Welcome

Our entire team shares a common goal: to help you pursue your personal goals.

Whether that’s helping you retire at the age you want, with the ability to live the retirement lifestyle you’ve dreamt of; Funding your children and grandchildren’s' educations; Helping to ensure that your money lasts in retirement; planning for your potential health care costs; or managing transfer of wealth to the next generation.

Our mission is to understand you and your priorities. To take the time, to ask hard, thought-provoking questions and to listen carefully in order to understand, exactly where your wealth stands today and where you'd like it to be tomorrow. We have been entrusted by clients with something more valuable than their investable assets, we have been entrusted with their futures.

Understanding the client allows us to create a custom financial plan and investment strategy; this holistic approach allows us to help clients face the issues of today and stay on track for tomorrow.
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Planning for Every Stage of Life

The Volrath Castle Group believes financial wellbeing begins with having a Financial Plan. Your stage in life will determine the type of planning need and questions you have. Do you have a plan in place?
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    Wealth Building
    Typically, our clients under 55, these are your prime working years. In this life stage, you'll make a majority of your lifetime consumer purchases, while also making crucial financial decisions that will impact the rest of your life. Questions to ask yourself regarding wealth building are:

    1. Am I saving enough to retire
    when I want?

    2. Should I be saving for my
    children's education? How?

    3. Am I taking full advantage of
    my employer benefits?
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    Retirement Planning
    Most often our clients between 55 and 75, this includes a few years leading up to retirement and the first several years of retirement. While the heavy lifting is done during your Wealth Building years, a customized financial strategy is crucial in this stage for a
    successful retirement.

    1. What's my retirement income
    plan?

    2. When should I start taking
    Social Security?

    3. What happens if I need long
    term care down the road?
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    Legacy Planning
    After enjoying retirement for several years, our clients, typically those over 75, begin contemplating different goals. Instead of focusing on wealth building and distribution, the focus shifts to how they want
    to leave their legacy.

    1. Should I start gifting from my
    estate now?

    2. When I pass, will my financial
    wishes be carried out?

    3. What will happen to my
    spouse when I pass away?


    If you find yourself struggling to answer these questions, feel free to reach out to us via the Contact Us button at the top of our website.

How We Manage Your Money

There comes a point when managing one's assets turns into a full time job. As your life evolves and grows more complex, your financial strategy-and the options for implementing that strategy- tends to grow in complexity as well.

Frequently, evaluating those options and choosing wisely among them may require more experience and attention than you have to give. In such circumstances, it makes sense to partner with an experienced professional who understands your financial needs and can dedicate the time and resources necessary to help you meet them.

That's where we come in! Our advisors will work with you to help translate your goals into a specific investment objective and personalized investment strategy. Then, utilizing our Portfolio Manager's knowledge, team's experience, and Morgan Stanley's resources, we will structure your portfolio for you. We'll continuously monitor your investments and evaluate the strategy, striving to bring you closer to your definition of investment success.

Our four-step investment process helps develop a long-term perspective about building and managing wealth.
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Portfolio Management Process Highlights
1. Client Focus: Each account can be individually customized to meet your requirements for growth, income or preservation of capital within your risk constraints.

2. Active Management and Daily Oversight: Continual asset allocation and investment review.

3. Quick & Timely Changes: Having discretionary authority gives us the flexibility to make timely decisions based on market events.

4. Emotionless Decision Making: Discretionary decisions are made based on facts and investment strategy.

5. Comprehensive Communications: Throughout your relationship, you’ll have direct access to the investment professional managing your portfolio.

