Karen Varnhagen
Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager
VS Group at Morgan Stanley
Direct:
(415) 984-6763(415) 984-6763
Toll-Free:
(800) 289-9060(800) 289-9060
Our Mission Statement
At VS Group, we leverage our decades of combined experience and wealth management expertise to create custom plans that help successful individuals and families meet their unique financial goals, improve tax efficiency, and shape their legacies to positively impact future generations.
Our Story and Services
As your Financial Advisors, we can help you define and strive to meet your goals by delivering a vast array of resources to you in the way that is most appropriate for how you invest and what you want to achieve. Working together we can help you to preserve and grow your wealth. You’ll have access to some of the world’s most seasoned and respected investment professionals, a premier trading and execution platform and a full spectrum of investment choices.
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Working With You
As your dedicated Financial Advisors, our role is to tailor a financial strategy that reflects your unique circumstances and objectives. With over thirty five years of experience, we have developed a step-by-step approach towards serving our clients:
Step 1: Understanding You
We begin with an in-depth conversation to understand your goals and the goals of your family, the concerns you have and what you ultimately would like to achieve. Next, we review your current future financial situation, identify the likelihood of reaching your goals, and address any potential shortfalls or the impact of unexpected life events.
Step 2: Tailoring a Solution for Your Specific Goals
Here, we'll prepare a comprehensive wealth management plan that address your individual income and cash flow needs, investment objectives and guidelines, and risk/return parameters.
Step 3: Implementing Your Plan
With our guidance, you'll have access to a comprehensive array of strategies, services, and programs that work in tandem to help grow, preserve and transfer your wealth, while remaining aligned with your personal goals and aspirations.
Step 4: Monitoring Results Against Your Goals
We check in with you to deliver metrics around your portfolio, and ultimately measure trajectory towards your goals. Our ultimate mission is your success and well-being.
INDIVIDUAL PLANS FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU:
Regardless of what stage your life is in - moving ahead in your career, enjoying retirement, or somewhere in between - as your Financial Advisors, we can help you achieve your financial goals.
Using a suite of tools that includes goal-specific analysis, we can work with you to create a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of your financial life, including your investments and cash management needs.
We can create your personal roadmap to help achieve and protect your goals — a framework that makes the connection between your life goals and your financial resources, and provides a baseline for future discussions.
Using a suite of tools that includes goal-specific analysis, we can work with you to create a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of your financial life, including your investments and cash management needs.
We can create your personal roadmap to help achieve and protect your goals — a framework that makes the connection between your life goals and your financial resources, and provides a baseline for future discussions.
Portfolio Risk Tool
The Portfolio Risk Platform integrates the leading risk analytics engine into Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s platform to help improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of the end to end risk management processes for the Firm and our Clients.
Click Here to Learn More
Goals Planning System (GPS)
Goals-Based Wealth Management means that we aim to understand what is important to you and work together to map out a plan that can help you achieve your financial goals.
Click Here to Learn More
Retirement Planning
The decisions you make about your workplace retirement plan can benefit you for years to come. We’ll help you understand and put your resources to work, so you can plan, invest, and ultimately transition to retirement with confidence.
Click Here to Learn More
Financial Planning Questionnaire
This questionnaire will help us create a personalized
strategy for you and can enhance our conversation
around your long-term goals.
Click Here to Completestrategy for you and can enhance our conversation
around your long-term goals.
Education Planning
With education costs rising, paying for college has become a major life expense that requires smart planning.
Click Here to Learn More
Intelligent Withdrawals
We use state-of-the-art tools that recommend the most tax-efficient way to liquidate assets.
Click Here to Learn MoreStay Connected
Digital technology is centered on how people communicate, consume, transact, and travel. Our comprehensive suite of digital tools is designed to help enhance every aspect of your financial life. Here are a few of the technologies we have to offer our clients:
Morgan Stanley Online (MSO)
Beyond viewing your account balance and activity, Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) has a suite of features that allow you to manage your everyday finances from paying bills and sending money to transferring funds and authorizing transactions with eAuthorizations.
Morgan Stanley Online
Total Wealth View
Complete your financial picture with Total Wealth View. By linking your account information, you will benefit from more informed wealth planning, more secure data access, and convenient connectivity.
Total Wealth View
eDelivery
eDelivery provides you with the ability to view statements and other Firm documents electronically in lieu of paper. Clients who are registered in Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) may enroll in eDelivery.
eDelivery
Digital Vault
The Digital Vault on Morgan Stanley Online and the Mobile App allows for easy sharing and convenient access to life’s most important documents from wills and deeds to financial statements and tax fillings. Easily manage your encrypted financial records all in one place
Digital Vault Video
GIC Weekly Research Report
The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance, and fixed income
Read the Latest Report
On The Markets Research Report
Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
Read the Latest ReportAbout Morgan Stanley
Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values - Do the Right Thing, Put Clients First, Lead with Exceptional Ideas, Commit to Diversity and Inclusion, and Give Back.
Our 87 Year History
Explore our new interactive historical timeline to learn about Morgan Stanley through the decades - from our foundational years to building smarter wealth in modern times
Explore Our HistoryMorgan Stanley Wealth Management
For 87 years, Morgan Stanley has been a global leader in financial services, with the scale and stability to help bring you valuable opportunities. Our priority is managing wealth with the highest standard of care and providing financial advice to help support your goals at any stage of life.
