The Taurus Group at Morgan Stanley

Leonardo (Leo) is a founder and Executive Director of The Taurus Group where he brings decades of experience in Wealth Management covering Latin America with a focus on Brazil. He works with family offices and high net worth individuals in creating customized investment portfolios and establishing optimal asset allocation. Leo’s investment experience allows him to lead Portfolio Management efforts and play an integral role in the team’s focus on equity, fixed income, currency and alternative investments.  

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Leo spent 11 years at JP Morgan & Chase where he became an Investments Specialist and the head of the Brazil High Net Worth Trading Desk. He covered some of the most important clients in Latin America with a focus on Brazil, the biggest market in Latin America for JP Morgan. 

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, and his Master of Business Administration at Columbia Business School. Leo speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.

Mariana is a founder and Executive Director of The Taurus Group who works with some of the most sophisticated ultra-high net-worth clients and family offices in Brazil.

Mariana leads client relationship management and portfolio monitoring and specifically focuses identifying opportunities for clients. She often works alongside product professionals in investment, advisory and credit. Mariana also helps clients with estate and succession planning strategies. 

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mariana spent 10 years at JP Morgan Private Bank working on the Brazil Team. She started out as a Client Service Specialist, then joined the Analyst Program and the Associate Program where she was promoted early to Vice President and Private Banker. The Brazil Team was the largest Latin American team for JP Morgan in the region, and Mariana extensively covered individual and institutional clients.

Mariana earned her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialty in Finance at Baruch College/CUNY, where she graduated with honors and was on the Dean’s List and Golden Key National Honor Society. She speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish and is an avid soccer fan. Mariana is happily married to her husband Marconi for 25 years and lives in New Jersey.

Guilherme is a founder and Executive Director of The Taurus Group. He has more than 10 years of work experience with some of the most sophisticated clients in the region, covering high net worth individuals, family offices, funds and corporations. He is responsible for generating tailored investment strategies in equities, fixed income, and foreign exchange.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Guilherme held various senior positions in Wealth Management at JP Morgan Securities LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc.  At JP Morgan Private Bank he was a Vice President - Global Investment Specialist in the Brazil Team. Guilherme started his career at UBS Financial Services Inc. division in New York and later at UBS Investment Bank Latin America M&A Team in New York. Guilherme specialized in Brazilian clients both high net worth and institutional across asset classes. 

Guilherme earned his Bachelor of Science in International Business at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He speaks Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Rodrigo is a founder and Executive Director of The Taurus Group, where he directs portfolio allocation, portfolio construction and risk analytics for the group’s institutional and individual clients. Rodrigo is instrumental in the group’s decision-making process, with experience in equities, fixed-income, alternative investments, outside money managers and mutual funds.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Rodrigo spent almost 7 years at JP Morgan Private Bank, where he was a Vice President as a Global Investment Specialist. The team focused extensively in the Brazilian market covering high net worth clients and family offices.

Rodrigo earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance at the University of Central Florida. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA^®) designation. He speaks Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Ricardo Guimaraes is a Partner and Executive Director at the Taurus Group and recently joined the team after previously holding positions at large firms, such as UBS for 7 years and Wells Fargo for 5 years, where he covered UHNW individuals from Brazil. Ricardo is well known in the South of Brazil for his experience in International Wealth Management and Relationship Management. Ricardo holds a Master of Business Administration from Babson College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Waldir Mahana is a seasoned financial advisor and Executive Director with 19 years of experience in building strategic relationships with high-net-worth families in Brazil and Latin American. He brings broad experience in Wealth Management with a focus on developing the investment aspects of client relationships. His areas of focus include Fixed Income, Equity, Options, Alternative Investments, Lending and Structured Products.

Waldir was an Executive Director for 8 years at UBS where he was a Financial Advisor covering Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Prior to UBS, Waldir spent 8 years at JPMorgan as a Banker and Investment Advisor for Brazilian clients. In Brazil, he earned his Bachelor in Communication from FMU and a postgraduate degree in Business from FGV. In the US, Waldir earned an MBA from University of North Carolina. He speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

Disclaimer:
An investment in Structured Investments is subject to significant risks and may not be appropriate for all investors.  These risks can include, but are not limited, to: fluctuations in the price, level or yield of underlying asset(s), interest rates, currency values and credit quality; substantial loss of principal; limits on participation in appreciation of underlying asset(s); limited liquidity; credit risk of the issuer; and, conflicts of interest.

