My Story and Services

I believe success in achieving important financial goals starts with a comprehensive wealth strategy. Through collaboration, we will be able to define what is most important to you, and from there lay out a road map that identifies where you are now, where you want to be in the future, and every step along the way that is needed to get there.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, I will help you create a financial plan that is tailored to your unique circumstances and future goals. Whether it is saving for retirement, buying a second home, or funding a child’s college education, the ability to organize and simplify your financial life is at the core of my practice. This, coupled with Morgan Stanley’s world-class tools and resources, allows me the ability to help find solutions to your most complex wealth management challenges.
Services Include
Securities Agent: NJ, WI, MI, IA, CO, VT, SC, ME, MA, IL, DE, CT, VA, TX, RI, FL, DC, OH, KS, NY, TN, HI, GA, MS, MN, PA, NH, MD, LA, CA; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2129872
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

About Me

As a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley, Zachary utilizes the vast resources of the firm to deliver comprehensive wealth management and responsive client service. Zachary understands difficult markets and tough economic times. Zachary helps his clients manage their investments and savings with strategies that aim to reduce volatility and focus on maintaining purchasing power in a tax efficient way.

He helps families, high net worth clients and business owners across the country create and manage their own personalized financial roadmap. His process aims to provide his clients the confidence of achieving and maintaining their financial goals with a concierge style service model.
Zachary began his career with Morgan Stanley in 2015 as a Summer Intern, He previously worked as a Wealth Advisory Associate where he worked closely with Financial Advisors by helping their client articulate their financial goals through a process of comprehensive financial planning and an implementation of a wide-range of digital tools.

Zachary earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business from Central State University (OH) where he played NCAA Division II Football for four years, he was the team’s captain and was named All Conference Tight End. He holds the Series 7 and Series 66 security licenses and holds the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, the industry's gold standard for knowledge, experience, and integrity. He enjoys golf, travel, and football.

THE PILLARS OF MY BUSINESS

The best relationships are built on trust, understanding, and shared values. Discipline and patience mold my investment philosophy and are critical to achieving your goals. To that end, I am committed to the following core values that serve as the foundation of my practice.
    Personalized Attention
    My dedication to building longstanding relationships with my clients and their families is paramount to my service. By choosing to work with a select group of individuals, families, and businesses, I am able to commit the time, energy, and personalized attention that I believe each client deserves. It is only through a strong relationship built upon a foundation of trust that I can effectively help guide you through your financial life.
    Multi-Generational Planning
    I believe, at its core, that wealth planning should take into account not just one person, but everyone that my clients care for and want to help be financially secure and successful. I take a tremendous amount of pride in my ability to help clients manage their finances in a way that benefits multiple generations of their family.
    Comprehensive Wealth Management
    Often in wealth management, much of the attention is placed on asset growth. While important, I believe that focusing on both sides of a client’s balance sheet is the only way to truly manage wealth. I do this by committing to strategies that incorporate risk management when investing assets, and controlling debt so that it does not hinder clients’ ability to reach their goals.
    Guidance Through Collaboration
    While my experience can help you plan for the future, it is important that I know where you want to go financially, or if your plans change along the way. My clients rely on my advice concerning decisions large and small. From passing on wealth to the next generation, to planning for a child’s education, to buying a new car, life circumstances can change, but that doesn’t mean the success of your financial plan should. For this reason, I rely heavily on collaboration with my clients so that I can be as effective as possible in guiding them to where they want to go.

OUR THREE-STEP PROCESS

Our wealth management approach focuses on you, your family, and your career - where you are today and where you want to go. Working together, we develop the strategies to help get you there, navigating life's challenges and helping you make more informed decisions about your wealth.
1. Introductory Meeting
We begin with an initial conversation to understand your financial concerns and determine how we can add value.

We continue the dialogue by fostering an in-depth conversation where we learn about the values that shape your decisions and identify any unique circumstances.

We also review the documents you've prepared and define your priorities. If we all agree to move forward, we'll schedule the planning consultation and request important financial information.
2. Financial Planning Consultation
Here, we utilize proprietary financial planning tools to develop a personalized and detailed plan with recommendations to help you grow and preserve your wealth.

In this step, we also present appropriate strategies that are designed to work together to achieve your financial goals and objectives.
3. implementation & Monitor Over Time
Upon your approval, we open new accounts for your at Morgan Stanley and initiate our investment recommendations.

We'll also begin to implement other strategies we've discussed. These often entail tax minimization strategies, as well as risk management and estate planning techniques.

After implementation, constant monitoring is needed to ensure success over time. I meet regularly with my clients in order to update them on their performance, and for them to update me on any changes in their life that may require an adjustment to their plan.

Location

112 Worcester Street
Wellesley, MA 02481
US
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
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

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
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

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?
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Are You Prepared for Tax Day?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.

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
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

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 
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Zachary Thomas today.
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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

1Morgan 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

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2Morgan 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.

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3Morgan 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.

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4Alternative 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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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.

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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.

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7Morgan 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.

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8The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) aware investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because ESG criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.

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9Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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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.

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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.

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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)