

The William O'Brien Group at Morgan Stanley
Direct:
(312) 419-3554(312) 419-3554

Our Mission Statement
My mission is to assist business owners and their trusted advisors to plan for the future by providing skilled guidance and support throughout the succession process. We believe in building long-term relationships with our clients and helping them achieve their goals through personalized solutions that are tailored to their unique needs. Our commitment to excellence and integrity ensures that our clients receive the highest level of service and support.
Our Story and Services
We have advised hundreds of business owners in crafting and executing succession planning strategies – creating over $4 Billion in liquidity as of 2024. We begin every relationship by developing an understanding of your unique situation and goals. By applying that insight we evaluate how the succession planning options available to you accomplish your long-term strategic objectives. We understand that selling your business is deeply personal. Our disciplined approach takes into account the personal nature of the decision to create an outcome that you and your family can be happy with for decades to come. Objective and Consultative. We employ a consultative approach to business transition and succession planning strategies. To gain a complete picture of the options available, a number of methods need to evaluated and compared – whether that be a sale to a strategic or financial buyer, auction process, levered recap, or selling to an employee stock ownership plan(ESOP). Of particular note is our experience in assisting business owners contemplating an ESOP. As of 2024, we have successfully completed over 500 ESOP transactions and assisted hundreds of business owners in electing Section 1042.
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Location
233 S Wacker Dr
Ste 8600
Chicago, IL 60606
US
Direct:
(312) 419-3554(312) 419-3554
Meet The William O'Brien Group
About William O'Brien
Bill is a Co-head of The ESOP Group at Morgan Stanley, where he has been focusing on ESOPs and capital markets since 1989. He has over 30 years of experience in helping business owners and corporations, including several in the Fortune 100, in areas such as:
• Corporate liquidity transactions
• Business succession planning
• Retirement plan design
• Employee financial education
Bill is particularly experienced in assisting business owners who have completed or are contemplating an ESOP. He has a deep understanding of the complexities of Internal Revenue Code Section 1042, equity risk management, and tax-advantaged strategies. He has successfully completed over 500 ESOP transactions.
• Corporate liquidity transactions
• Business succession planning
• Retirement plan design
• Employee financial education
Bill is particularly experienced in assisting business owners who have completed or are contemplating an ESOP. He has a deep understanding of the complexities of Internal Revenue Code Section 1042, equity risk management, and tax-advantaged strategies. He has successfully completed over 500 ESOP transactions.
Securities Agent: DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, DE, MS, AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1278976
NMLS#: 1278976
About Richard Glomb
-Rick has spent more than 30 years in the financial services industry. Rick spent his first 10 years in the banking industry and the past 20 in the brokerage industry. He is committed to providing quality service through professional guidance.
-Rick joined The William O’Brien Group in 2009 and has quickly become a valued member of the team. Whether servicing the needs of clients, researching and analyzing complex financial information or working closely with the group’s corporate clients. Rick applies his years of industry experience and professionalism to each and every situation for the benefit of clients and the group as a whole. A Chicago-area native, Rick holds Series 6,7, and 66 securities registrations and Illinois Life and Health Insurance licenses. He is also a member of the ESOP Association.
-Rick enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three daughters when away from the office.
-Rick joined The William O’Brien Group in 2009 and has quickly become a valued member of the team. Whether servicing the needs of clients, researching and analyzing complex financial information or working closely with the group’s corporate clients. Rick applies his years of industry experience and professionalism to each and every situation for the benefit of clients and the group as a whole. A Chicago-area native, Rick holds Series 6,7, and 66 securities registrations and Illinois Life and Health Insurance licenses. He is also a member of the ESOP Association.
-Rick enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three daughters when away from the office.
Securities Agent: DC, ME, MS, OR, SC, UT, WA, NE, ID, FL, WY, WV, WI, VT, VI, VA, TX, TN, SD, RI, PR, PA, OK, OH, NY, NV, NM, NJ, NH, ND, NC, MT, MO, MN, MI, MD, MA, LA, KY, KS, IN, IL, IA, HI, GA, DE, CT, CO, CA, AZ, AR, AL, AK; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1274538
NMLS#: 1274538

Contact William O'Brien

Contact Richard Glomb
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
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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
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
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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Philanthropy
Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
- Endowments
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- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving
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Retirement for Plan Sponsors
End-to-End Services, Made Simple:
We can provide the tools and guidance to help you manage a retirement plan.
We can provide the tools and guidance to help you manage a retirement plan.
- Plan Evaluation
- Investment Management
- Plan Management Support
- Plan Participant Education
State of the Workplace Study 2023
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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.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The William O'Brien Group today.
1Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or 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 legal matters.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
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.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
2Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
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.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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)