The WTL Group at Morgan Stanley

Brian J. Tarquinio is an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley with over two decades of experience in helping clients navigate the complexities that come from accumulating and managing wealth. Brian focuses his efforts on serving the diverse wealth management needs of affluent families and business owners. Often times, this means helping business owners develop plans to realize efficiencies in their companies in order to further grow or exit with enhanced confidence of success. In the end, Brian believes that following a plan is the most advantageous way to equip any client for the extensive journey toward realizing their financial goals. Brian’s career as a Financial Advisor began in 2001 at Merrill Lynch. In 2006, based on the suggestions of clients he relocated to UBS where a few years later, in 2009, Brian formed a partnership with Tom Wentling to launch what has evolved into the WTL Group. Over the course of his career, Brian has been able to develop deep relationships with those he serves, and takes pride in not only managing assets, but also working with clients to address their financial needs to help simplify their complex lives. Brian also strives to work with the attorneys, accountants, and other advisors in his client’s lives to ensure a well-rounded and comprehensive financial plan. A graduate of The University of Notre Dame with degrees in History and Computer Applications, Brian has never stopped in his pursuit of gaining knowledge. Over his career, Brian has completed the education, experience, and examination requirements to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP^®), a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC^®), a Certified Private Wealth Advisor^® (CEPA^®), as well as a Senior Portfolio Manager. In addition to his work in the office, Brian is equally dedicated to causes in the community. Brian is a Board member on the Committee for Organ Oversight and Transplantation (COOT), a Board Member of Variety the Children's Charity, a Board Member for the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Founding Board Member for the South Hills Catholic Academy (Established in 2020), a member of the Notre Dame Club of Pittsburgh, and past President and Founder of the LEADers Business Performance group. He is also a Knight of Malta, for which he serves the needs of the sick and poor. Brian actively supports charities that work toward a cure for Cancer as well as those that focus on supporting Children. Brian and his wife, Kariann, live in the Sewickley area of Pittsburgh and are excited to welcome their son to the family. Family is very important to Brian. In addition to being lucky enough to work with his brother, John, Brian enjoys spending free time with his family, especially his parents and 10 nieces and nephews.

Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Feb 2022) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/20 - 6/30/21.

Thomas Wentling is a Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor and founding member of The WTL Group at Morgan Stanley. He has over 45 years of industry experience. In addition to being a Financial Advisor, Tom is a Chartered Financial Analyst^® charterholder, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant and a Certified Investment Management Analyst^® designee emeritus.

He began his career at Moore, Leonard and Lynch in 1977, which later became Blyth Eastman Dillon, PaineWebber and finally UBS. He and his team of highly seasoned investment professionals joined Morgan Stanley in June 2020. Tom and his investment committee construct and implement a broad spectrum of investment strategies for their clients using a combination of practical experience, input from Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee and other valuable resources available on the firm’s open architecture system.

Tom has been a frequent panelist on WPXI PCNC Night Talk with host Ellis Cannon, where he provides insight on a wide range of financial and economic issues. Periodically, he also writes topical commentaries for Pittsburgh Quarterly, a business and culture magazine serving Western Pennsylvania.

He is Chairman of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, which recognizes and rewards everyday heroes. He is past Chairman of the Brother's Brother Foundation, which distributes donated medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to those in need all over the world and is Chair of Freedom Research Foundation. He is past Chair of the Finance or Investment Committees of Shadyside Presbyterian Church, The Ellis School, Staunton Farm Foundation and The Pittsburgh Golf Club. He is a past Chairman of Opera Theater of Pittsburgh (now called the Pittsburgh Festival Opera) and recently graduated from the FBI's "Citizen's Academy," a community outreach program to educate the public about the FBI.

Tom is married to Caroline Roberts Wentling, a Master Gardner who is passionate about all things related to botany. Their daughter, Callie, is an electrical engineer who lives in Lisbon, Portugal. She obtained her master’s degree there. Their son, Tommy, is a senior product manager for Fashion Cloud in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In his free time, Tom shoots skeet and trap (poorly!). Caroline and Tom enjoy golf and travel.

John Tarquinio is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ professional and Senior Portfolio Manager with 14 years of financial industry experience dealing with a diverse group of clients and their needs. John acts as the chief operating officer of The WTL Group at Morgan Stanley and continually tries to improve client experience and team efficiency. As such, he focuses on coordinating clients’ investments with all other parts of their financial plan.

A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in Finance, John began his career in 2006 at Federated Investors as an Internal Wholesaler of mutual funds. He then transitioned to UBS as a Branch Analyst focusing on planning, research, and investment strategy for firm clients. This background in both financial products and planning led John to financial advisory in 2010, where he has continued to concentrate on detail orientation in all aspects of clients’ wealth plans and helping to ensure that their plan evolves with life changes. John would later move with the team to Morgan Stanley in 2020, where he continues to place being a resource for client questions, large and small, as paramount to the success of the practice.

John has always sought out new areas where he can add value to clients. He has completed all examination and continuing education requirements to hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation, and has taken courses at The University of Chicago in order to help business owners effectively transition their businesses to a new generation, or sell to a new owner.

When not in the office, John is highly active in the community. He is on the YWCA Finance Committee, Team Friends Advisory Board, and actively supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He lives in Upper Saint Clair and enjoys golf, Notre Dame Football, all things Pittsburgh sports, and spending time with his wife Alexis, son Jackson, and daughters Caroline and Mary.


Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 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 visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences.

Richard Barbarita has been working with clients and small business owners for over 40 years as a Financial Advisor in order to help them navigate difficult financial decisions with ease. Over that time, Rich has gained a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that he now brings to bear in helping service the needs of The WTL Group’s clients.

