West Dakota Group at Morgan Stanley

Steve is a Senior Vice President, Financial Planning Specialist, and founding partner of The West Dakota Group at Morgan Stanley. Since 1994, he has enjoyed working with individuals, families, and small business owners with a higher level of wealth, providing personalized advice through a disciplined process. His areas of focus include portfolio management, alternatives investments, annuities, and structured products. Steve’s comprehensive approach includes a detailed financial plan, a diversified investment portfolio, and a commitment to outstanding service.

Born and raised in Grand Forks, ND, Steve learned at an early age that it was not only important to work hard, but to have your money work hard too. He learned this valuable lesson when he was attending the University of North Dakota for his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. His father had reached out to him to assist in making some important financial decisions. Steve saw how rewarding it could be to provide important guidance that could make a real impact. This experience inspired him to pursue a career in wealth management. Steve joined Smith Barney in 1994 and has been an integral part of the firm’s growth ever since.

Today, more than 25 years later, Steve has built a successful career that enables him to help clients solve complex problems, manage their total financial picture, and keep more of what they earn. It is extremely rewarding for Steve to see the impact a comprehensive strategy can have on his clients’ lives. Helping families develop and implement a financial plan gives him great satisfaction knowing he is contributing to a more comfortable and confident financial lifestyle. For his skills and client commitment, Steve has been named to Morgan Stanley’s Century Club, a recognition club for top advisors at the firm, for many consecutive years.

Steve’s desire to help others is equaled only by his dedication to his community and his family. Over the years, he has been active with his church and has been serving on its board since 2010. He also served as a board member of Capital Racquet and Fitness Center, where he is also a member.

A long-time resident of Bismarck, Steve has two daughters who are both attending college in North Dakota. They give him great joy and he loves spending time with them. Other favorite activities include golfing, playing racquetball, and staying fit.

Jesse is a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Jesse was a Senior Wealth Advisor at a local bank trust department for nine years. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Jesse believes in holistic wealth planning to help clients achieve their goals with peace of mind. Jesse knows that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for the unique and complex needs of her clients, and she prides herself on being a careful listener so she can truly understand the clients’ goals to help best guide them.

Jesse specializes in the areas of retirement planning, cash flow planning, estate planning, employer-sponsored retirement plans, nonprofit foundations, and investments for government entities.

Originally from Jamestown, ND and graduating Jamestown High School, Jesse went on to pursue her B.S. in Finance and Business Administration at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. She also earned her M.B.A. from the University of Mary.

In the community, Jesse serves on the board of directors for the Bismarck Library Foundation, is the Vice President of the Western Dakota Estate Planning Council, a member of the Bismarck Rotary Club, and is active in her church.

Jesse resides in Bismarck with her husband and two children. In her free time, Jesse enjoys spending time with her family, particularly taking in any outdoor activity. Jesse also enjoys running, reading, and watching her children’s activities.

Chase Lako is a Financial Advisor who has been with Morgan Stanley since September 2019. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked for his family's excavating company after graduating with a degree in Agriculture and a minor in Business from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

A native of Arthur, North Dakota, Chase currently resides in Mandan, North Dakota with his beautiful wife Kennedi, their dachshund Piper, and five horses. He is quite involved in his local community, where he is an active member of the Mandan horse and saddle club and the Mandan Planning Organization. In his free time, Chase enjoys rodeoing with his wife, roping with his friends, and taking advantage of the great outdoors with his family. He also loves to fly and is close to finishing his private pilot's license certification.

Joe Dosch is a Financial Advisor who holds his Series 7 and Series 66. Prior to joining the firm, he contributed to and continued the successful operation of the Expressway Suites hotel in Bismarck. With over a decade of experience as a small business owner & operator he brings a unique perspective to our team.

Joe is committed to helping his clients feel comfortable with their retirement planning process and helping them achieve their goals. He focuses in the areas of retirement planning, employer-sponsored retirement plans and cash flow planning.

Born and raised in Bismarck he attended St. Mary’s Central High School and went on to obtain his B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.

Joe and his wife Amanda have been blessed with four wonderful & active boys. He enjoys spending time with family and watching his kids discover their interests.

Michelle brings more than 20 years of financial services experience to our team. As a Business Development Associate, she is essential to enhancing the client experience. Her extensive knowledge of the firm’s administrative and operational platforms allows her to quickly align the correct resources, providing clients with confidence as she works to find the appropriate solution for their particular question or need.

Michelle graduated from Minot State University with a B.A. degree in Business Administration. She joined Morgan Stanley in 2000 for the opportunity to work closely with clients and help them strive towards their goals. It gives Michelle great satisfaction knowing she is helping someone solve a problem. She strives to ensure a stress-free experience by creating streamlined processes and leading a coordinated effort among her colleagues. Michelle holds the FINRA Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses.

Originally from Williston, Michelle now lives in Bismarck with her husband, Mark, and daughter, Bryanne. Favorite activities include reading, volunteering and spending time with family.

Drawing on more than 30 years of industry experience, Shelley is often the first line of contact on a broad array of client services. A consummate professional, she is committed to providing every client with the highest level of personal service. Shelley has been an important member of Morgan Stanley since 1992 and The West Dakota Group since joining the team in June 2016.

From the largest task to the smaller request, Shelley works diligently to exceed client expectations. Her core responsibilities include setting up client appointments, onboarding new clients, and interfacing with various departments across the firm to help ensure issues are resolved quickly and efficiently. Shelley holds her Series 7 and 63 FINRA licenses. She is a graduate of Minot State College where she earned her Associate of Arts degree in 1981.

Family is very important to Shelley. She and her husband, Larry, have three grown daughters, who have blessed them with six grandchildren! Outside of the office, she loves spending as much time as possible with her kids and grandkids. She is also very active at her church, assisting on several boards.