Learn More About MSWMMorgan Stanley Reserved
Reserved Living & Giving is a tiered complimentary loyalty program that rewards Morgan Stanley's most valued clients. The program is designed to enhance your lifestyle and relationship with the firm beyond the traditional wealth management services.
MS Reserved Living & GivingLocation
555 California St,
35th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
US
Direct:
(415) 984-6763(415) 984-6763
Toll-Free:
(800) 289-9060(800) 289-9060
Meet VS Group
Elaine Shen
Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager, Executive Financial Services Director
Phone:
(415) 984-6032(415) 984-6032
Joan Espinosa
Client Service Associate
About Karen Varnhagen
As a Senior Vice President, and Senior Portfolio Manager, with over 40 years of experience, I’ve dedicated my entire career to helping high-net-worth individuals and those approaching retirement achieve financial security.
I specialize in creating customized strategies to preserve and grow wealth, particularly for clients with complex financial situations and/or concentrated stock positions. I focus on tax-efficient strategies, asset protection, and legacy planning to ensure your assets are positioned to last a lifetime.
What makes my approach unique is that I custom-tailor portfolios using individual securities. This method not only improves tax efficiency but also provides transparency, so you always know exactly what you own.
I grew up overseas and graduated from UC Davis. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing tennis, skiing, and spending time with my family—my husband, son, and our happy dog.
I specialize in creating customized strategies to preserve and grow wealth, particularly for clients with complex financial situations and/or concentrated stock positions. I focus on tax-efficient strategies, asset protection, and legacy planning to ensure your assets are positioned to last a lifetime.
What makes my approach unique is that I custom-tailor portfolios using individual securities. This method not only improves tax efficiency but also provides transparency, so you always know exactly what you own.
I grew up overseas and graduated from UC Davis. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing tennis, skiing, and spending time with my family—my husband, son, and our happy dog.
Securities Agent: IL, CO, DE, NJ, MI, CA, PA, MA, WA, ID, NY, CT, AZ, VA, TX, TN, OR, NH, NM, MT; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1312747
CA Insurance License #: #0A23166
NMLS#: 1312747
CA Insurance License #: #0A23166
About Elaine Shen
As Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager, Executive Financial Services Director, and a partner of the VS Group at Morgan Stanley, I advise corporate executives and entrepreneurs on how to manage their wealth and charitable giving. My expertise includes asset management, financial planning, philanthropy and retirement planning. I advise my clients in making high stakes choices, and I find person-to-person interaction both energizing and highly rewarding. I work with clients to integrate their company equity holdings into their overall financial strategy. Legacy planning and asset protection planning are also integral parts of the advanced planning I do for my clients.
My story starts in Beijing. At the age fourteen, I moved by myself from China to the United States to study at Colorado Academy. I had to quickly adapt, learn English, and acclimate to a new culture. By the end of my first trimester, my report card showed straight A grades, along with a glowing written report from the headmaster to my parents in China. Four years later, I received the top prize for excellence in English, in addition to being awarded the Bausch & Lomb Science Scholarship.
I later earned my MBA from Harvard University. For more than two decades, I have worked in financial services from New York to Hong Kong to San Francisco. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, I was a Managing Director of Institutional Sales & Trading at Macquarie Capital and CLSA, advising the world’s largest asset management companies. Along the way, I raised a daughter, Emma, who recently graduated from Cornell University.
My story starts in Beijing. At the age fourteen, I moved by myself from China to the United States to study at Colorado Academy. I had to quickly adapt, learn English, and acclimate to a new culture. By the end of my first trimester, my report card showed straight A grades, along with a glowing written report from the headmaster to my parents in China. Four years later, I received the top prize for excellence in English, in addition to being awarded the Bausch & Lomb Science Scholarship.
I later earned my MBA from Harvard University. For more than two decades, I have worked in financial services from New York to Hong Kong to San Francisco. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, I was a Managing Director of Institutional Sales & Trading at Macquarie Capital and CLSA, advising the world’s largest asset management companies. Along the way, I raised a daughter, Emma, who recently graduated from Cornell University.
Securities Agent: OR, MT, NM, NJ, MI, DE, PA, IL, CT, CO, TN, TX, AZ, WA, MA, NH, ID, VA, NY, CA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1546015
CA Insurance License #: 0L03745
NMLS#: 1546015
CA Insurance License #: 0L03745
About Joan Espinosa
Joan has been working in the industry since 1994 and has worked with our clients since 2000. Joan lives in San Francisco with her husband and enjoys gardening
Contact Karen Varnhagen
Contact Elaine Shen
Wealth Management
From Our Team
Overcoming Your 5 Biggest Retirement Challenges
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office
Portfolio Insights
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
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
Are You Prepared for Tax Day?
Article Image
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
Article Image
Philanthropy
Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Donor Advised Funds
- Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving
Article Image
Ready to start a conversation? Contact VS Group today.
1Morgan 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.
2Morgan 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.
3Morgan 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.
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.
5When 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.
6Morgan 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.
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.
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
2Morgan 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.
3Morgan 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.
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.
5When 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.
6Morgan 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.
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.
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)
