William R. Blackmon
Vice President,
Financial Advisor,
Portfolio Management Director
Direct:
(585) 385-5133(585) 385-5133
My Mission Statement
Excellence in family wealth planning for your family's unique goals
About Me
I’ve provided families with investment advice for north of 28 years and have been with Morgan Stanley since 1994.
Most of my work involves retirement planning. When my Dad retired from Rochester Products in 1978, he received a pension from General Motors along with Social Security, so he and my Mom knew exactly how much they could afford to spend. Today, pensions are rare; most people have 401Ks and IRAs instead. With all the choices these plans offer, it can be challenging to construct a portfolio which meets the cash flow requirements your family will need once you retire. This makes professional advice more important than ever.
My process starts with understanding your objectives. Some clients are retiring in a couple of years and want to be sure they’re able to generate a particular level of income, other clients have more time until retirement and are looking for a safe, reliable return. Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management tools help families make better decisions around retirement; these tools include cash flow models, along with risk and asset management programs. I’ll show you how we can use these technologies to understand whether your portfolio matches your retirement goals both in terms of the expected returns as well as the level of risk taken to generate them. At that point, we’ll discuss ways to make sure your portfolio gives you the greatest opportunity to meet your goals. Additional services include investment management, estate planning, life insurance and charitable giving.
I graduated from Guilford College, a small Quaker school in North Carolina, with a degree in Economics. I’m married with two children; my wife Kathy works at the University of Rochester. I’m on the board of The Episcopal Senior Life Communities and am a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where I serve on the Finance Committee. I enjoy golf, cycling and vacationing in the FL Gulf Coast and the Adirondacks.
Most of my work involves retirement planning. When my Dad retired from Rochester Products in 1978, he received a pension from General Motors along with Social Security, so he and my Mom knew exactly how much they could afford to spend. Today, pensions are rare; most people have 401Ks and IRAs instead. With all the choices these plans offer, it can be challenging to construct a portfolio which meets the cash flow requirements your family will need once you retire. This makes professional advice more important than ever.
My process starts with understanding your objectives. Some clients are retiring in a couple of years and want to be sure they’re able to generate a particular level of income, other clients have more time until retirement and are looking for a safe, reliable return. Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management tools help families make better decisions around retirement; these tools include cash flow models, along with risk and asset management programs. I’ll show you how we can use these technologies to understand whether your portfolio matches your retirement goals both in terms of the expected returns as well as the level of risk taken to generate them. At that point, we’ll discuss ways to make sure your portfolio gives you the greatest opportunity to meet your goals. Additional services include investment management, estate planning, life insurance and charitable giving.
I graduated from Guilford College, a small Quaker school in North Carolina, with a degree in Economics. I’m married with two children; my wife Kathy works at the University of Rochester. I’m on the board of The Episcopal Senior Life Communities and am a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where I serve on the Finance Committee. I enjoy golf, cycling and vacationing in the FL Gulf Coast and the Adirondacks.
Securities Agent: AL, AZ, CA, CO, KY, UT, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, WA, WV, VA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1393546
NMLS#: 1393546
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*
Working With You
Charting a clear, confident course to financial success begins with understanding your values, priorities and aspirations. Working together, we define what is important to you and develop the solutions to help get you there.
Discovery
An effective retirement plan requires an accurate budget, but many families don’t keep track of every penny spent through out the year. So I’ve developed a technique to help sort this out more easily than rummaging through old checks or statements. Our objective here is to come up with a spending figure that can be used to start the plan. Afterwards an asset inventory is needed so that we can go on to the next step- Forming a Strategy.
Forming a Strategy
The idea here is to design a strategy which gives families the returns needed to achieve their stated goals with the least amount of volatility.
Implementing a Plan
Here we tap into Morgan Stanley’s intellectual capital and select vehicles that optimize the strategy’s risk/reward characteristics.
Measuring Success
The only thing we can count on in life is change; our lives change and markets change along with investments. I’ve developed a process that helps families keep up with inevitable changes that are part of life so that portfolios can change as the world does.
My Family and Lifestyle
Click through the photos to see some of the adventures my family has gone on, more to come so stay tuned!
Bike Trip to Cooperstown
Alex (my son) and I took a trip to Cooperstown riding our bikes.
Coeur d’Alene Lake
My wife, Kathy, and I took a trip to Coeur d’Alene Lake.
Modern Wealth Toolset
Morgan Stanley's suite of Modern Wealth management tools makes it easier for my clients to view and manage their finances. IT allows for a more in-depth view of a client's financial circumstances, allowing me to provide ever-more customized advice and better service so you can make better decisions.
Morgan Stanley Online and MS Mobile
Morgan Stanley Online (MSO) has a variety of features beyond simply viewing your account balance and activity.
eAuthorizations: Authorize transactions securely, with a single click on Morgan Stanley Online and the Morgan Stanley Mobile App.
eDelivery: An average of 7 people touch your paper mail on its way to your mailbox. Our secure eDelivery protects your personal information from falling into the wrong hands, allowing me to provide you with a faster response, more securely
Morgan Stanley Online RegistrationeAuthorizations: Authorize transactions securely, with a single click on Morgan Stanley Online and the Morgan Stanley Mobile App.
eDelivery: An average of 7 people touch your paper mail on its way to your mailbox. Our secure eDelivery protects your personal information from falling into the wrong hands, allowing me to provide you with a faster response, more securely
Total Wealth View
Total Wealth View allows you to link your financial information from other accounts at other institutions directly to your Morgan Stanley Online or Mobile App profile.
The ability to view all your assets in one place allows me to deliver advice based on your entire financial picture, rather than just based on the piece here at Morgan Stanley.
Total Wealth ViewThe ability to view all your assets in one place allows me to deliver advice based on your entire financial picture, rather than just based on the piece here at Morgan Stanley.
LifeView®
With LifeView®, we'll define a portfolio that gets you to, and lasts you through, your retirement years. We'll create a financial framework to make sure we're on track in both phases of your retirement.
You'll Benefit From:
- A plan designed to achieve your goals, tailored to your specific risk preferences and circumstances
- Comprehensive monitoring
- Adjustments made for changes in the market
You'll Benefit From:
- A plan designed to achieve your goals, tailored to your specific risk preferences and circumstances
- Comprehensive monitoring
- Adjustments made for changes in the market
Spending + Budgeting Tool
Efficiently track spending habits, easily categorize various expenses and create budgets across all of your accounts from both Morgan Stanley and external financial institutions. By sharing this information with me, I can help you align your daily spending to your long-term goals.
More Information on the Spending + Budgeting ToolUpcoming Firm Events
We hope you will join us for this upcoming event.
U.S. Policy Pulse: Trump 2.0 and the Markets
DATE: February 25, 2025 at 4:15 p.m. ETJoin Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett, on Tuesday, February 25, for a conversation with Chief Economic Strategist and Global Head of Thematic and Macro Investing, Ellen Zentner, and Head of U.S. Public Policy, Monica Guerra, on the top policy and regulatory actions that could impact investors in the months ahead.
CRC4192005 02/2025
Online
Location
300 Linden Oaks
Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14625
US
Direct:
(585) 385-5133(585) 385-5133
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
Ready to start a conversation? Contact William R. Blackmon today.
1When 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.
2Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
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 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.
5Morgan 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
6Morgan 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.
7Investors 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.
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 Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.
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 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.
5Morgan 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
6Morgan 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.
7Investors 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.
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)
