Our Story and Services

Our team consists of nine deeply dedicated professionals: five financial advisors, two client service associates, a private banker, and a high net-worth financial planner. Collectively, we have 160+ years of experience¹ in the financial services industry. We are based in Central Ohio and Florida but are licensed across much of the U.S, enabling us to serve clients wherever they may reside. ¹- See individual bios for specific years of experience per team member.

Our team members hold numerous designations, giving us specific knowledge in key areas of financial planning and investment management. Additionally, three advisors hold the Morgan Stanley Workplace Advisor -- Equity Compensation designation, which allows them to provide specific advice on workplace equity compensation plans (including grants, restricted stock, and stock options) and address an important, frequently overlooked part of a client’s plan.

We embody the values and principles that investors want in their financial advisory team.
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

We Help Clients Achieve Financial Freedom

We believe true wealth cannot be summed up by a number but rather, it is the freedom to spend your days doing what you’re passionate about and what’s most important to you. Through our planning process, we help each client define and quantify their version of true wealth. From there, we design an accompanying investment strategy that seeks to ensure all assets work in conjunction with this goal.

Ultimately, we help clients transition from an active-income lifestyle to a passive-income lifestyle so they may be free to pursue other interests.

“Use money to gain control over your time, because not having control of your time is such a powerful and universal drag on happiness. The ability to do what you want, when you want, with who you want, for as long as you want to, pays the highest dividend that exists in finance.”
― Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
We create custom plans.
For each new relationship, we create a custom, multi-generational financial plan, your roadmap that seeks to guide you to financial freedom. We address the tangibles, such as your goals, risk level and time horizon, as well we as the intangibles, such as your dreams and aspirations.

We invest much time creating a comprehensive plan that is appropriate for your unique needs and review this plan with you formally at least once annually, or whenever major life events occur, whichever comes first.

"The best way to measure your investing success is not by whether you’re beating the market but by whether you’ve put in place a financial plan and a behavioral discipline that is likely to get you where you want to go."
― Benjamin Graham, known as the “Father of Value Investing” and mentor to billionaire Warren Buffet
We utilize the Supernova service model.
We meet clients both in-person and virtually. In the course of a year, you can expect at least two in-person meetings and two phone conferences. During our consultations, we cover a broad range of topics, most notably Investment Management, Retirement Planning, Liability Management, and Estate/Legacy Planning. You will also receive quarterly progress reports and have 24/7 access to your account via our website.

In general, we have an unwavering commitment to deliver the highest level of quality service to our clients every business day.

Four key beliefs drive our wealth management process:

1. We Employ the Power of Behavioral Science
We design investment strategies that can enable you to achieve financial freedom by putting the power of behavioral science to your advantage. Most investors cannot maintain a disciplined approach when markets become volatile- in either direction. That is generally a proven recipe for underperformance over time.

We encourage our clients to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful, the exact opposite of what humans are conditioned to do. While past performance is no guarantee of future results, some of the best times to buy stocks occurred when investors were fearful, most recently in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.

"I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
2. We Create Transparent Portfolios
To provide clarity, we construct disciplined portfolios with individual positions. You always know exactly what you own and our reason for investing in it.

Peter Lynch, one of the most successful and well-known investors of all time, minted this philosophy back in the 1980s and it has always resonated with us.
3. We Seek to Limit Fees
By building portfolios with individual positions and benchmarking our fee schedule regularly, we help ensure our clients receive a strong value for their money.
4. We Seek Long-Term Results
The three-pronged approach of aligning behavioral investing, transparent portfolios, and value-based pricing helps us achieve long-term results for our clients.