Paula Santana is responsible for providing administrative and operational support to International Client Advisors and the group's clients.

With more than 15 years of experience in Wealth Management and client service, Paula brings extensive dedication and experience to the Taurus Group. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Paula spent 13 years serving Brazilian clients as a Senior Private Banking Client Service at JP Morgan & Chase. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey. She is fluent in Portuguese and English.

Cassio Domingues Neto is the Director of Business Strategy as well as a part of the founding members of the Taurus Group in 2016. Dedicated to learning the Venture Capital and Start-up business from the ground up, Cassio leads the team’s business development effort on this front with a focus on Brazil and LatAm. Working together with other sectors of the firm such as MS at Work and the Investment Banking Division, Cassio has been able to create a holistic wealth management solution for entrepreneurs and founders. He also advises clients on monetization strategies for their concentrated public holdings, providing services that include 10b5-1 plans and restricted stock trading.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Cassio spent one year as an Investment Analyst at JP Morgan & Chase where he focused on the Brazilian market and focused on high-net-worth and institutional clients. Cassio earned his bachelor's degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Babson College.

Bruno Miari is the Taurus Group's Assistant Vice President and is responsible for assisting clients with their most particular needs concerning estate planning strategies, insurance, financial planning and education. Also a Lending Specialist, Bruno works with senior advisors and clients on tailored strategies according to their leverage goals.

Bruno earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG and holds Series 7 and 66 licenses. Before joining Morgan Stanley and The Taurus Group, Bruno worked with the Brazilian UHNW Team at J.P. Morgan for three years after owning a specialty coffee micro-rostering business in Mina Gerais, Brazil.

Disclaimer:
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Nicholas Regen is the Taurus Group’s Portfolio Manager Associate. He is responsible for portfolio risk analysis, investment proposals, and product research, with a niche focus on alternative investments. Nicholas’s experience enables him to help the team's Portfolio Managers by analyzing new investment opportunities in a wide range of products and asset classes including equities, fixed income, currencies, and alternative investments.

Nicholas earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Nicholas held internship positions at Natixis Investment Managers and Itaú Private Bank (US) where he specialized in portfolio research and solutions by conducting product and macro analysis. Nicholas is fluent in Portuguese and English.

In 2024, Nicholas was named to Morgan Stanley's Pacesetter's Club

As the Team Administrator, Alessandra (Ale) Margune is an indispensable member of the team who successfully and smoothly manages the practice’s clerical and administrative duties, thus ensuring that clients receive the best experience possible. Alessandra is a dedicated, organized worker who enjoys collaborating with her team to provide top-tier service.

Prior to joining the Taurus Group at Morgan Stanley in 2022, Alessandra gained over a decade of experience in the commerce, accounting and legal sectors in Brazil and US. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Centro Universitário Internacional Uninter, Curitiba, Paraná. After graduating, moved to the United States where she perfected her English language skills and rapidly improved her interpersonal skills, both of which helped her to develop meaningful professional connections. She recently completed her ABA Approved Paralegal Certificate at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and utilizes these impressive skills daily in her role at the Taurus Group. Alessandra is fluent in Portuguese and English.

Otavio Cordioli is a Wealth Management Associate at the Taurus Group and is responsible for providing integrative support to the team's Financial Advisors and the group’s clients.

Otavio earned his master’s degree in Education from Federal University of Sao Paulo – Brazil and has impressive interpersonal skills. He holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses and speaks fluent Portuguese and English.

Laura is a Client Service Associate of the Taurus Group, a Wealth Management and portfolio management team focused on the Brazilian high net worth market. She is responsible for providing operational support to the Financial Advisors and the group’s clients.

Prior to joining the Taurus Group at Morgan Stanley in 2021, Laura spent 10 years administering her family’s business in New Jersey, gaining vast experience in management, customer service, and financial planning.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, where she graduated with high honors. She also earned her Master’s degree in Economics at Rutgers University. Laura speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Giuliana is a Registered Client Associate at the Taurus Group where she is responsible for providing support to the team's Financial Advisors and their clients.

Before joining Morgan Stanley, Giuliana spent nearly two years At UBS Financial Services as a Registered Associate helping high-net-worth Brazilian’s clients with their financial needs. Additionally, she has experience working at two major banks in Brazil, Itaú and Bradesco.

Giuliana has earned a degree in Business Administration from Universidade Unicuritiba and holds CFP Certification (Certified Financial Planner) in Brazil as well as Series 7 and 66 in the US. Giuliana is fluent in both Portuguese and English.