The Sexton Group at Morgan Stanley

A seasoned professional with more than 40 years of experience, Mary has dedicated her entire career to helping individuals and families simplify their financial lives. She is committed to long-term relationships and strives to deliver objective advice through exceptional client service. She listens carefully to her clients’ values and concerns, and works intently to help them achieve their financial objectives. 

Growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, Mary was inspired to follow a profession in finance by the local bank president who she said wanted to help families and members of the community achieve their goals. She began her wealth management career in 1984, becoming a Financial Advisor at Crestar Securities in 1989. She later joined the Morgan Stanley family in 1999, with a focus on educating clients about important financial concepts and helping to make a profound impact on the quality of their lives.

Throughout her career, Mary has been committed to advanced learning. A graduate of Lehigh University, Mary earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation in 2006. Most recently, she was recognized as a Family Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley. This credential places her in a category of advisors who are qualified to serve the sophisticated needs of ultra-high net worth families. 

Mary’s passion for helping clients achieve their goals is equaled only by her dedication to her family and community through a variety of educational and philanthropic activities. She works closely with the Orphan Foundation and Foster Care to Success organizations and helps empower friends and neighbors through a program she developed called “Funktional Finances.” 

Mary currently lives in Alexandria with her husband, Chris, her son, Dylan, her mother, Jean, and the family’s two golden retrievers. Active at her son’s school, she holds leadership positions on several finance-oriented committees. In her free time, Mary enjoys traveling, skiing and powerwalking around the neighborhood.

A results-driven Financial Advisor with over 25 years of industry experience, Erik combines his deep knowledge of portfolio management with solid leadership skills and a disciplined, consultative and educational approach to guide individuals, families and business owners towards the achievement of their specific financial goals.

Erik learned first-hand the power of investing at the age of 13, when he began investing his personal savings in a small amount of stock. As he watched the stock value rise and fall, he became more and more focused on how changes in the economy made an impact on his investment. This experience led him to a career that would help individuals gain the confidence and fortitude to make sound investment decisions. He became a Financial Advisor where he could educate his clients about important financial strategies and help them navigate the complexity of today’s markets.

Shortly after earning his B.S. degree in Economics from Virginia Tech in 1997, Erik joined Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor, where he could leverage the global resources and technology from a premier global firm. He joined The Sexton Group in 1999 and earned his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute in 2006. 

Erik takes pride in his ability to take complex financial concepts and effectively communicate them to his clients. He works diligently to demystify the investment and planning process by understanding their aspirations and values, so he may articulate the key activities to achieve their specific goals. Over the years, he has cultivated specialized skills in investment management and tax-efficient strategies, as well as retirement and estate planning. 

Originally from Reston, Virginia, Erik currently lives in Falls Church, VA with his wife, Amy and daughters, Kendyl and Katelyn. Favorite activities include watching soccer and cycling.

Justin Ward serves as the Group Director at The Sexton Group, leveraging over two decades of industry expertise. His role encompasses managing workflow, delivering operational support for client relationships, directing the development and execution of strategies to meet objectives, and spearheading the hiring and training of team members.

Justin began his career in financial services in 2003 at Morgan Stanley's office in Red Bank, NJ. He had the opportunity to work at this branch for seven years before joining the Washington, D.C. office in 2010. He joined The Sexton Group in 2014 and has been an integral member of the team ever since. A graduate of Monmouth University with a B.S. degree in Finance, Justin earned his M.B.A. in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2008. He currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses.

He is a native of Frederick, Maryland. His favorite leisure activities include spending quality time with family and his church community.

Hiller has been in the financial services industry and licensed since 2003. In 2006, he started at Morgan Stanley in Washington, DC, and moved to the Des Moines branch in June of 2018 where he was a group director. In May of 2022, he returned to Washington DC and joined the Sexton Group as a Financial Planning Analyst. Hiller graduated from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Economics. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, playing rugby, and exercising.

As a Registered Client Service Associate, Averey Mackin takes on an important role in executing a wide array of client services for The Sexton Group. Averey is instrumental in exceeding client expectations, delivering the highest level of professional service, and managing diverse tasks from large-scale projects to minor requests.

Averey’s responsibilities include providing seamless operational support in a variety of functions. Additionally, she coordinates client meetings and offers valuable training to ensure clients effectively utilize Morgan Stanley's suite of digital tools such as Morgan Stanley Online. Averey’s expertise and her commitment to client satisfaction make her an asset to The Sexton Group and to Morgan Stanley.

Averey graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2021 and majored in Managerial Economics. She also holds the Series 7 and 66 securities licenses.

Averey recently moved from Boston, where she spent two years at Columbia Threadneedle, to Washington, D.C. Beyond her professional endeavors, she enjoys snowboarding, going for walks, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Maria has been in the financial services industry since 1994. She began her career as a licensed branch representative at First Union National Bank in Springfield, Virginia which ultimately led to her love of helping clients with investments. She continued her financial journey to other Fortune 100 companies including Vanguard and most recently TIAA, where she spent the past 16 years in their wealth management division.

Maria graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and minor in Finance. She currently holds the series 7, 63 & 65 licenses, and life insurance license. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, playing pickle ball and exercising.