Our Process

Discovery
When we meet with you, you can rest assured that we will gather all the information we need to create a financial plan that is just right for you. It’s what we do well. We don’t simply ask a series of questions to get to know you and your financial life in-depth. At the Simpson Covert Reta Group, we listen intently, paying particularly close attention to the things that aren’t said. We help you identify needs, goals and concerns that even the best laid plans may often overlook. Our objective is to come away with a comprehensive snapshot of your financial life today and where you would like it to be tomorrow, enabling us to create your custom roadmap that seeks to guide you to financial freedom.
Analysis and Recommendation
We devote a great deal of time and effort to carefully analyze the information that we gather during the discovery phase. We look well beyond your assets and liabilities, cash-flow needs and borrowing requirements. We identify your unique goals for retirement planning, wealth transfer, education planning, etc. We determine your risk tolerance level and time horizon. We find ways to maximize your returns without assuming more risk than necessary, and we identify how best to insulate your assets from unforeseen events. To us, helping preserve your wealth is just as important as seeking to grow it. Finally, we identify the most appropriate strategies with the potential to benefit you significantly over time.
Implementation
Once your financial plan is created and securities are selected, we will work closely with you to implement it, bringing an objective approach -- and paying particular attention -- to how the various parts of your plan integrate with one another. Where appropriate, we will suggest seeking additional, in-depth advice on particularly complex issues that we identify. At the Simpson Covert Reta Group, we are highly adept at using the resources of Morgan Stanley to this end and maintain relationships with independent advisors, such as attorneys and tax professionals, who can also bring added value to your plan.
Reviewing Objectives
Whatever approach we decide on, our dedicated team will closely monitor your investments in all market and economic environments to help ensure they continue to achieve your goals. As your life changes, we may recommend purchasing new investments or selling existing holdings to reflect those changes. Ongoing communication is a vital component of our relationship, so that we keep a pulse on your financial situation at all times. In the course of a year, you can expect at least two in-person meetings and two phone conferences.

Shale Oil and Gas Recipients

We are deeply committed to serving the unique needs of shale oil and gas land owners in Eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Our clients include shale gas royalty recipients, land and mineral rights owners, and multigenerational families and their heirs.

Our presence in the area over the past decade has allowed us to obtain a deep understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges that come with sudden oil and gas income. We work as your personal advocate, providing tailored financial advice that is specific to your circumstances and priorities. We will help you on how to best manage your oil & gas royalty schedule, preserve and manage your lump sum distributions, and build a multi-generational plan to positively impact future generations or philanthropic endeavors. Leveraging the resources available at Morgan Stanley, we will also help address the complexities of advanced estate and tax planning.

Research shows that about 60% of wealthy families exhaust the greater part of their estate by the second generation. By the third generation, 9 out of 10 family fortunes are gone. ¹

We understand how important it is to use your wealth to make a positive impact on your family and to teach future generations the value of money. By offering a structured process to help you navigate the intersection of family, finance, and legacy, we can help make sure your values – along with your wealth – are passed onto future generations.


¹- data according to wealth consultancy firm The Williams Group April 2017

Location

15 South High Street
New Albany, OH 43054
US
Direct:
(614) 741-8900(614) 741-8900
Toll-Free:
(833) 634-0189(833) 634-0189
Fax:
(614) 633-4502(614) 633-4502

Meet The Simpson Covert Reta Wealth Management Group

About Jeff Simpson

As a Certified Financial Planner,™ Senior Vice President, and Financial Advisor, Jeff guides the team's service model for our high net worth, ultra-high net worth, and core affluent clientele. Jeff sets the tone for the team’s dedication to deep customer relationships.

Jeff began his career in the financial services industry in October 1987- recognized as one of the most turbulent times in market history. Jeff’s 37+ years of experience have allowed him to become well versed in investor psychology. He wholeheartedly believes that sticking to a disciplined approach is the most impactful component of wealth accumulation and preservation strategies. Jeff’s experience helps him guide clients through the highs and lows of the market, as well as avoid common (and often costly) mistakes.

Jeff holds all appropriate licensure, including the Series 7, 31, and 66 securities licenses, state insurance licenses, and the CFP® professional designation. Jeff also has a Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism degree from Kent State University and a Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans.

Jeff and his wife, Carol, are dual residents of Powell, Ohio and Bonita Springs, Florida. They have three adult children. Jeff’s hobbies include fitness, boating, and exploring new restaurants.
NMLS#: 2113797

About Allan Covert

Allan serves as the team’s Managing Partner, Co-Founder, and lead Financial Advisor.

Entering his 18th year in the business, Allan manages the overall direction of the team as well as works directly with our high net worth and ultra-high net worth clientele. He also serves as team’s lead portfolio manager on investment strategy. Within Morgan Stanley, Allan holds the titles of Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management Director, Workplace Advisor-Equity Compensation, and Financial Advisor. At a broader level, he has obtained the Certified Financial Planner™ and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ professional designations as well as all appropriate licensure – including the Series 7, 31, 66 securities licenses and state insurance licenses.

