Team Updates

After 50+ years of hard work and 2 careers later, we would like to congratulate our co-founder Allen Relkin on his retirement! Allen retired in August 2023 and has been keeping himself busy spending time with clients turned friends, friends, and family.
Upon Allen’s first retirement, which happened to fall during the Dot Com era (an exciting time for a seasoned trader), he stumbled across an advertisement in the newspaper piquing his interest to join Morgan Stanley – for the first time. In 2007 Allen left the firm for Merrill Lynch only to re-join Morgan Stanley seven years later in 2014 as a sole practitioner. Seven years after that, in 2021, Allen formed The Pine Barren Group with Matthew Thompson.
We already sincerely miss Allen and working with him. We wish Allen a very Happy Retirement and wish him the best on his future endeavors.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Corporate Services

Below is a summary of some of the services that we've been recently engaged in that provide workplace financial solutions for organizations and their employees
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    At Work Solutions
    Innovative workplace offerings for companies and employees which include Shareworks by Morgan Stanley, our global equity plan management solution, Financial Wellness and Retirement solutions.
    Learn more about our work solutions
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    Corporate Retirement Solutions
    Comprehensive solutions to effectively maximize and customize retirement benefits, so managers can help employees make the most out of retirement.
    Learn more about our corporate retirement solutions
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    Financial Wellness
    I understand that when employees thrive, companies thrive. I am proud to offer a customizable solution for organizations to empower their employees by making their finances a source of wellness – and not a source of stress.
    Learn more about financial wellness solutions
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    Equity Edge Online
    Innovative Solutions and cutting-edge technology make it easy to administer plans that help you attract, retain, and motivate talent.
    Learn more about ETrade corporate services
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    Boutique Investment Solutions
    Graystone Consulting consists of more than 50 offices nationwide, providing the personalized service you would expect from a small investment boutique while backed by the global resources of Morgan Stanley.
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    Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
    By offering a NQDC plan, you are providing your highly compensated employees with a tool that can help them work towards their financial goals. We have experience with NQDC plans and can help you.

INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR SERVICES

As your wealth grows, so does its complexities and the resources needed to manage it effectively. We leverage our experience and relationships to deliver innovative strategies that are tailored to your needs. We look forward to speaking with you to understand your challenges, so we may map out a strategy to achieve your particular priorities and goals.
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    Wealth Management
    Wealth management brings all the dimensions of your life together. We listen carefully to understand the connections across your personal life, your family, your career and your legacy goals to develop a comprehensive strategy that is uniquely yours.
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    Retirement Planning
    One of our key areas of focus is helping you prepare for and thrive in retirement. From IRAs to RMDs, we manage the complexities of your comprehensive retirement plan assets, helping you easily transition to the next phase of your life with security and confidence.
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    Professional Portfolio Management
    Managing an investment portfolio should be a consultative, disciplined process that balances your attitudes about investing with careful analysis of the financial markets. Working together, we create a customized strategy that applies long-held investment principles to help your assets appreciate appropriately or generate cash-flow or income as you require.
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    Alternative Investments
    Morgan Stanley’s global network affords us the ability to offer clients a wide array of alternative investments to consider. Our recommendations are based on your own goals and your tolerance for investment risk.
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    Cash Management Services
    Creating adequate cash flow and securing liquidity are the day-to-day aspects of implementing a financial strategy. We help you meet your personal cash management and borrowing needs, while thinking strategically about how specific approaches may affect current and long-term costs and taxes.
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    Estate Planning & Philanthropic Strategies
    Delivering an estate to the next generation or favorite charity requires more attention than families often realize. We coordinate with your estate and tax professionals to align your legacy goals with the appropriate asset titling and beneficiary designation requirements, incorporating best practices to help enhance results

PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES

We support nonprofit clients by offering a suite of services to help them operate like for profit corporations. Below are some services we offer please feel free to reach out for additional services above and beyond what's outlined below
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    Right-Sizing Long-Term Reserves
    Helping nonprofit volunteers and executives understand the relationship between operating reserves and long-term reserves and to help them fund each bucket more effectively to not only protect their organization from risk, but maximize the growth of potential of existing assets
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    Philanthropy Management
    Philanthropy Management supports individual, family, corporate and private foundation, and nonprofit clients by offering a suite of services to help define and realize clients’ charitable missions.
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    Donor Advised Funds
    Contributions to a DAF are invested in line with Donor preferences and have the potential to grow tax-free, thus enabling the Donor to recommend grants to a variety of charities over several years. The final decisions on grant recommendations are made by the MS GIFT Board of Directors.
    Learn more about Donor Advised Funds
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    Stock Donation Accounts
    If you're considering a charitable donation, giving stock may be one of the most effective methods. Gifting appreciated stock reduces taxes while supporting organizations you care about
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    Endowment Management
    Surrounding you with extensive resources that check all the critical boxes for helping grow and protect your endowment. We subscribe to a philosophy that reaches beyond the investments and is designed to help our endowment clients ultimately redefine success, manage risk and focus on the real result – their ability to meet their goals.
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    How AI Can Bolster Sustainable Investing
    Read Featured Article Here

Digital Wealth Management

Morgan Stanley's comprehensive suite of digital tools are designed to enhance every aspect of your financial life. Here are a few of the technologies we have to offer our clients.
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    Morgan Stanley Online
    Your investments and everyday finances are always just a few clicks away with Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) and the Morgan Stanley Mobile App.
    Learn more about MSO
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    Total Wealth View
    Complete your financial picture with Total Wealth View. By linking your accounts you will benefit from more informed wealth planning, more secure data access, and convenient connectivity.
    Learn more about Total Wealth View
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    2025 Federal Tax Table
    This document outlines the 2025 tax rate schedule, education and health savings account limits, retirement contribution and deduction limits, among other information.
    Click here to view
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    Global Investment Committee Weekly Report
    The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
    Click here to read
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    Digital Vault
    Digital Vault lets you easily and securely manage and share important documents such as account statements, authorizations, tax filings and other relevant documents.
    Click here to learn more
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    Online Security Center
    Safeguarding your assets and information is one of our highest priorities, but you also have a critical role to play. Check out our collection of practical takeaways and best practices from our cybersecurity professionals, then explore a few of the ways we help protect you.
    Click here to learn more
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    Thoughts on The Market Podcast
    With perspectives on the forces shaping the market, join Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief US Equity Strategist for Morgan Stanley, as he and his colleagues discuss a variety of viewpoints regarding the latest trends in the financial marketplace.
    Click here to listen

Location

58 South Service Rd
Ste 400
Melville, NY 11747
US
Direct:
(631) 755-8921(631) 755-8921

Meet The Pine Barrens Group

About Matthew Thompson

In 1997, I got my first introduction to the stock market through an internship position with Smith Barney in their Pasadena, California office. A short while later, I was offered a full-time position as Client Service Associate and my career in Financial Services was born.

While still working for Smith Barney in 1999, I took on the role of liaison between Smith Barney and the California Medical Association. I worked with a group of select Financial Advisors who were the endorsed retirement plan providers for the association’s physicians.

After traveling the state for a year, I decided to further my career, and in May of 2000 I became a Financial Advisor at Smith Barney in the Sherman Oaks, California office. It was then that I got interested in Non Profits Organizations as both a volunteer building houses in South Central Los Angeles for Habitat for Humanity and as an advisor working on endowments for several organizations in the Los Angeles area.

I relocated to New York in August of 2004 to start a team with a former partner of mine. While the partnership didn’t work out, the motive behind it shaped the vision of the practice today; a group working together to enhance the interplay and synergies within and between corporations, individuals, and philanthropic organizations based on the group’s intellectual capital. This was also when I was first introduced to the American Red Cross on Long Island through a client who was on the board. I have spent the past 14 years serving as a volunteer, board member, and board chair and I currently serve as the co-chairman of the board.

