About Us

At The Osprey Group, we believe every client has different needs and a unique story. Understanding and responding to those needs and making your financial well-being a priority is at the heart of all we do. By concentrating on your life, not just your finances, our team can help build the bridge between where you are now and where you want to go.

We know that as your life evolves, not only does your financial strategy become more complex, but your options for implementing it will increase as well. Often, evaluating these options and wisely choosing among them may require the guidance of an experienced team of advisors — a team who not only understands your diverse needs, but has access to customized programs that can be properly utilized to provide you with strategies.

As your first line of defense, we focus on what is most important to you and provide the skills, sophisticated strategies and world-class resources needed to make informed, confident decisions about your life, your family and your finances.

Getting started is easy. It begins with a conversation. We look forward to getting to know you and sharing details on how we can make a meaningful impact on the quality of your life moving forward. Our ultimate goal is to empower you to make smart investment decisions, while helping ensure your money is there when you need it – no matter how long you live or what life events you encounter.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
While every client is different, we follow a general process to ensure that we address the most essential client needs and can make recommendations that are in their best interest.
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    Develop an understanding
    Investing the time to understand your unique circumstances to identify, develop, and prioritize your financial goals.
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    “Plot” your starting point
    Identify your current trajectory to identify and address weaknesses, and strengths.
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    Creating of a plan
    Working with you we will develop a plan that improves upon your current trajectory in a way that works for you. We will craft a tailored Investing strategy and asset allocation designed to balance your short and long-term goals, help protect you from the many different forms of risk and seek to to optimize your outcomes.
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    Formulation of Tax, Trust, and Estate Strategy
    Working with your tax and legal advisors, we will help to analyze your tax and estate tax circumstances to help identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
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    Put the plan into action
    We implement your plan utilizing strategies that will adjust for the unknowns the future brings. Working with your tax and legal advisors, we will help to analyze your tax and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
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    Monitor and continuous refinement
    We will provide timely updates and monitor your performance. At the end of the day most people want to know that they are on track, so as we review your plans we will maintain that focus so that you can know that you are on track, and if you are not, help you identify how to get back on track.
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    5.00% Annual Percentage Yield for Preferred Savings
    The annual percentage yield on the most recent Morgan Stanley Preferred Savings Program is now 5.00%, over 11x the national average. Learn more about how your cash can work for you using the link below.
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    Social Security Cola Increase
    As of January 2023, Social Security Payments will go up by 8.7%. This is a result of the Social Security Administration adjusting benefit payments annual for inflation since 1975. To view the SSA fact sheet, see below.
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    Trusts
    You can't take it with you, but through a trust, you can define how you want your life's work and wealth to continue to benefit the people and causes you love and care for.
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    Estate Planning
    Estate planning can be an emotionally and financially complex task, but creating an estate plan can help protect your wealth and prevent hardship for your heirs.
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    Life After Selling a Business
    Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.
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    Family Resources
    Hidden risks abound. For affluent families, this can mean unwanted financial exposure. A simple risk assessment can go a long way to help close these gaps.
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Tax Efficient Strategies

Here at Morgan Stanley, we strive to simplify complex financial ideas so that our clients understand what is being done on their behalf to plan for their financial future. We want to provide our clients with as many resources as possible so they can stay informed about the latest market trends, outlooks, and breakdowns. The links below provide detailed analysis on interesting topics that are affecting the finance and business worlds.
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    How to Access Your Tax Forms
    How to Access Your Tax Forms
    Log into your account via Morgan Stanley Online
    Click the Accounts tab
    Select the Documents tab
    Go to the Statement drop-down tab
    Select Tax Documents and download them
    Click Here to Log In to Morgan Stanley Online
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    Federal Tax Tables 2023
    If you are interested in seeing the updated tax tables and other details for 2023, see all additional information here.
    Click to See Tables
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    Your Guide to Tax-Efficient Planning
    The tax decisions you make today can help you save for years to come. Consider these smart tax strategies for your financial plan.
    Click to Read More
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    Tax-Smart Strategies for Retirement
    Looking for ideas on how to be more tax efficient when planning for your retirement?
    Click to see here
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    Morgan Stanley Online & MS Mobile
    Morgan Stanley Online digital capabilities and the Morgan Stanley Mobile App provide clients with access to their account information, enriched reporting tools, several cash management solutions and robust market research. The Morgan Stanley Mobile App provides clients with access to their accounts in just a few taps. Enjoy features such as eAuthorizations, eDelivery and Total Wealth View.
    Morgan Stanley Online
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    Digital Vault
    Keeping important documents and financial records organized and readily available is one of the best gifts you can give those you love. In the event of catastrophe or serious illness, disability or death, your Family Records Organizer can immediately provide vital, timely information to both your family and professional advisors. The Digital Vault on Morgan Stanley Online and the Mobile App allows you and your clients to build a central, shared document library where all documents are stored using encryption.
    Digital Vault

Upcoming Firm Events

We hope you will join us for this upcoming event.