6. Asset-Based Pricing: Pricing for the program is based on your account’s asset level, not on the number of transactions performed in a given time period.
See More Info About Portfolio Management Here
Please visit the links below for newsletters from the Volrath Castle Group at Morgan Stanley.
To make the onboarding process as simple as possible we have gathered some of our most essential resources here at Morgan Stanley. You can find more information and steps to getting started below.
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    Morgan Stanley Online
    Seamlessly and securely manage your finances all in one place. With Morgan Stanley online you can view your accounts, transfer money, see your total wealth, make deposits on the go and more.
    Get Started Here
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    Total Wealth View
    Total Wealth View allows you to add your non Morgan Stanley accounts into one place. This allows a clearer more holistic view of your entire financial picture and is a great up to date snap shot of your total net worth.
    Get Started Here
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    Digital Vault
    Digital Vault let's you easily and securely manage and store life's documents such as wills, deeds and estate plans as well as financial statements and tax filings.
    Get Started with Digital Vault
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    Thoughts on the Market Podcast
    With perspectives on the forces shaping the market, join Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief US Equity Strategist for Morgan Stanley, as he and his colleagues discuss a variety of viewpoints regarding the latest trends in the financial marketplace.
    Thoughts on the Market Podcast
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    Reserved Living and Giving
    Save on travel, dining, holiday gifts and more with Morgan Stanley's Reserved Living and Giving program.
    Learn about the benefits
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    The GIC Weekly
    Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance and fixed income.
    Click here to access the latest version
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    How to Access Your Tax Forms
    1. Log into your account via Morgan Stanley Online
    2. Click the Accounts tab
    3. Select the Documents tab
    4. Go to the Statement drop-down tab
    5. Select Tax Documents and download them
    Click here to log in to Morgan Stanley Online
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    Morgan Stanley Ideas Podcast
    The Morgan Stanley Ideas Podcast brings you revealing stories about the world of business, finance, technology and beyond.
    Morgan Stanley Ideas Podcast
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    2022 Tax Tables
    Access the 2022 tax tables below.
    Click Here to Access 2022 Tax Tables

Location

4300 East 53rd St
Ste 300
Davenport, IA 52807
US
Direct:
(563) 344-4300(563) 344-4300
Toll-Free:
(800) 553-1871(800) 553-1871

Meet The Volrath Castle Group

About Sheila A Volrath

As a Financial Advisor since 1999, Sheila enjoys helping individuals and families define and reach for their investment goals. Sheila strives to develop effective personal and professional relationships with her clients, intent upon educating and assisting with financial plan development according to their goals and objectives.

A lifelong resident of Iowa, Sheila grew up on her family’s farm in Eldridge. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa, and her M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University. Sheila resides in DeWitt with her husband Jay and her miniature schnauzer, Indy. She has two grown children, Drew, who is a Financial Advisor with the Volrath Group and Karlee who is pursuing a degree at Iowa State University. Sheila is passionate about giving back to her community, something she learned from her former partner and mentor, Jim Victor. She is active in the Rotary Club of North Scott and the Free Enterprise Foundation/Junior Achievement of the Heartland. Sheila loves to travel, tour the country in her motorhome and spend time with family and friends.
Securities Agent: NV, GA, WA, MN, CA, AL, SC, MI, IL, IA, VA, OK, NE, NY, SD, DC, WY, TX, OR, OH, MO, NJ, IN, CO, AZ, ND, KS, FL, WI, TN, NM, NC, MS; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2645892

About Aaron Castle

Aaron, a native of Muscatine Iowa, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He started his career at Guggenheim Investments (formerly Claymore Securities) where he spent four years before pursuing his MBA from the University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Management. With an MBA in finance, Aaron relocated to Chicago to join First Trust Portfolios consulting with financial advisors and portfolio managers throughout the country before making the move to Morgan Stanley in 2014.

Aaron has received numerous honors and recognitions for his work in the financial industry. Most recently, Forbes Magazine named Aaron as one of the top Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2023 and one of the top Best-In-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors 2022 for the state of Iowa. His impact and involvement with-in the Quad Cities also earned Aaron recognition from the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal as one of the Forty Under 40 honorees in 2022. In addition to the individual honors, The Volrath Castle Group at Morgan Stanley was recognized as a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Team in 2023.

Aaron enjoys much of his free time golfing, watching and playing sports, and traveling with his family. Among many other causes they support, Aaron and his wife Chloe created the Aaron and Chloe Castle fund through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement to support the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Aaron, Chloe, and their two boys reside in Bettendorf, Iowa.

​Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded April 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/21-6/30/22.

​Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Aug 2022) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21 - 3/31/22.

