

The Santa Monica Pier Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
Welcome to The Santa Monica Pier Group
Explore financial expertise and personalized service at The Santa Monica Pier Group, where Gabriel and Maria, alongside their esteemed colleagues, uphold Morgan Stanley's legacy of excellence. Our dedication is to provide an unparalleled experience for ultra-high net worth families, corporate executives, and highly compensated individuals nationwide.
We deliver tailored solutions to the most complex financial challenges with our unique focus on Financial Planning combined with our expertise in Equity Compensation advice.
Our LIFE approach simplifies your journey:
- Listen – Learning your story is paramount to our collaboration's success.
- Implement – Armed with a deep understanding of your needs, we craft tailored strategies within the framework of your comprehensive financial plan.
- Frequent – Ongoing communication is the cornerstone for a healthy long-term relationship.
- Evaluate – Recognizing your unique circumstances and dynamic market shifts, we're committed to refining your strategies for long-term success. Experience the difference with The Santa Monica Pier Group – where tradition meets innovation in financial excellence.
- Financial PlanningFootnote1
- Retirement PlanningFootnote2
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote3
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote4
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote5
- Cash Management and Lending ProductsFootnote6
- Life InsuranceFootnote7
- Long Term Care InsuranceFootnote8
- Philanthropic ManagementFootnote9
- Stock Plan ServicesFootnote10
- Executive Financial ServicesFootnote11
- Executive Benefit ServicesFootnote12
- Corporate Retirement PlansFootnote13
- Endowments and FoundationsFootnote14
Make your Equity Award Work Toward your Larger Goals:

Your employee stock and options can be a significant part of the wealth you've built over time to help meet the goals that matter to you. Converting that wealth to enable your dreams is often complex, and options can add another element of complexity due to their varying tax implications and vesting rules.
Your plan holdings may include options or stock-based compensation. With options, you are granted rights to purchase shares of the company stock at a pre-established price. With stock-based compensation, you are granted the company stock, subject to vesting requirements.
Understanding how your stock or option plan works is only the first step. We work with you articulate specific goals such as diversification, tax management, charitable gifting, or simply having enough cash to live on while you wait for an exit. Projecting a variety of multi-year scenarios, we help you make the best decisions you can to maximize this valuable asset.
Location
Meet The Santa Monica Pier Group
About Gabriel Torres
Credentials Include:
· Certified Financial Planner®
· Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist®
· Certified Long-Term Care™
· Alternative Investments Director
· Portfolio Manager
· Workplace Advisor – Equity Compensation
Born in El Paso, TX, Gabe came to California as a student at Loyola Marymount University where he majored in Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance. He joined Wells Fargo upon graduation and was recruited to Morgan Stanley in 2012. He has spent the last two decades serving his clients and the community. With a passion for giving back, Gabe supports organizations that focus on homeless and underprivileged children. These include St. Joseph’s Center in Santa Monica and Safe Place for Youth in Venice. In addition, he serves on the Philanthropic Committee at Morgan Stanley’s Beverly Hills market.
Gabe resides in Ladera Heights with his wife Stacy, two young children, Hayley and Hunter, and his rescue puppies, Huck and Shadow. He loves to cook, read, and listen to music - preferably all at the same time.
NMLS#: 1270116
CA Insurance License #: 0E88920
About Maria Chehade
Maria joined Morgan Stanley in 2015, shortly after graduating from The University of Maryland with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in International Business. Outside of the office, Maria loves spending time with family and friends, cooking, and hopes to resume her other passion – global travel – when the pandemic is safely behind us.
NMLS#: 1794296
CA Insurance License #: 2060695
About Bryan Sims
With a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, San Diego, and over a decade of experience in client service, Bryan has devoted his career to developing relationships with clients. He joins Morgan Stanley with experience from Wells Fargo Advisors and First Republic's Private Wealth Management where he has played a key role in steering client requests never losing sight of their interests and ensuring they are handled with utmost care.

Contact Gabriel Torres

Contact Maria Chehade
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Financial Wellness
- Reduce employee stress,
- Improve retention and engagement, and
- Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
Wealth Management for Athletes and Entertainers
- Investment Management
- Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
- Private Banking Solutions
- Family Governance & Wealth Education
- Lifestyle Advisory
1Morgan 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.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2When 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.
3Morgan 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.
4Alternative 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.
5Morgan 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.
6Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.
Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
7Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
8Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
9Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
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.
10Morgan 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.
11Morgan 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.
12When 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.
13When 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.
14Morgan 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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