
William Whitfield, CFP®

My Mission Statement
My Story and Services
My practice focuses on working closely with high-net-worth executives and their families to help ensure they have a solid understanding of their finances and an integrated approach to managing their wealth. Our goals-based process includes a tailored financial plan and a commitment to ongoing education and outstanding service. This commitment to clients has earned our practice recognition on the Forbes "America's Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors" in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
I am a 2004 graduate of Stonehill College, where I majored in Finance and minored in Computer Information Systems. Soon after graduation, I began my financial services career at Merrill Lynch and joined Morgan Stanley in 2012. I hold my FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and earned my Certified Financial Planner designation in 2009. Morgan Stanley named me an Executive Financial Services Director in 2018. This credential has been earned by less than 2% of the firm's advisors and grants me access to an extensive array of resources designed specifically for corporate executives.
Over the years, I have built a successful practice, advising executives on how to effectively integrate valuable corporate benefits – specifically the management of their stock options and restricted stock – into their personal wealth plans. Through a goals-based process and Morgan Stanley's world-class service platform, our team works diligently to provide clients with clarity and confidence about their finances, so they may enjoy their wealth and help achieve their lifetime goals.
Originally from Stoughton, Massachusetts, I currently live in the south shore of MA with my wife, Lorena, and my five children. Outside of the office, I am active in various youth hockey organizations, donating my time in the area of player development. My favorite leisure activities include golf, hockey and spending time with family and friends.
As a reinvestment partner at Morgan Stanley, I have extensive experience working with corporate equity plans. Please visit my Equity Compensation page below to learn more.
- Executive Financial ServicesFootnote1
- Wealth ManagementFootnote2
- Financial PlanningFootnote3
- Stock Option PlansFootnote4
- Stock Plan ServicesFootnote5
- Retirement PlanningFootnote6
- 401(k) Rollovers
- Trust AccountsFootnote7
- Qualified Retirement PlansFootnote8
- Professional Portfolio ManagementFootnote9
- Planning for Education FundingFootnote10
- Municipal BondsFootnote11
- Fixed IncomeFootnote12
- Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote13
- Asset Management
- Life InsuranceFootnote14
- Alternative InvestmentsFootnote15
NMLS#: 13783
By Your Side for All of Life’s Milestones
We work with a broad range of clients who value and respect the advice we carefully cultivate for them in seeking the achievement of the following goals:
- Simplify their financial life
- Plan for an enjoyable retirement
- Manage risk and protect their family
- Minimize investment related taxes through advanced strategies
- Educate the next generation on how to manage wealth and carry family values forward
- Achieve important philanthropic goals
The solutions we recommend are carefully coordinated to help provide you with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to succeed in today’s fast-paced world.
We are here to help you make informed decisions on any financial issue you face.
- Corporate executives with highly concentrated positions at public and private companies
- Retirees and individuals planning for retirement
- Real estate developers and families with concentrated assets in low basis real estate
- Families spanning multiple generations
- Professionals in the legal, medical, and pharmaceutical industries
- Referrals from existing clients

• RSUs, Non-Quals, Incentive Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plan
• 10b5-1 Plans
• Liquidity Strategies
• Wealth Transfer and Gifting Strategies
• Tax-Efficient Strategies
• Hedging Techniques
• Alternative Investments
• Real Estate Investments
• Restricted and Control Securities Under Rule 144
As an Executive Financial Services Director at Morgan Stanley, I have the knowledge, experience and skills required to help you navigate the regulatory issues and tax complexities you face when accessing valuable assets within your corporate equity compensation plan. I believe the more complex your situation, the more rewarding your overall experience can ppotentially be.
Location
Portfolio Insights
Financial Wellness
- Reduce employee stress,
- Improve retention and engagement, and
- Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
1Morgan 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.
For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.
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 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.
5Morgan 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.
6When 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.
7Morgan 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.
8When 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.
9Morgan 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.
10When 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.
11Municipal bonds may not be appropriate for all investors. Income generated from an investment in a municipal bond is generally exempt from federal income taxes. Some income may be subject to state and local taxes and to the federal alternative minimum tax. Capital gains, if any, are subject to tax.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) and its Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide any tax/legal advice. Consult your own tax/legal advisor before making any tax or legal-related investment decisions.
12Fixed Income investing entails credit risks and interest rate risks. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
13Morgan 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.
14Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.
15Alternative 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.
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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.
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*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.
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