Beginning in 1975, Rich joined UBS as a Financial Advisor and quickly expanded his responsibilities to become the Branch Manager of the office in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. There he grew the number of Advisors from 10 to 16, and would later move on to become the Branch Manager of UBS’ Baltimore complex from 1989 to 1999, where he was charged with managing 45 Financial Advisors and promoting business development throughout the complex. Later, Rich moved his family back to their roots in Pittsburgh, where he was the Assistant Branch Manager before deciding to focus all of his time and efforts back on clients. These years of experience in the industry and time spent in all different levels of the business have been invaluable, especially during the team’s move to Morgan Stanley in 2020. Rich has been able to take the lessons learned in his prior roles and apply them to today to help ensure that as times continue to change, clients can trust that this experience will help them in planning for their future.

In addition to his work with clients, nowhere has this experience been better suited than in Rich’s pursuits outside of the office. In 2018, Rich became a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Arbitrator, which as a panel seeks to contribute to upholding the reputation of the industry. As a panelist, Rich is able to give insight and a different viewpoint, ultimately with the goal of providing value to both clients and firms across the industry.

When not in the office, Rich donates his time to the Pittsburgh Food Bank, and enjoys spending time with his daughter’s family and three grandchildren, and visiting his son in San Diego.

Zak spearheads the team’s financial planning and investment management initiatives. Here he helps develop and implement wealth plans and ensures that they are integrated with clients’ overall investment strategies. Zak also sits on the team’s investment committee, leveraging the research of the firm and others in making investment decisions.

Zak graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a B.A. in economics, where he twice captained the school’s rugby team. He began his career in Cushman & Wakefield’s Corporate Finance and Investment Banking group in New York. From there, Zak spent time as an Equity Research Associate at Credit Suisse before moving to UBS in 2016 as a Wealth Planning Analyst. He joined the WTL Group as an advisor full-time in 2018.

Zak leverages his Wall Street experience to help the team’s business owner clients navigate a transition or sale process, as well as in distilling market trends into actionable items for all of the team’s clients. He heads the team’s 401(k) plan advisory operations as a Qualified Plan Financial Consultant; is a CFA charterholder and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™; and holds Series 7, 63, 79, 86, and 87 licenses.

Outside of work, Zak is an avid reader, poor golfer, and as a native of Michigan, passionate fan of the Detroit Red Wings and U of M football. He lives on Long Island with his wife and two children.

Nick has been in the financial services industry for over twenty years. He has obtained the Series 7, 9, 10 and 66 licenses along with a Certified Financial Planner™ certification. Prior to his career, Nick graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration from Duquesne University and while working received an MBA from Robert Morris University. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Nick enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time with his family, significant other Heather, her daughter Mackenzie, and their dogs.

Rosemary is devoted to her clients, and makes sure she helps them with whatever they need. The clients know they can call her regarding any matter and she is always there for them. Rosemary has approximately 38 years of industry experience to share with the team. She lives In Plum with her husband Lee, and enjoys traveling (especially cruises) and spending time with her family.

Melinda (Mindy) Roman joined the team in 2024. Starting her career in 2001, Mindy has worked at Merrill Lynch and UBS Financial before joining us at Morgan Stanley. At prior firms, Mindy was a coach and trained other Sales Assistants on how to excel as a Client Service Associate (CSA). Mindy graduated from Clarion University of PA with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and minor in economics and she holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations. She currently lives in Cecil Township, PA with her husband, Justin, and their two children.

With the WTL Group, Mindy works closely with the Financial Advisors on the team to help ensure client requests are executed. She helps with trading, Estate Planning and Estate Administration, new account opening, and servicing most of the client’s needs.

Brad Christof has over a decade of experience working with successful individuals and families, delivering comprehensive wealth management advice. This includes estate planning and wealth transfer strategies, trust administration, balance sheet management, tax management, customized portfolio construction, next generation education, and development of philanthropic strategies.

Prior to joining the WTL Group at Morgan Stanley, Brad worked in similar roles at PNC, BNY Mellon, and Wilmington Trust. Brad's experience also includes administering the personal trading compliance for PNC executives. Before entering the financial services industry, he worked as a practicing attorney in Pittsburgh. Brad graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Dartmouth College, and with a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. Brad holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation. Brad grew up in Sewickley and currently lives there with his wife Becca and their four children. He serves on the board of the Sewickley Valley YMCA and Sewickley Area Soccer. In his free time, he enjoys golf and racquet sports.

Brad will be another Financial Advisor on the WTL Team. His legal and financial acumen will be helpful as we further demonstrate our commitment to our clients. Brad is looking forward to meeting our clients and working with the team to further develop relationships.

Molly Trunzo brings nearly two decades of executive support experience across diverse industries, including cybersecurity, professional sports, and more. Molly has worked with renowned organizations like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates, where she was a senior executive assistant to the owners and presidents of both organizations. She built strong relationships and created a welcoming environment for clients and colleagues alike. At the Pittsburgh Pirates Molly was also the family liaison for the team where she helped organize and coordinate many of the experiences for not only the owners and players but their families alike. Molly’s commitment to exceptional service and her strong work ethic makes her a key member of our team. Outside of work, Molly and her husband Jim enjoys traveling to attend their two daughter’s collegiate athletic events.

As part of the WTL Group Molly will be the director of first impressions. She will be focused on our team marketing, events, and administrative functions to make our clients lives easier. Molly is always willing to help, and we want all clients to feel comfortable calling her for anything.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your ongoing confidence and support, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.