The Swanson Group

Jonathan focuses on managing client relationships, portfolio construction, business development and working with multi-generational family business owners on their business succession, aggregating and managing liquid and illiquid personal balance sheet exposures, and charitable endeavors. Jonathan also leads the team’s investment decisions related to private capital strategies.

Jonathan joined Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (PWM) in 2011 after six years in New York City, where he started his career in the institutional capital markets division of Bear Stearns. Immediately prior to joining the Morgan Stanley PWM team, Jonathan served as a senior manager research analyst at Titan Advisors, a $6 billion hedge fund and private capital investment management firm now based in Stamford, CT. At Titan, Jonathan was a member of the firm’s eight-person manager selection committee and performed due diligence on hundreds of emerging and established alternative investment managers during his time there.

Jonathan received his B.S. in business and economics from Lehigh University, where he graduated cum laude. He also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation, as well as the Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) designation, which he obtained at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. 

Outside the office, Jonathan previously served as a trustee at Rock in Prevention and Ex-Officio Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa. Presently, Jonathan serves on the Boards of Youth Standing Strong (YSS), the independent school (Bergman Academy), and is the Investment Committee Chair and Board Member at Dowling Catholic High School.

Jon lives in Des Moines with his wife (Chelsea), daughter (Sloane), and twin boys (Perry and Sutton). In his free time, Jonathan enjoys time with his family, reading, eating good food, music and playing tennis/pickleball.

Rachel focuses on assisting clients in reviewing and updating investment policy statements, determining strategic asset allocation and working with complex multi-generational families with their investment, estate, trust and tax planning strategies, and philanthropic initiatives. She also leads the team’s investment decisions related to fixed-income asset allocation strategy and manager selection. 

With more than 40 years in the institutional and capital markets business, Rachel applies her extensive industry knowledge to the management of client portfolios. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (PWM) in 2014, she co-managed a $12 billion institutional private fixed-income portfolio on behalf of what is now the Apollo Group. In addition, she gained experience in private equity and corporate finance from her time at Cybus Capital Markets in Des Moines, where she served as an owner/partner.

Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Williams College and completed an executive education program in business administration at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she holds the Chartered Financial Analyst^® designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Iowa. 

Outside the office, Rachel is the immediate past president of the board of the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. Other past non-profit board service included treasurer of the Homestead Living and Learning Center, treasurer of the Chrysalis Foundation and board member for Iowa Public Television. She has also served as a board member of Zygogen, a private biotechnology company.

Rachel and her husband, Jim Lawson, live in Des Moines. In her free time, she enjoys many outdoor activities and is an avid swimmer, runner, biker and occasional triathlete.

We are expanding our geographic reach as Ryan will be based in our team’s new Omaha, NE office. He will be integrated into our team-based approach to serving our clients. Prior to joining the team, Ryan was a First Vice President and Business Development Manager at Morgan Stanley. He was responsible for synthesizing and delivering the vast resources of our firm to advisory teams like our own. Ryan’s background and expertise includes a keen focus on manager selection, portfolio construction, private equity, banking, lending, investment banking, M&A and more.


Ryan began his financial services career in 2007 with a large multinational investment bank and joined Morgan Stanley in 2012 as a Vice President and Private Banker. Ryan received his Bachelors of Science degree in Finance, Banking and Investments from the University of Nebraska Omaha and a Masters of Business Administration from Creighton University. He resides in Omaha with his two daughters, Lily and Maeve.

Meredith focuses on wealth planning with a specific focus on family dynamics. Meredith has over a decade of experience in working with complex multi-generational family estates on issues ranging from wealth transfer and philanthropy to lifestyle advisory and sophisticated estate planning strategies.

Prior to joining the team, Meredith worked as an internal wholesaler at Calamos Investments with an international client base of advisors. She also worked at Strong Investments, providing guidance to 401(k) clientele on managing their retirement assets. She is a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association and holds the Certified Investment Management AnalystSM designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Meredith earned a B.S. in international business and marketing from Marquette University. She serves as treasurer of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation and former development chair at the Ronald Knox Montessori School. She lives in Wilmette, IL with her two children, Emma and Will, and she enjoys travel and good food.

This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice.

Dan is responsible for universal, top-down portfolio construction, as well as for the group's macroeconomic, geopolitical and capital markets research efforts. His capital markets research is pulled from both external and proprietary resources, and is integrated into the group's investment strategies for all clients. In his analyst capacity, Dan employs a dynamic, hands-on approach to manager selection and asset allocation analytics across client portfolios. He has directed the team's strategic portfolio rebalancing efforts for over a decade, and guides our asset allocation recommendations. Dan graduated with a B.S. in business marketing from Marist College, and has been with the team for over 20 years.

Deb joined 2017 and brings over 20 years of financial services experience to our clients. She works to streamline processes and provide an exceptional service experience. Prior to her current position, Deb worked as a practice manager for another financial services firm. Born and raised in Des Moines, Deb received her Associate of Arts degree in business administration from Grand View University and her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Iowa State University.

Reed is responsible for performance reporting, portfolio construction, and investment manager due diligence. Working with other members of the team he works in developing the group’s views on the macroeconomic environment and capital markets research. He also works in developing & implementing the group’s business development strategy.

Reed joined in the team in 2020 after graduating from Drake University with a B.S.B.A in Accounting & Finance. Outside of work Reed enjoys being outdoors, golfing, football, and spending time with family.

I leverage 25+ years of experience in fund development, marketing, board service, donor cultivation, and non-profit strategy in my role with the team. With decades of advancement and donor cultivation experience, I assist families with maximizing impact and tax-efficient giving strategies.

I have managed annual funds, capital campaigns, initiated a major gifts program, served on community boards and worked as an Advancement Director. In my role as a Client Service Associate, I bring best practice strategies to our team for non-profit institutions and affluent families in matters related to board development, donor cultivation and capital campaigns/annual funds. I am also responsible for advancing the team’s marketing and community development initiatives.

Charley Crowley joined Morgan Stanley in 2022 as a Registered Client Service Associate. He joined our team after a year as a tax associate at RSM. Charley’s responsibilities include producing strategy reports, synthesizing client and prospective client data to develop customized financial plans, and designing tailored reporting for clients. His industry experience allows him to focus on servicing clients by understanding their investment objectives and working in partnership with the other team members to deliver solutions.

Charley earned his Bachelor’s degree in Financing and Accounting at Iowa States Ivey College of Business.

Charley resides in West Des Moines, Iowa, In his spare time, Charley enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, snowboarding, traveling, and supporting Boston based professional sports teams and the Iowa State Cyclones.

Tom brings over 20 years in finance and wealth management support to our team. After graduating from Augustana College, he spent the first decade of his career at JPMorgan Chase throughout Chicagoland before moving to Denver and joining Wells Fargo Private Bank. After relocating to Des Moines in 2022, he pivoted his career to the investment side with Merrill Lynch where he became fully registered and fostered a resolve to be part of something greater within Private Wealth Management and institutional investing. Happy to be back in the heartland (and thrilled with the soft landing within the Swanson Group), his focus here is facilitating the operational component of our business and creating a seamless experience within all facets of our clients’ relationship.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys a good book, song, or movie (as long as it doesn’t ruin the book) as well as hiking, biking, and lounging with his wife, dog, and chickens.