The Oaktide Group at Morgan Stanley

When Fred began his financial services career almost 40 years ago, financial planning was a relatively new discipline. Fred immediately embraced it, however, because he believed that he could not create viable strategies for his clients unless he understood their total financial picture.

Today, Fred advises not only the clients for whom he developed those early financial plans, but their children and grandchildren. He takes pride in the recent recognition he received as a 2020 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor, but even more satisfying is the depth and longevity of his client relationships.

A Rochester native, Fred graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS in Business and an MBA in Finance. Throughout his long career, he has strived to enhance his knowledge by studying for and earning such prestigious industry designations as Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA^®). He purposely limits the number of clients he advises so he can provide all of them with the attention and service they deserve.

Recently, Fred co-founded The Oaktide Group at Morgan Stanley, a Financial Advisor team that places comprehensive financial planning at the center of everything they do. He has expanded the team’s operations to southwest Florida where he and his wife Cece spend their winters. Fred often commutes back to Rochester for client conferences and skiing, a passion he can’t pursue in Florida. However, he’s still an avid tennis player and has also taken up golf.

​Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2020-2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

As a financial advisor with the Oaktide Group at Morgan Stanley’s Rochester, New York office, Erik oversees and coordinates the financial affairs of a select group of families and businesses in Rochester and across the country. He primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, affluent families, pre and post retirees, business owners, and corporate executives, providing a strategic approach tailored to their unique needs.

With over 25 years of financial services experience, Erik takes a highly customized approach to addressing his clients’ financial needs, integrating strategic planning with tailored investment solutions. He is skilled across diverse markets and asset classes, including domestic and international markets, traditional investments, private markets and alternative investments.

Erik begins every client relationship by understanding what matters most to the families he serves. From wealth preservation strategies to lifestyle planning and cash-flow management, he is relentless in helping his clients achieve clarity, confidence, and control over their financial future. His approach combines analytical precision with warmth and compassion, creating an experience clients find both distinctive and empowering.

Erik holds a degree in Business Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he also serves on the College of Business Finance Advisory Board, mentoring students and supporting the next generation of financial professionals. Outside of work, Erik enjoys snowboarding, wakesurfing, traveling, and exploring his passion for film as a dedicated movie buff. He resides in Pittsford, NY, with his wife Katie and his four children.

Kurt focuses on customized wealth management services for private business owners, their companies and emerging affluent families on a national level. Through goals based planning, with an emphasis on behavioral coaching, Kurt helps to optimize the unique goals of his clients.

As part of a multi-generational business, Kurt incorporates a personal family perspective to his wealth management career. Being a second generation member on a team affords him the ability to draw on his personal experience when dealing with the complexity and emotions at play in a privately held, multi-generational business. Kurt has seen first-hand how family dynamics can impact the success and longevity of a business. Through these experiences, Kurt has learned what families can do to manage their business and assets to benefit both current and future generations.

At the cornerstone of his practice is developing comprehensive financial plans, always looking at the complete financial profile of clients before making any recommendations. This complex focus goes beyond investing, to encompass tax management strategies, lending and liability management, wealth transfer, wealth accumulation and pre-liquidity planning. Working with different generations of clients, Kurt can see a diverse group of businesses and families, all with different needs and goals.

Kurt graduated magna cum laude from RIT with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance.

In his spare time, Kurt enjoys traveling with his wife Sarah, their son Kai and daughter Isla. He is also an avid skier and tennis player.

Eric Smith is a Financial Advisor and fully licensed investment professional with over 23 years of experience in corporate retirement plan consulting. Eric holds the title of Corporate Retirement Director at Morgan Stanley based on his commitment and dedication to helping plan sponsors navigate the complexities of offering retirement plan programs to their employees. He also holds the designation of Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS^®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF).Eric serves on several corporate retirement plan industry committees that collaborate and discuss specific governmental and retirement plan industry issues that can affect plan sponsors. In 2020, Eric was recognized by Financial Times as a top 401 Retirement Plan Advisor. Eric has also been recognized as one of National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Top 100 DC Advisory Teams in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Eric is also a frequent speaker at industry related conferences. 

Eric earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cortland State University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Source: ft.com (May 2020) 2020 Financial Times 401 Top Retirement Advisors awarded in 2020. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by the Financial Times during the period from 9/30/18 - 9/30/19. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to the Financial Times in to obtain or use the ranking. This ranking is based on quantifiable and objective criteria, including, but not limited to, AUM, compliance record, years of experience, AUM growth rate, industry certifications and online accessibility. Ratings are based on the opinion of the Financial Times and may not be representative of any one client’s experience nor indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. For more on methodology please go to www.ft.com/reports.
©2022 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

Source: NAPA Net The Magazine: NAPA’s, “Top DC Advisors Teams,” unlike other lists, recognizes firms, or what may, in a wirehouse environment, be referred to as a team, or office, for their defined contribution (DC) practice specifically. The list is created and conducted by the National Association of Plan Advisors, an affiliate organization of the American Retirement Association, a non-profit association, and based on the team’s defined contributions assets under advisement as of December 31, 2022. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the team’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pay a fee to NAPA in exchange for the rating.. Member SIPC.

As a member of the Oaktide Group at Morgan Stanley for three years, Margaret has displayed her passion to be an attentive, approachable, and caring point of contact for each client she engages with. Margaret strives to optimize efficiency and accuracy, merging her relentless determination, informed professionalism, and unyielding solution-based results. As the newest advisor on the team, she brings a new perspective and energy to focus on clients’ needs.

Margaret was born and raised in Rochester, New York. She graduated from John Carroll University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in French. Margaret credits her degree with helping her appreciate the necessity and value of clear and consistent communication while harnessing the power of her team to come up with creative and strategic solutions for our clients.

Margaret is very active in the Irish dance community and enjoys traveling, golf, and spending time with her family and friends.

Lisa has thirty six years of experience in the financial services industry. Her responsibilities for the group include administrative duties, drawing on her extensive experience in addressing the needs of high-net-worth families. Lisa brings an astute understanding of family relationships; helping with day-to-day financial needs and long-term initiatives. She gracefully balances multiple aspects of our clients' financial needs, sensitive to the complexities and nuances of each family. Lisa lives in Hamlin, NY with her husband Dave. She has two grown children, enjoys sports, music and spending time her family.

Jamie joined The Oaktide Group at Morgan Stanley in August of 2022 and serves as a direct point of contact for our clients for all items related to onboarding, ongoing service, and operations for our practice.

She grew up near Tallahassee, FL and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida in 2008 and later earned her Master’s Degree in Business from Argosy University in 2012. Jamie joins us from UBS, where she was in a similar role for 5 years. Prior to UBS, Jamie was with USAA, where she began her career in financial services. She is Series 7, 63, and 66 registered and 2-15 insurance licensed in Florida.

Jamie currently resides in Southwest Florida with her husband Ivan and two children, 12-year-old son Noah and 3-year-old daughter Bella. She enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking.

As a member of the Oaktide Group at Morgan Stanley, Tami’s responsibilities encompass client outreach, managing daily operations, and handling administrative tasks. Tami works to enhance efficiency and accuracy by integrating her tireless dedication, informed expertise, and steadfast commitment to effective solutions. Originally from Newark Valley near Ithaca, New York, Tami pursued higher education in Rochester at St. John Fisher College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. Equipped with a solid foundation in business operations, Tami effectively applies her skills and expertise within the financial services industry. Outside of work, Tammy loves spending time with her four children and her long-time partner. She also enjoys working out, golfing, and traveling.