The Oplotnik Group at Morgan Stanley

Anita has been a passionate advocate for her clients for more than 30 years by supporting their wealth management and planning needs. She joined Morgan Stanley in 2005, after 16 years with Bank of America’s Private Bank, and is devoted to constructing financial plans tailored to her clients’ unique path. In 2006, just 8 months after joining Morgan Stanley, she was promoted to Branch Manager having served 18 years to the local Springfield office. Anita is an active member of APIC, the Association of Professional Investment Consultants. From 2020 through 2024, Anita has been recognized on Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list. She has also been named to Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State list in 2021-2024 and was named to Working Mother and Shook Research's list of Top Wealth Advisor Moms in 2021. Lastly, Anita is a Master's Club member as of 2025.

Her dedication to producing a customized strategy most appropriate for her clients led Anita to pursue the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist℠ (CRPS^®) designation. In 2015, she received Morgan Stanley’s designation of Senior Investment Management Consultant and was nominated to The Institute of Family Wealth Management. In 2016, she received the Family Wealth Advisor designation. In 2017, she received Morgan Stanley’s Corporate Retirement Director designation. Because of her experience working with compensation plans for corporate executives, Anita received Morgan Stanley’s Workplace Advisor- Equity Compensation designation in 2018.

Anita earned her MBA, graduating summa cum laude from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin MO. In 2001, she was inducted into the Missouri Southern State University’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her accomplishments on the basketball floor. In 2015, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame recognized her accomplishments in basketball with The Filbert 5 award. She was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 in recognition for her outstanding contributions in the sport of basketball. Anita’s passion for basketball has remained strong over the years.

Anita is also very active in the community. She has volunteered for the United Way of the Ozarks’ allocation committee for 16 years and has served as Vice President of Fair Grove School Board for 11 years. She also continues to be involved with several local charitable organizations. Anita has remained supportive of her alma mater, Missouri Southern State University by originally serving on their Foundation Board. In January 2016, she was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors. She has been active on the finance and academic affairs committees for MSSU’s Board of Governors.

Anita has been married to her husband, Brad, for 34 years and they enjoy spending time with their 4 children.

"2020-2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2020-2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2021-2024 Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors & Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State (formerly referred to as Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2021-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in Sept of year prior to the issuance of the award. "

2021 "Working Mother Magazine & SHOOK Research's Top Wealth Advisor Moms
Source: Workingmother.com (Awarded Oct 2021) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/20 - 3/31/21."
Disclosures: https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure/

John's entire career has been about identifying, developing, and implementing solutions for individuals. Each person has different goals and needs - finding out the "why" behind those goals and needs is what motivates him. John left community banking in 2014 to begin my career as a financial advisor helping clients build plans that achieve their goals. The details of those plans and goals require subtle tweaks, insights and adjustments. As we work through these details together, all of John's clients have a goal-centered plan that is tracked and adjusted, throughout their lives.

The best days in this business are when John gets to tell clients - You did it! That comes from having a clearly defined plan that is reviewed (perhaps adjusted) on a regular basis. John's ideal clients value this process. He finds he can best serve them through all the uncertainties of life.

John's "why" stems from his family: his wife Dawn and their 9 year old daughter Charlotte. The Hiles' thoroughly enjoy supporting various organizations such as Care to Learn, Crosslines, and their local church. In their free time, John and his family enjoy traveling and like to spend time in their butterfly garden at their home in Republic. They currently have host plants for Monarch and Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars, and are looking forward to expanding this slice of homegrown happiness in the coming years.

NMLS#: 407501

As a part of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, David focuses on creating comprehensive retirement plans and tailoring investment strategies to help clients meet their long-term goals. After 10 years as a business owner, he join Morgan Stanley in 2023 as a Wealth Management Associate with The Goldsmith Oplotnik Group.

Before Joining the firm, David's experience as an entrepreneur and business owner allowed him to develop complex problem-solving skills. As an Wealth Management Associate, he is able to use those skills to serve clients as a part of the team. Building client relationships is a top priority for David as his focus is to help clients increase wealth and obtain their financial goals. He has a passion for serving his clients and is eager to have the opportunity to do that with Morgan Stanley and The Oplotnik Group,

David is a Springfield native and graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business. He has also holds the Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.

David and his wife, Layne, have 3 children and are active in the community and their children's school activities. Outside of the office, he enjoys traveling with his family, playing golf, and spending time at Table Rock Lake.

Rebecca is a Portfolio Associate for The Oplotnik Group and is responsible for many of the daily needs of our clients. She enjoys getting to know new clients during the onboarding process as well as deepening relationships with existing clients.

Rebecca began her career at Shearson Lehman Hutton, a Morgan Stanley predecessor firm, in St. Louis in 1988 and has been with our Springfield office since 1993. She holds Series 7, 66, 63, 3, and 8 licenses. She was recognized for her leadership and experience by serving as a complex training coach and mentor for newly hired service professionals for several years.

In her free time, Rebecca enjoys serving on the women’s ministry leadership team at her church and spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter.

Diana DeFord joined Morgan Stanley in 2019. She is a Senior Registered Associate for The Oplotnik Group at Morgan Stanley, holding the series 7 and 66 licenses. Her prior experience includes over 20 years as an office manager, personnel specialist and executive event coordinator with an international missions organization.
Diana is committed to serving clients through developing relationships and providing personal guidance in navigating the firm’s vast array of resources and tools. Diana and her husband, Stephen, enjoy making frequent trips to Texas to visit their two adult children, along with their spouses and eight grandchildren.

Kelli Oplotnik joined Morgan Stanley in 2023 as a Client Service Associate for The Oplotnik Group. Prior to working for Morgan Stanley, Kelli worked as Director of Operations and executive assistant at an insurance marketing firm.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Management from Missouri State University. Kelli completed her MBA in management from Missouri State University.

Kelli resides in Springfield, Missouri with her 2-year-old Golden Retriever puppy, Lucy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, going to the lake and watching football.

Sara Voss joined Morgan Stanley in 2023 as a Registered Client Service Associate. Her prior experience includes 5 years of banking and Wealth Management positions in the Springfield area. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Sara is committed to serving clients through developing relationships and working with the team to help exceed client expectations.

In her free time, Sara enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family, especially her husband and twin children.