Allan was an honors graduate from Ohio University’s Master of Financial Economics program. Prior to that, he earned a Bachelor of Finance degree. Allan has distinctive experience in that he previously worked for a multinational oil company before entering the financial services industry in 2008.

Allan resides with his wife, Marisa, and their two children in Gahanna, Ohio. Allan’s hobbies include fitness (you can find him most early mornings at CrossFit Gahanna), rooting on his kids at their sporting events, and spending time outdoors wherever possible.
NMLS#: 1911104

About James Simpson

Jim is a Financial Advisor with The Simpson Covert Reta Wealth Management Group. A Columbus native, Jim graduated from Bishop Watterson High School and The Ohio State University.

Jim began working for Morgan Stanley with his father Jeff in September 2019. He holds all the appropriate licensure including the series 7, 66, and SIE securities licenses. Jim has a passion for helping people reach their financial goals and finding long-term financial freedom.

Outside of work, Jim’s hobbies include fitness, watching sports, golfing and being outdoors on the water.
NMLS#: 1519084

About Patrick Dundon

As a Financial Advisor for The Simpson Covert Reta Wealth Management Group, Pat creates, implements, and maintains highly customized and comprehensive wealth plans for clients. Pat holds the Financial Planning Specialist professional designation in addition to all appropriate licensure, including the series 7, 66, SIE securities licenses and multiple state insurance licenses.

Pat’s mission is to help individuals and families feel secure in their financial future. He felt so passionate about this topic that he co-authored a book with personal finance tips and left a big four accounting firm after nearly a decade in the industry to join our team.

Outside of work, Pat resides with his wife, Steph, and their son Kyle in Gahanna, Ohio. Pat’s hobbies include fitness, golf, and spending time outdoors with family.
NMLS#: 2543809

About Laura Linkinhoker

Laura was recently promoted to Portfolio Associate after completing the extensive curriculum and being nominated by the team for her outstanding contributions.

In addition to the new responsibilities related to client investment portfolios, Laura oversees our Team Operations including day-to-day client service, new client onboarding, and operational risk management.

Laura is a 2013 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in finance and marketing and holds the Series 7, 9, 10, and 66 licenses. After starting her financial services career as an intern in 2011, Laura has leveraged her 14 years of experience to continually understand how to best help clients receive an outstanding experience. With her wealth of knowledge and expertise, Laura has been identified as a future management candidate for Morgan Stanley.

Outside of the office, you can find Laura participating in the annual Pelotonia bike ride, traveling, and supporting Auburn and Ohio State athletics.

About Emily Wilcox

Emily recently joined our office as a Client Service Associate after previously working with Morgan Stanley’s Service Review Unit and Estate & Inheritor Services team. Emily brings 12 years of industry experience and enhances our team's overall culture.

Emily assists in client account transactions, general questions, and day-to-day maintenance. She also serves as point person on New Account Opening procedures and our Morgan Stanley Online Services.

Emily and family live locally in New Albany, Ohio with their puppy Gracie.

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 Kimberly Emerson

Kimberly Emerson is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in Ohio.

Private Bankers partner with 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.

Kimberly began her career in financial services in 2001, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2015. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Private Banking Relationship Manager at FC Bank. Kimberly has also been a Wealth Management Banker at Merrill Lynch, as well as a Private Banking Relationship Manager at Fifth Third and KeyBank.

Kimberly is a graduate of Ohio Dominican University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. She and her family reside in Blacklick, Ohio. Outside of the office, Kimberly enjoys sporting events, concerts, and spending time with her family.
NMLS#: 767178
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Retirement

Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
  • 401(k) Rollovers
  • IRA Plans
  • Retirement income strategies
  • Retirement plan participants
  • Annuities
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

Investing

Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
  • Asset Management
  • Wealth Planning
  • Traditional Investments
  • Alternative Investments
  • Impact Investing
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

Family

Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
  • Estate Planning Strategies
  • 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Trust Services
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

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.

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.

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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Simpson Covert Reta Wealth Management Group today.
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Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.

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Awards Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)