U.S. Policy Pulse: Trump 2.0 and the Markets

DATE: February 25, 2025 at 4:15 p.m. ET

Join Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett, on Tuesday, February 25, for a conversation with Chief Economic Strategist and Global Head of Thematic and Macro Investing, Ellen Zentner, and Head of U.S. Public Policy, Monica Guerra, on the top policy and regulatory actions that could impact investors in the months ahead.

CRC4192005 02/2025
Online

Location

777 S Flagler Drive
Suite 700E
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
US
Direct:
(561) 650-7548(561) 650-7548
Toll-Free:
(800) 327-6322(800) 327-6322
2825 N University Drive
Ste 400
Coral Springs, FL 33065
US

Meet The Osprey Group

About Thomas C Smith

Tom has been in the wealth advisory business since 1993, and has focused on helping clients with reaching their financial goals and objectives by creating a disciplined and streamlined financial planning process.  Tom has been a Certified Financial Planner™ since 2003.  After graduating from Radford University in Radford, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Tom went on to earn his MBA from Florida International University.   Tom grew up in the Washington DC area, specifically in Vienna, Virginia.  Tom’s passion besides helping clients to achieve their dream’s, is spending time with his family and friends, golfing, exercising, and being active in his community by volunteering and supporting various non-profit organizations.
Securities Agent: CO, CT, DC, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, AZ, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, CA, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, AL; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1255302

About Rock A Tate

Beginning his financial career as a Municipal Bond Broker at J.B. Hanauer, Rock transitioned to Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management division to pursue his career as a Financial Advisor in 1982. Rock serves individuals and businesses and has focused on helping families transition through significant life changes.  Rock is a graduate of Brown University with a degree in Economics and currently resides in Lantana, FL with his wife, Lyn. Rock enjoys golf, tennis, gardening and cooking in his spare time and is involved in a variety of community and charitable activities.
Securities Agent: MS, MO, NY, MA, TN, AR, SC, ME, MD, CA, NJ, VA, MI, IN, IL, GA, TX, PA, MT, FL, DE, AL, VT, NM, LA, DC, CO, WA, UT, OK, CT, AZ, OR, OH, NH, NC; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1278723

About Melissa Gerdes

Melissa Gerdes is a Financial Advisor and Financial Planning Specialist at Morgan Stanley. She started her career in finance in 2011 with JP Morgan Chase Bank where she specialized in Private Client Banking in West Boca Raton, Florida, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2016. As a partner of the Osprey Group, Melissa focuses on the management of client relationships with an emphasis on goals based planning, inter-generational wealth transfer and tax efficiency, with a great interest in impact investing.

Prior to her joining the finance industry, she was an opera singer and has her Doctorate in Music from Florida State University and her Master of Music from New England Conservatory in Boston. She lives in Coral Springs with her husband, an opera singing martial arts instructor, and their three children. She is firmly committed to giving back to her community, and is passionate about educating and empowering women to be the authors of their own financial journeys. She sits on the board and is actively involved with the mentorship program of the Go For The Greens Foundation, an organization committed to connecting women-owned businesses and future business leaders with business growth opportunities.
Securities Agent: WA, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 845925

About Teresa Athas

Teresa Athas is a Portfolio Associate. Her focus is to provide exceptional client service. She began her career with Morgan Stanley in 2000 after 19 years with Republic Security, formerly First Federal of the Palm Beaches in the role of Branch Manager, Assistant Vice President. She graduated magna cum laude from Northwood University with an Associated degree in Business Management. She holds her series 7 and 66 licenses. Living in Florida, Teresa enjoys the outdoors and spending quality time with her family and friends.
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.

Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
  • Business Planning
  • Qualified Retirement Plans
Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Osprey Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
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.

1Alternative 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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2Annuities are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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3Morgan 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.

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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.

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5Morgan 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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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6Morgan 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.

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7Morgan 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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8Morgan 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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9When 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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10Morgan 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.

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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)