Forbes America’s Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Jan 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21 – 3/31/22.
Securities Agent: CO, IA, NV, MS, SC, PA, MN, KS, VA, NE, AZ, WA, UT, MO, IN, OH, GA, DC, WY, WI, NM, CA, OK, NY, ND, SD, NH, TN, MI, FL, AL, TX, NC, IL, ID; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1297875

About Drew Volrath

Drew Joined Morgan Stanley in 2017 as a Wealth Advisor Associate before becoming a financial advisor in 2019. Drew focuses on developing and implementing financial plans tailored to each client's individual financial situation.

Drew attended St. Ambrose University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and played football. Drew is actively involved in a local neighborhood outreach program and local recreational sports leagues. He is an Iowa native who currently resides in DeWitt with his wife, Jordan. Drew enjoys much of his free time participating in a number of outdoor activities and spending time with friends and family.
Securities Agent: NE, VA, SD, NV, CO, OH, NM, MN, GA, DC, CA, SC, NY, IL, AZ, OK, ND, NC, MS, MO, MI, FL, WA, TN, LA, KS, IN, IA, AL, WI, TX; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2516982

About Kelley Girardin

Kelley, a South Carolina native, graduated from Augusta University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. She entered into the financial industry in 2012 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2017. She manages responsibilities related to financial planning, client communication, and team marketing.

Kelley wants her clients to have peace of mind in regards to their personal financial direction. By helping clients understand their current financial situation and providing guidance in articulating their financial goals, Kelley creates a financial plan that acts as a roadmap to help navigate the various goals and potential roadblocks her client may have.

Kelley’s goal-focused approach spans beyond the scope of her professional life. Her favorite pastime is crossing things off her ever-growing bucket list. A few accomplishments include running the New York City Marathon and traveling around the world by herself. Kelley resides in Bettendorf with her boyfriend and French bulldog, Betty.
Securities Agent: OH, NY, MS, MI, TN, ME, IN, CO, AL, WA, NE, IA, CA, NC, MN, ID, TX, SC, NV, ND, KS, WI, OK, MO, GA, DC, VA, SD, IL, FL, NM, AZ; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 890614

About Gregory Poterack

Greg has been solving client questions for over 10 years but just recently joined Morgan Stanley. Prior to working in the financial industry, he owned a restaurant for 14 years, which was a proven training ground in providing excellent client service. His business experience taught him to keep cool when he has 42 emails and 28 phone messages, all marked URGENT, before noon.

As a Client Service Associate, execution is his game. If it’s not specific investment advice you’re looking for, contact Greg directly! If he doesn’t know the answer immediately, he will chase it down and report back to you quickly. His main goal is to keep things as hassle-free for our clients as possible.

Greg loves helping clients improve their lives with Morgan Stanley’s knowledge, experience and commitment to service. As for his love on another level, that’s saved for his wife, Tonia, and son, Mitchell.

About Allie Girardin

Allie Girardin graduated from the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. where she obtained her Bachelors of Accountancy. Prior to Morgan Stanley in 2021, she worked as an accountant, specializing in the preparation and producing of financial statements for local businesses. Her favorite part of the role was analyzing financial documents and discussing the status of businesses with their owners. One of her strengths as an accountant was building strong relationships with clients. She is excited to utilize the skills and tools that she has cultivated as an accountant and apply them to her new role at Morgan Stanley as a Client Service Associate.
Kelley Girardin, one of the financial advisors for the team, is Allie’s older sister. They moved to the Quad Cities together in 2019. Allie is a Southern belle, living in the Midwest, cheering on her favorite New England teams. When she is not cheering on the Pats, she is baking pastries (she is currently on a Pavlova and Macaroon kick). Allie resides in Bettendorf with her French Bulldog, Tallulah.
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

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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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.

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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Volrath Castle Group today.
Market Information Delayed 20 Minutes
1Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.

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2Morgan Stanley offers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a different type of relationship with different obligations to you. Please consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences or review our Understanding Your Brokerage and Investment Advisory Relationships brochure available at www.morganstanley.com/wealth-relationshipwithms/pdfs/understandingyourrelationship.pdf.

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3When 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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4Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

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5Annuities are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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6Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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7Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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8When 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.

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Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.

The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.

Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.

The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.

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The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney.  The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.

Awards Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)