

The North Star Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
Our Story
Our mission is to be our clients’ most trusted partner, helping them navigate life’s most pivotal decisions and milestones. We achieve this by delivering a unique combination of deep experience, unwavering commitment, and conviction to every relationship.
At the heart of our approach is a dedication to helping clients not just achieve financial success, but to realize their “why?” in life, living out their values, passions and purpose.
Wealth is a Tool, not a Trophy.
No one should find their sense of self-worth wrapped up in how much or how little they have. Your wealth should be the vehicle that allows you to explore and express your identity, not be the identity. All too often, clients get caught up comparing the return of their portfolio against that of others or an arbitrary index, as if they must "beat the market." In contrast, the most successful (and happiest) clients clearly define their financial goals and know how to achieve and subsequently protect those goals. Anything beyond that is, at best, simply unnecessary risk and, at worse, hubris.
As advisors, we first try to understand each client's unique interpretation of the term "wealth" and how it fits into who they are. In doing so, our team gains insight into the most valuable things to them. Only then can we identify how to best help that client use their wealth to maximize the essential things in their life.
We are convinced the relationship between a client and their advisor(s) should be grounded in trust and communication. So as advisors, we strive first to earn a client's trust, which comes from genuinely appreciating and connecting to the client as a person. From there, we can show our competency to craft and deliver the strategies they need. Over the years, planning and investing have grown exponentially more complex. As such, we believe client success is molding the dynamic intricacies of modern financial life into a clear, concise road map for the future. The actual dividend of a solid financial plan is peace of mind.
Within financial planning and portfolio construction, our team focuses, first and foremost, on managing risk. Our comprehensive approach to collaborating with a client is founded on four principal areas of focus: Tax Efficient Cash Flow Planning, Risk & Liability Management, Asset Management, and Legacy (Estate) Planning.
We judge success by forging quality relationships with our clients. We care about them as people, not as a pile of money or a source of income for us, never forgetting that it is a privilege to collaborate with a client, not an entitlement.
We are committed to always putting our clients' best interests above all other things. We try every single day to leverage our years in the industry, honing in on areas of comprehensive planning and investment emphasis to create the best client experience possible.
Experience
Our team brings a healthy mix of experience and youth to the table. It is comforting to our clients to know that in three decades of practice, we have navigated multiple market cycles and witnessed clients experience all the major financial milestones in a lifetime. And yet, at the same time, we are youthful enough that clients can expect us to be there to see them through their future financial stages. Ultimately, this means better decision-making and fewer mistakes, which can give clients more confidence and comfort.
Commitment
We embrace the responsibility of having clients entrust their life savings with us, regardless of the amount. And so, we do not have account minimums; instead, we look for relationships of mutual respect and value. This connectivity allows us to commit wholeheartedly to clients whether they have $1mm or $100mm.
Conviction
The long-term success of the advisor/client relationship is based on a shared set of values. Since values and money go hand in hand, it is essential for clients to find and collaborate with a financial advisor that is clear about what they believe in and has the conviction to follow through on those beliefs when collaborating with their clients. This begins with our mission statement and comes alive in our daily activities.
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Meet The North Star Group
About William Spencer
NMLS#: 1278666
About Christopher Stevenson
After finishing business school early, I immediately launched my financial services career at Bear Stearns in Dallas. Two years later, I accepted an offer to join Smith Barney, my legacy path to today’s Morgan Stanley.
Shortly after graduating college, I met an amazing small-town Texas girl and quickly begged her to marry me. Shonda not only said “Yes” but further blessed me with two talented, beautiful daughters, Gracie and Sophie.
Apart from church, family, and work, I have a few other passions. I love to hunt and fish and to listen to music – usually Christian or country. I am passionate about softball and football (both American and European). I strive to master the art & science of cooking and I’m obsessed with collecting fine bottles of whiskey.
But above all, I am eternally grateful for God’s salvation. He is my firm foundation. He has blessed me beyond measure with my family. My relationship with God, my wife, and my daughters matters more to me than any personal recognition or possession. Faith and family are my North Star.
NMLS#: 2489821
About Alyssa Jones
Generally speaking, finding someone you want to work with long-term and who you trust to discuss your goals & considerations for financial planning is a challenge. Whether planning for your retirement or legacy, crying together over the loss of a loved one, celebrating the birth of a newborn child, or working through the difficult choices of leasing or selling the family land, let me be the trusted person you call to navigate these difficult life stages. One of my greatest passions in life is helping people. Knowing I have our North Star Team behind me with over 60 years in this industry makes me all the more confident in what we are doing for clients and what can be done in the future.
About V. David Adams
NMLS#: 1297973
About Leslie Mcentire
Originally from Midland, TX, Leslie grew up in Memphis, TN and studied General Business at the University of Mississippi. She returned to Texas in 1998 and recently moved to Austin from Lubbock. She shares her life with her son, Peyton, two dogs and a cat. Her passions include live music, great food, a good bottle of wine, and taking her RV camper to beautiful fishing spots.
About Andrea Cotter
One of the most impactful seasons of my life was my time living on mission in Hawaii and Peru, where I got to share the love of Jesus and where I truly learned the importance of making people feel seen and valued, just as the Lord calls us to do. That experience helped shape my heart for connection, and it is something I hope to bring with me to my work here and in all that I do.
I am originally from El Salvador, a country I love so deeply, but I also consider myself a proud Texan at heart. I enjoy spending time with friends, diving into all thing’s coffee, taking my dog Kahlua on adventures, and any excuse to dust off my boots and head to a dance hall.
Each step in my journey has been unique and often unexpected, but walking through life with the Lord has taught me to embrace every twist and turn, and I’ve got to say, I am here for the ride!

Contact William Spencer

Contact Christopher Stevenson

Contact Alyssa Jones

Contact V. David Adams
The Power of Partnerships
About Joe Saadi
Prior to joining the firm, Joe’s 30 years of legal and comprehensive wealth planning experience include positions as Managing Director at TIAA Trust Company, Market Trust Director at JP Morgan Trust Company, Trust & Estate Specialist at Merrill Lynch Trust Company, and District Attorney General at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Joe obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from John Carroll University and his Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Joe is a member of the State Bar of Ohio and holds his Series 7 and 66 licenses.
About Elizabeth Chand
Most recently, Elizabeth worked with New York Life in their Advanced Planning Group. She worked with agents and their UHNW clients to advise them on issues of estate and legacy planning as well as business succession planning. Prior to New York Life she ran a boutique estate planning law firm in Southern California working with high net worth families and businesses. Her practice focused exclusively on trusts and estates, probate, trust administration and tax. She has over 15 years of experience as an attorney representing individuals and business clients in connection with the development and implementation of sophisticated estate planning strategies and techniques.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. degree from Chapman University School of Law where she graduated Cum Laude. Elizabeth also holds her Series 7, 66 and 24 securities licenses. Elizabeth lives in the Dallas, TX area with her husband, four daughters and dog Zoe.
Megatrends: Counting on the Long-Term Strength of U.S. Consumers
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Financial Wellness
- Reduce employee stress,
- Improve retention and engagement, and
- Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
Mosaic
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.
2Morgan 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.
3Morgan 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.
4Morgan 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.
5Morgan 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.
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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