

The Veritas Group at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
Our Story and Services
We believe success in achieving important financial goals starts with a comprehensive wealth strategy. We will help you define what is most important to you and then formulate the strategies that are appropriate for your needs, whether you are accumulating wealth or investing for income, solidifying your retirement plan or devising a distribution approach that helps meet your lifestyle and legacy goals.
WORKING WITH YOU
As your life evolves, not only does your financial strategy become more complex, but your options for managing it effectively increase as well. Often, evaluating these options and wisely choosing among them may require the guidance of an experienced team of advisors — a team who not only understands your diverse needs, but has access to customized programs that can be properly utilized to provide you with appropriate financial strategies for your particular situation.
At The Veritas Group at Morgan Stanley, we focus on what is most important to you and provide the specialized skills, integrated strategies and world-class resources needed to make informed, confident decisions about your life, your family and your finances.
We use a goals-based wealth management approach that measures success by how you're progressing toward meeting the goals most important to you. It enables you to stay flexible and proactive in managing your portfolio and identifies innovative ways to help improve your results by either altering saving and spending behaviors or changing investment strategies for potentially better long-term results.
Ultimately, goals-based planning empowers you to be more confident in your investment decisions. It brings clarity and focus to what matters most to you and your family through an integrated approach that aligns your goals with your finances.
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Meet The Veritas Group
About Gregory A. Watts
As an industry veteran, he brings significant experience and knowledge to the process of helping clients meet their individual financial goals. He has built long term relationships by blending prudent counsel, informed judgment, and sound advice with genuine concern for his clients. His approach is to help clients understand the context of their financial situation, guide them in setting appropriate financial objectives, and work with them in managing their assets to reach their objectives. Modern financial markets are complex and fast-paced, requiring a level of competence and capital beyond the scope of most individual investors. For these reasons, Greg believes that engaging world-class institutional portfolio managers is the most effective and efficient means of accessing global securities markets in a manner that maximizes returns and controls risk.
Taking a comprehensive, collaborative approach means actively providing advice and counsel as appropriate and making himself available and accessible when needed. Keeping clients informed, making recommendations, and providing regular portfolio monitoring are all part of the ongoing financial planning and investment management process.
Greg has been named by Forbes in its annual ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2018-2023, was named One of America's Top Financial Advisors by Barron's in 2011 and 2012, and one of Virginia's Top Financial Advisors in 2005-2008, 2011, and 2018-2023 by Virginia Business Magazine.
Licensed and registered as both an Investment Adviser and a Registered Representative, Greg is also licensed with the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market. He has served as the Co-Chairman of the Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor Council and as a member of the Morgan Stanley Technology Council. He is a member of the Morgan Stanley Masters Council, an Associate Member of the Association of Christian Economists, and a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Honor Society.
He enjoys hiking, fishing, and shooting sports. He serves as a Regional Board Member with Hope International and is active in his church. Greg and his wife, Helene, have two grown children, two grandchildren and live in Virginia Beach.
Disclosures:
2018-2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Ranking
Source: Forbes.com. Awarded 2018-2023. Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
2011-2012 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com. Awarded 2011-2012. Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.
NMLS#: 1290645
About G. Bryant Bowden
In addition to serving clients, Bryant serves on the portfolio committee within The Veritas Group and holds the Portfolio Manager credential at Morgan Stanley. He and his wife of over 30 years, Joanie, along with their three children, Parker, Emily and Abigail call Hampton Roads home. Outside of The Veritas Group, the Bowden family has spent time teaching, mentoring and coaching young people through school programs and athletics. They also engage with multiple community outreach groups in Hampton Roads.
NMLS#: 1274506
About John S. Gajdek
John is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and spearheads the financial planning effort within The Veritas Group. As a CFP® he works with Veritas Group clients to help create, implement and track a holistic financial plan to support them in reaching their financial goals. John and his wife Valerie have been married for almost 30 years and live in Norfolk with their daughter Sylvie, a student at Norfolk Academy. John enjoys traveling with Valerie and Sylvie and enjoys seeing new and exciting places.
NMLS#: 1479398
About Kyle G. Watts
Since joining The Veritas Group in 2015, Kyle is focused on helping clients and families move toward their financial goals. He is committed to the practice of providing comprehensive investment advice and counsel and building on The Veritas Group's legacy of serving clients with excellence.
Kyle is Series 7 and Series 66 Licensed and is an Investment Adviser Representative and a Registered Representative. He also holds the Financial Planning Specialist designation with Morgan Stanley. He enjoys playing music, surfing, fishing, and biking. Kyle, his wife Rebecca, and their two children, Fisher and Teal live in Virginia Beach.
NMLS#: 1546016
About Leidy Gonzalez
Leidy’s focus within The Veritas Group is comprehensive financial planning for clients and their families.
Leidy lives in Virginia Beach with her husband Dominick, two young daughters, Leah and Layla, and their two dogs.
About Betsy Mancebo
preparation. She is Series 7 and Series 66 licensed and has received the Financial Planning Associate designation from Morgan Stanley. Betsy has served as Assistant Branch Operations Manager and as a member of the Morgan Stanley Client Service Associate Council.
As a cancer survivor, Betsy is actively involved in breast cancer awareness, education, and research fundraising. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Lou, two daughters, and granddaughter and lives in Virginia Beach.
About Shandra Smith
About Robert Taylor

Contact Gregory A. Watts

Contact G. Bryant Bowden

Contact John S. Gajdek

Contact Kyle G. Watts
Portfolio Insights
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Family
- Estate Planning Strategies
- 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Special Needs Planning
- Trust Services
Business Planning
- Succession Planning
- Business Planning
- Qualified Retirement Plans
Philanthropy
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Financial Wellness
- Reduce employee stress,
- Improve retention and engagement, and
- Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
1Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
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4When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
5Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.
6When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.
7When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
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