

The Wilmoth Cho Team at Morgan Stanley

Our Mission Statement
Our Story and Services
Our clients believe, as we do, in the importance of building longstanding relationships with their financial advisors. They have grown to depend on our ability to deeply listen to them, so we may clearly understand their goals and aspirations. Clients appreciate our true passion for wanting to help them achieve those goals and solve any financial challenges along the way.
With an emphasis on education and a commitment to outstanding service, our personalized approach begins with gaining a thorough knowledge of you, your vision for the future for you and your family and important causes, and your finances. This information serves as the foundation for your custom-tailored wealth management plan; one that is carefully structured to navigate today's sophisticated markets and tomorrow's uncertainties. Over the years, we have helped our clients go beyond the short-term "noise" of the markets, so they may stay disciplined and focused on their long-term objectives.
We enjoy offering perspective and financial guidance to our as clients you address different financial challenges. We are committed to helping you grow and protect your assets, and are privileged to serve as trusted advisors to you through your life's important milestones.
Our team is honored to have received the following award:
2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams Ranking
Source: Forbes (Awarded Jan 2025). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based for the period 3/31/23–3/31/24.
- Wealth ManagementFootnote1
- Financial PlanningFootnote2
- Retirement PlanningFootnote3
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote4
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote5
- Sustainable InvestingFootnote6
- Philanthropic ManagementFootnote7
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote8
- Executive Financial ServicesFootnote9
- Cash Management and Lending ProductsFootnote10
- Qualified Retirement PlansFootnote11
- Trust ServicesFootnote12
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote13
- 529 PlansFootnote14
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
In the spirit of giving back, over the last six years at Morgan Stanley, Charlie has personally donated over $30,000 to various organizations through client-associated initiatives.
Since 2014, in lieu of a client holiday gift for Thanksgiving, Charlie offers his appreciation to clients through a $100 personal contribution per client from the donor advised fund that he and his wife, Cathy, have established. Clients can direct the $100 contribution to any 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit of the client’s choice.
In April 2022, Charlie sponsored an extra 2022 client-directed offer for $125 per client to support organizations assisting Ukrainians, who have been impacted by the humanitarian crisis due to the war.
Based on our clients’ Thanksgiving suggestions, we have been able to support dozens of different wonderful organizations, including those focused on animal welfare, the arts, domestic violence prevention and victim assistance, education, emergency and disaster relief services, the environment, food banks, foster youth, homeless assistance, inmate rehabilitation, medical research and hospitals, museums, schools and scholarship funds, special needs individuals, and wounded veterans.
We are very grateful to our clients for their confidence in our team and for their help in guiding us to support the great work of the staff and volunteers of these organizations.
Adam and his wife Jillian have connected with their community through various volunteer projects with HandOn Bay Area, including with such organizations as the Alemany Farms which improves food security by educating local residents about how they can become their own food producers. All of the food grown is given away for free to neighbors, volunteers, The Free Farm Stand, and other groups. Adam and Jillian have also volunteered with seniors at the Lytton Gardens Senior Community, a non-profit residential and health care facility serving low-income seniors in the Mid-Peninsula offering independent and assisted living, and skilled nursing care.
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Meet The Wilmoth Cho Team
About Charles Wilmoth
Charlie has over 25 years of experience working with private clients in wealth management. Prior to our team joining Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Charlie served clients as a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors and a Principal and Financial Advisor at Bernstein Global Wealth Management.
Charlie earned his M.B.A. from the U.CL.A. Anderson Graduate School of Management and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, majoring in German and Business Administration.
Charlie is actively involved in the community, currently serving as Board Treasurer of the Glaucoma Research Foundation and is a Co-Founder and Board President for the Community Housing Foundation of Mill Valley. Charlie has served as Board President of Enterprise for High School Students, and President of the San Francisco Chapter of U.C.L.A. Anderson Alumni Association, as well as a CYO youth basketball coach and group leader for the YMCA Adventure Princesses and Adventure Guides. Charlie provides significant fundraising support for PivotalNow, an organization which provides education and employment support to foster youth in Silicon Valley.
Charlie and his wife, Cathy, live in Mill Valley and have enjoyed raising their three children surrounded by the natural beauty and vibrance of the San Francisco Bay area for over 25 years. Charlie is an active tennis player, skier, and hiker and thoroughly enjoys travelling with his family to experience other countries and cultures.
NMLS#: 1868573
CA Insurance License #: 0B27556
About Adam Cho
Previously, Adam was a wealth management professional at Wells Fargo Advisors within the Private Bank and Bernstein Global Wealth Management. Adam received his B.S. in Business Administration – Finance with Distinction at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Adam is a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco and volunteers his time to the community through his involvement with HandsOn Bay Area. Adam is a Colorado native and has lived in San Francisco with his wife, Jillian, for over 13 years. Adam enjoys travelling to new places and experiencing different cultures. He is also an avid golfer, fan of Formula 1 racing, and wristwatch enthusiast.
NMLS#: 1861861
CA Insurance License #: CA Insurance Lic. #: 0H32938
About Earl Ignacio
Previously, Earl was a Premier Banker at Wells Fargo Bank and an Agent at New York Life. He received his B.S. in Business Administration – Finance at the University of California, Riverside.
Earl was born in the Philippines but migrated to the United States with his family in year 2000, where he has spent the majority of his life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Earl is currently living in San Francisco, where he enjoys visiting near coastal sights and finding new gems in the city. Earl is an avid Philadelphia Eagles and New York Knicks fan and loves to play a multitude of sports in his free time.

Contact Charles Wilmoth

Contact Adam Cho
The Power of Partnerships
About Wendy Fortenberry
Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.
Wendy began her career in financial services in 2001, and joined Morgan Stanley in 2015 as a Private Banker. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Wealth Management Banker at Merrill Lynch.
Wendy is a graduate of San Diego State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. She lives in the Bay Area. Outside of the office, Wendy enjoys attending professional baseball games & performing arts events as well as spending time with family and friends.
Portfolio Insights
Retirement
- 401(k) Rollovers
- IRA Plans
- Retirement income strategies
- Retirement plan participants
- Annuities
Investing
- Asset Management
- Wealth Planning
- Traditional Investments
- Alternative Investments
- Impact Investing
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.
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.
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.
4Morgan 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.
5Alternative 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.
6The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) aware investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because ESG criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.
7Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
Morgan 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, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
8Morgan 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.
9Morgan 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.
10Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.
Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
11When 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.
12Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.
Morgan 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.
13When 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.
14Investors should consider many factors before deciding which 529 plan is appropriate. Some of these factors include: the Plan’s investment options and the historical investment performance of these options, the Plan’s flexibility and features, the reputation and expertise of the Plan’s investment manager, Plan contribution limits and the federal and state tax benefits associated with an investment in the Plan. Some states, for example, offer favorable tax treatment and other benefits to their residents only if they invest in the state’s own Qualified Tuition Program. Investors should determine their home state’s tax treatment of 529 plans when considering whether to choose an in-state or out-of-state plan. Investors should consult with their tax or legal advisor before investing in any 529 Plan or contact their state tax division for more information. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not provide tax and/or legal advice. Investors should review a Program Disclosure Statement, which contains more information on investment options, risk factors, fees and expenses and possible tax consequences.
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