770) 643-7602(770) 643-7602
Toll-Free:
(800) 229-4190(800) 229-4190
5565 Glenridge Connector
Suite 1900
Atlanta, GA 30342
US
Direct:
(404) 459-3925(404) 459-3925

Meet The Nichols O'Leary Group

About Bill Nichols

Bill has been in the financial world for over twenty-five years in a variety of capacities - working as a managing partner in a local institutional investment firm, at a start-up helping to create an electronic bond trading platform and teaching a personal finance course at Emory University. Several years ago, he shifted gears to focus exclusively on what he found most rewarding – working with clients like you.

Bill helps his clients achieve their goals by providing comprehensive financial planning and skilled investment advice – facilitating in-depth discussions to determine what is most important to you and developing solutions to help meet your objectives.

Bill was born in London but spent most of his youth growing up in Toccoa, Georgia. He graduated in the Honors Program from the University of Georgia with a degree in Political Science and Economics and has earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner™. Outside of his work, Bill also enjoys spending time at his beach house in South Carolina, as well as well as running and reading.
Securities Agent: LA, CA, MS, TX, TN, PA, NM, MN, AL, NC, AZ, WY, NY, MD, HI, CO, KY, CT, MO, IA, GA, DC, WA, VA, OH, IL, WI, NV, NJ, IN, FL, SC, ME, MA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1279110

About Lara O'Leary

Lara began her career working with individual investors and families and teaching retirement planning seminars at colleges and universities throughout the metro-Atlanta area. Over the last 28 years, she has built a practice helping people approach their finances with confidence.

"Taking control of your finances opens up possibilities in other areas of your life. How do you know if you have enough money to retire? How do you know when you can stop working and how much you can safely spend? Are you on track? My job is to guide clients through working, saving, accumulation, cash flow management and distribution so they can live with independence and dignity.”

Naturally curious, Lara is an avid traveler and music lover. She lives in Marietta with her husband.
Securities Agent: NY, MO, TX, FL, PA, NM, CA, AL, VA, DC, WA, NC, IL, GA, AZ, NJ, CT; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1780435

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 Maranda Barbour

NMLS# 1182370

Maranda Barbour is a Loan Portfolio Manager serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in the Southeast Region.

Maranda began her career in financial services in 1999, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2010. Prior to being promoted to her current position, she served as an Associate Private Banker in Atlanta, Georgia. Before she joined the firm, Maranda was a Premier Client Manager for Bank of America.

Maranda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Winthrop University. She and her family live in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Outside of the office, Maranda dedicates her time to youth mentoring programs and numerous community organizations, including Girl Scouts of America and the Greater North Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She also enjoys walking, traveling, and hiking.
NMLS#: 1182370

About Kate Rives

Kate Rives is a Planning Associate at Morgan Stanley providing dedicated financial planning support to Financial Advisors and their teams. Operating as an extension of the FA/Team, she collaborates with clients to discover and define goals that matter most to them. Leveraging state of the art technology, she will evaluate various options and their potential outcomes to help clients confidently choose the appropriate course of action. Kate provides expertise across a wide suite of Morgan Stanley planning tools designed to assist in the areas of investment accumulation, retirement, education, major purchase, cash flow, risk management, tax efficiency, and wealth transfer planning.

She earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Georgia and received the Financial Planning Specialist® designation from the College for Financial Planning. Kate is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and currently resides in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Wealth Management
From Our Team

Donor Advised Funds


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.

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 Nichols O'Leary 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.

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2When 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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3Morgan 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 Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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5Annuities are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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6Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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7Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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8Morgan 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

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9Alternative 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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10The 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)