The Ratay Group at Morgan Stanley

Mark graduated from Northern Illinois University with a major in Finance and a minor in Economics. Mark was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma, the highest honor in the nation concerning business. Mark also received an award for outstanding academic achievement in finance. He has over 38 years of financial services experience and has been with Morgan Stanley since 1990. Shortly after moving to Morgan Stanley, Mark started working in the retirement plan field. He has also earned the designation of Certified Investment Management Analyst℠ (CIMA^®) from the Wharton Business School, as well as his certification as a Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) from the Retirement Association, National Association of Plan Advisors. In addition, Mark and The Ratay Group have been recognized by PLANSPONSOR magazine as one of the top five finalists for the magazines’ ‘Retirement Plan Adviser Team of the Year’ for 2011 and 2015. Mark was also recognized as one of PLANADVISER magazines’ ‘Top 100 Advisers and Adviser Teams’ for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 , 2023 and 2024. In 2015 and 2016 he served as the consultant to the finalist for Plan Sponsor of the Year in the $250mm - $1bil category by Plan Sponsor Magazine. In 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Mark was recognized as one of Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Plan Advisors and National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Top Retirement Advisor for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 , 2023 and 2024.

Mark is a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association and has served on the Association for Professional Investment Consultant’ retirement plan committee. He currently is the Chairman of the Financial Literacy Committee for the Retirement Advisor Council. Mark is involved in charities such as the Special Olympics, Gi Gi’s PlayHouse, Marklund Children’s Home and is a committee member for the Marklund Children’s Home Annual Golf Classic.

2011, 2015 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year (previously referred to as PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year).Source: planadviser.com PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year ranking awarded in 2011, 2015 Each ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by ISS Media during the period from 1/1 – 12/31 of the year preceding the award. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to PLANADVISER or ISS Media to obtain or use the ranking. This ranking is based on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative measures, including tenure in the business, focus on retirement plan business as a percentage of practice revenue, willingness to serve in a fiduciary role to clients plans, and a review of essay answers and compliance records. These criteria are utilized for each of the categories in which this award is given. Ratings are based on the opinion of ISS Media and may not be representative of any one client’s experience nor indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance.

2010-2014 , 2023-2024 Top Retirement Advisors (formerly referred to as Top 100 Retirement Advisors) Source: planadviser.com .Top Retirement Advisors (formerly referred to as Top 100 Retirement Advisors ranking awarding 2010-2014 and 2023 This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by ISS Media utilizing data from responses to the PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey as of Jan/Feb of the year in which the award was given. The list is drawn solely from a set of quantitative variables and information in the survey supplied by the advisers themselves. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to PLANADVISER or ISS Media to obtain or use the ranking. Ratings are based on the opinion of ISS Media and may not be representative of any one client’s experience nor indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance.

2015, 2017-2021 Financial Times 401 Top Retirement Advisors. Source: ft.com Financial Times 401 Top Retirement Advisors ranking awarded in 2015, 2017-2021. Each ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by the Financial Times during the periods indicated below. 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.

Advisor to choose appropriate years/periods from list below:

Awarded 2021; data 12/31/17- 12/31/20
Awarded 2020; data 12/31/16 -12/31/19
Awarded 2019; data 12/31/15 - 12/31/18
Awarded 2018; data 12/31/15 - 12/31/17
Awarded 2017; data 12/31/14 - 12/31/16
Awarded 2015; data 09/30/13 - 09/30/14

2017-2024 Napa Top DC Advisor Teams 2022 Source: NAPA Net The Magazine: NAPA’s, “Top DC Advisors Teams,” (March 2023) 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.

When 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.

Shaun joined The Ratay Group in 2012 as an intern while studying Finance and Marketing at Illinois State University. He graduated on the dean’s list and won the State Farm College of Business Outstanding Internship Award for his time spent working at Morgan Stanley. As a Financial Advisor, Shaun works with new and existing clients to meet their financial objectives. Shaun’s primary responsibilities are marketing, acting as a relationship manager to current clients, and coordinating Education and Enrollment meetings.He currently has his series 7,series 66, health insurance, and life insurance licenses. He lives in Elburn, IL and enjoys fishing, playing golf, basketball, coaching, and spending time with his family.

Debbie Merwin has over ten years of administrative experience at Morgan Stanley and thirty years in the financial industry. She currently has her Series 7, 63 and 66 licenses. Debbie is originally from Long Island, New York. She has lived in Cape Coral Florida for over thirty years and enjoys painting, fishing and spending time with her family.