The Guidepost Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley

Christopher Waltman is a Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Director, Portfolio Management Director, and Alternative Investments Director at Morgan Stanley. He has been with the firm since 1989 and is focused on serving his clients with forward-thinking financial planning and help provide tax-efficient wealth management advice by rigorously sourcing investments at a low cost with a goal of seeking an optimal risk-adjusted return.

Christopher’s objective is to create customized high-net-worth plans and manage assets that aligns with every client’s needs. His personal philosophy is to always be learning in the investment arena to help keep his clients’ portfolios up to date within the current tax and investing environment. Christopher and the Family Wealth Director group at Morgan Stanley have provided his clients with unique access to seasoned professionals, analysts, and investments that can be resourceful. He collaborates closely with his clients, their attorneys, accountants, and other advisors, to achieve their goals.

Christopher holds his Series 7, Series 66, and Series 65 financial securities licenses, and has received his Bachelor of Science in Business Finance from Indiana University in 1988. During his spare time, he volunteers at River North Residents Association and for youth hockey.

Vipul was named one of Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors every year from 2020-2024, and was a member of one of Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Management teams for 2023-2025. He was a member of the prestigious Morgan Stanley Master's Club for 2019-2023, and the President's Club for 2024. In addition, Vipul is the recipient of the 2019 Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award at Trine University, Indiana, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Ketner School of Business at Trine University in Angola, Indiana.

As a cancer survivor, he focuses on comprehensive family wealth management with thoughtful focus on legacy considerations. He is a trusted financial advisor to a select group of business owners, key executives, and families, providing customized and inclusive wealth management solutions.

Vipul focuses on serving International Clients. He has developed a nuanced understanding of the investment challenges and opportunities for different parts of the world and can recommend highly customized strategies to help client address their specific goals.

Vipul is recognized for his commitment to building trustworthy relationships by providing innovative strategies to help clients identify and overcome critical challenges to succeed in their quest for financial security. He likes to build, grow, and foster mutually beneficial client business relationship over the long-term. His focus is to help free up his clients' time to focus on the things that they enjoy, as he serves as a guide on their Wealth Management journey.

Vipul is a CFP^®, Executive Director, Family Wealth Director, International Client Advisor, Insurance Planning Director, Lending Specialist, and Senior Portfolio Management Director.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Vipul held entrepreneurial positions in environmental, health and safety management and software industries. He served in leadership roles in manufacturing and as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt in retail. He founded and led his own business management software firm that helped small and mid-sized business in sales and operational management.

Vipul received his Master of Science in Environmental Management from The University of Findlay, Ohio and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Trine University, Indiana. Vipul makes his home in Chicago with his wife; Mamta, and daughter; Maya. Vipul holds his Series 7 certification, Series 66 certification, and license in Life, Health, Accident, Property and Casualty Insurance.

2020-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2020-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2023-2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2023-2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in March of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Club members must meet a number of criteria including performance, conduct and compliance standards, revenue, length of experience and assets under supervision. Club membership is no guarantee of future performance. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.

A native of Northern California, Joe’s professional investment career began at Salomon Smith Barney in 1999. He served for over a decade as a Financial Advisor and Branch Manager for the firm. Since then, he gained further experience at two prominent private banks before returning to Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in 2022.

As a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Joe provides comprehensive wealth management for a range of clients. In his consultations, he helps to define and address the challenges that high-net worth investors face, developing specific strategies to minimize taxes, invest and protect assets, and transfer wealth, all according to established goals and objectives.

Joe is a graduate of Stanford University and earned an MFA at Brown University. Joe holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor^® certification, administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute and taught in conjunction with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. CPWA^® designees must report 40 hours of continuing education credits, including two ethics and one tax/regulations hours, every two years to maintain the certification.

Joe and his family make their home in Northbrook, Illinois. He enjoys spending time with his wife and six children, listening to classical music and challenging his friends in the realm of Fantasy Premier League.

Gil Matar is a Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager at Morgan Stanley. He has been with Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms since 1996.

As your Financial Advisor, he can help you define and strive to meet your goals based on your risk tolerance by utilizing a vast array of resources. Working together, he can help you preserve and grow your wealth. You will have access to some of the world’s most seasoned and respected investment professionals, a premier trading and execution platform and a full spectrum of investment choices.

Gil is committed to supporting local business and charitable organizations. He has been a member of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce since 1996, he served on the Chamber Board of Directors and was President in 2002. In 2008 he was awarded Businessperson of the Year. Since 2009 he has sponsored all Chamber New Member Orientations. In 2022, he was honored to be one of four featured speakers at the Chamber’s 75th Anniversary Gala held at Steppenwolf Theatre. He has also been a supporter of the homeless through Lincoln Park Community Services (formerly Lincoln Park Community Shelter) since 2008. He served on the Shelter’s Board of Directors and was President in 2010. He leads a group of local businesspeople that has been providing bi-monthly breakfasts to Shelter guests since 2009 and has participated in other volunteer efforts for the shelter.

In 2018 Gil was honored as “Man of the Year” by the Men’s Club at his synagogue, Anshe Emet in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago.

Gil also competes in the annual Morgan Stanley international chess tournament.

• BA - Biology & Philosophy, 1988 LaSalle University Philadelphia, PA
• Series 7 - General Securities Representative
• Series 63 - Uniform State Exam
• Series 65 - Investment Advisory Agent
• Series 31 - Managed Futures & Commodities
• Life, Health & Variable Annuity Insurance Licensed

Melinda is a Wealth Management Analyst on the team. She holds an undergraduate BPhil degree from Miami University with studies at their Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg and graduate degrees from both the University of Saint Joseph and University of Connecticut. Melinda’s professional background includes expatriate tax experiences as a CPA (non-practicing at Morgan Stanley) with secondments abroad as well as being a Montessori Elementary teacher, with graduate studies in Bergamo Italy.

Melinda originally joined Morgan Stanley in 2018, relocating from Connecticut to participate in the firm’s the Return to Work program. She holds her Series 7, Series 66, Insurance licenses and has been with the Waltman Shah team in various roles for 4 years. Melinda resides in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

Among her most meaningful philanthropic activities are years spent as volunteer at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Ronald McDonald House – Lurie and as a founding member of Operation Warm Planning Board. In conjunction with Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, fundraising efforts have to date provided Chicago children in need with approximately 1500 high quality new coats. This past year Melinda received a grant from Morgan Stanley for Operation Warm in recognition of her 5-year anniversary with the organization. Participating in Leadership Greater Hartford QUEST program, Melinda led the task force responsible for designing a collaborative program between Boys and Girls Club and Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball team. Former Board Member Junior League of Hartford. Participant: Yogamour Volunteer trip to Thailand, Asylum Hill Congregational Church mission trip to Alabama to rebuild hurricane damaged homes and Lincoln Park Conservatory Planning Committee Gala.

Luke is a Consulting Group Analyst. As a graduate from the University of Arizona, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from the Eller College of Management. Luke joined Morgan Stanley with his Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.

Allison is a Business Development Associate at Morgan Stanley.

She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. She started with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 1998, before it was known as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. She holds her Series 7, 63, and 66 licenses.

Brenda Ruiz is a Client Service Associate at Morgan Stanley. She is studying for her Series 7 and 66 licenses and focuses on building client relationships for her team.

Brenda earned her B.S. in Communications - Journalism from the University of Houston and previously worked as a public radio talk show producer in Houston and Chicago before joining the team.