In April of 2008, I joined Morgan Stanley and continued to build the three pillars of the practice; Corporate Services, Investor Services, and Philanthropic Services. As the interplay between the three pillars expanded over the years, I developed a robust practice to include Private Corporations, Non-Profit Organizations, and Individual Families. My philanthropic involvement has expended as well, as I now serve on the Board of Directors for the Bayside Business Association, the Board of Directors for Career Day Inc., the Board of Directors for the Nonprofit Collective Foundation, Inc. - Economic Assistance, the Board of Directors for the Pelham Children/Youth Travel Soccer Club, and the Advisory Board for Transitional Services of New York, Inc., as well as work with other charities on an as needed basis.
Securities Agent: OH, MA, WI, SC, OR, DE, AZ, UT, TN, NJ, MO, AR, SD, RI, NC, NY, IL, CT, ME, PA, WA, GA, TX, FL, CA, VT, VA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1282775

About Kimberly Weiss-Perez

Kimberly Weiss-Perez is a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Kimberly focuses on financial planning, retirement planning, and insurance needs for individuals, families, and corporations. She also serves as the team’s liaison for corporate relationships, manages the team’s marketing activities, and organizes educational seminars.
 
She joined the firm in December 2020 after a 10 year tenure at JP Morgan, where she received her Series 7 & 66 licenses as well as her Life and Health License. Before her position as an Private Client Investment Associate at JP Morgan, Kimberly graduated from CW Post LIU in 2010 with a Major in Business Marketing and a Minor in Psychology.
 
In her leisure time she enjoys pilates, being in nature, working out, reading and philanthropy.  Kimberly lives in Roslyn, NY with her husband Charles and their 2 dogs Royce and Bentley.
Securities Agent: VI, MA, AR, DC, OR, WA, SD, NV, GA, WV, RI, NC, VT, PA, NY, NH, KY, CT, AZ, TN, NJ, ME, IL, CO, SC, DE, TX, CA, OK, OH, FL, VA, WY; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2123741

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 Kathleen Kowlessar

Kathleen Kowlessar is an Associate Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in New York.

Associate Private Bankers partner with Private Bankers and Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.

Kathleen began her career in financial services in 2013, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2022. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Store Manager at the TD Bank.

Kathleen is a graduate of the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, where she received a Master of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management. She lives in Garden City, New York with her family. Outside of the office, Kathleen enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and trying new foods.
NMLS#: 1037493

About Andrew Bertalli

Andrew Bertalli is a Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in Eastern Long Island, NY. He is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.

Andrew began his career in financial services in 2000 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2022. Prior to his current position, Andrew served high-net-worth clients for over 17 years. Andrew also has worked at Charles Schwab, USAA, and TIAA.

Andrew Bertalli graduated from Saint Francis College and has a Bachelor of Science in Business. Andrew holds his Certified Financial Planner® designation. Andrew lives on Long Island with his wife and children. Outside of work, Andrew likes to keep fit and spend time with his family. Andrew holds a private pilot license and served in the US Navy.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 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 visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences.

About Dominique Hicks

Dominique Hicks is a Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in Western Long Island, New York. She is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.


Dominique began her career in financial services in 2015 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2022. Prior to her current position, she acquired a great deal of acclamation & recognition for her work in Private Client and Small Business at JP Morgan Chase Bank. She continued to grow as a resource and joined Merrill Lynch later as a Financial Advisor.

Dominique graduated from SUNY Old Westbury with a bachelor’s in accounting and holds her Certified Financial Planner® designation. Dominique lives in Stony Brook, NY and cherishes spending time with her loved ones. She is a loving mother of two, adores practicing yoga with her kids and volunteers as a mentor for young college women.
Wealth Management
From Our Team

SECURE 2.0: Retirement Plans


Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

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.

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.

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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Pine Barrens Group today.
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1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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Morgan 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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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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4When 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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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:
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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)