Christopher Eckert, CFP Senior Vice President Wealth Management Senior Portfolio Manager Financial Advisor Helping You Through Your Most Important Transitions
320 Post Road West Westport, Connecticut 06880 203-222-4057 / Main 866-740-7841 / Toll-Free 203-222-4042 / fax www.morganstanley.com/fa/christopher.eckert christopher.eckert@mssb.com
New Life Stages Demand New Strategies Marriage, divorce, retirement these are but a few of the major life transitions that compel people to examine their lives and seek the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable Financial Advisor. They know they should do something to prepare for these life events, but often, they re simply not sure what that something is. I ve spent my career helping clients plan for and navigate through life events and financial transitions. Whether they re changing jobs, selling their business or wondering whether to exercise their employee stock options, they know that I will work tirelessly with them and their other advisors to develop strategies that fit in the context of their overall finances strategies that can help them reach their objectives without sacrificing others. Christopher Eckert, CFP 3
My Background Christopher Eckert, CFP Senior Vice President Wealth Management Senior Portfolio Manager Financial Advisor Over my more than 30 years in the financial services industry, I ve come to realize that life events and financial transitions represent the greatest opportunities and challenges for my clients. The right decisions can accelerate your progress toward financial security, while the wrong ones can exacerbate what may already be a difficult time in your life. I started my career as a traditional stockbroker but upon joining a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney predecessor firm in 1983, I realized that if I were to truly provide my clients with the services they need and deserve, I should be able to offer them discretionary investment management and comprehensive wealth management. In 1995, I earned Portfolio Manager credentials that enabled me to relieve my clients of day-to-day investment decisions they did not wish to make. In 2005, I received the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation and two years later, I earned credentials as a Certified Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS). My commitment to continued professional development parallels my commitment to the future well being of my clients. They know they can depend on me for caring, thoughtful advice that is always given with their needs in mind and helps them address their most daunting challenges. A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a BS in Business Administration, I currently live in Fairfield, CT with my wife Lynn, our two sons Ryan and Cooper, and our daughter Campbell. In my spare time, I enjoy golf, skiing, travel and most importantly, spending time watching and being a part of my children s weekend sports and activities. christopher.eckert@mssb.com 203-222-4057 Christopher eckert, CFp 5
Developing Your Wealth Management Strategy I take a sensible, straightforward approach to structuring your wealth management strategy and investment portfolio that involves the following steps: Customized Assessment Before I issue any recommendations, I take the time to get to know who you are as a person, as well as an investor. Not only will I ask you to provide your statements, tax returns and other financial documents, but I will also ask you about your values, priorities, what you truly want your wealth to accomplish and what you fear might be standing in your way. These conversations are ongoing and will help us develop a strategy that truly reflects your unique goals, attitudes and circumstances. Strategy Development I analyze your input and develop a comprehensive plan to take advantage of your strengths, mitigate dangers that might impede your progress and position you for potential opportunities. Your plan encompasses a variety of financial disciplines and contains a customized asset allocation that reflects your needs, goals and risk tolerance. Implementation I work closely with you to bring your plan to life. This may involve working closely with your attorney, accountant and experts from around the firm to address estate planning, debt management and other specialized issues. It will also involve the formulation of an investment strategy to implement the allocation we developed. That strategy will almost certainly include in-house or third party discretionary management programs that meet your allocation requirements and relieve you of dayto-day investment decisions. Discretionary Investment Management As a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Portfolio Manager, I offer several managed portfolios that are designed to capitalize on trends in the marketplace and participate in securities or sectors appearing to be undervalued. These portfolios may consist of individual securities, mutual funds or exchange-traded funds. Often, I will suggest an allocation that includes several of these investments, as well as alternative investments and third party management programs focused on investment categories that might add value to your portfolio. Monitoring and Reporting As you would expect, I believe that ongoing communication is a vital component of our business. Even after you complete your transition, I will strive to keep abreast of your changing financial needs and provide viable strategies to help meet them. This means ongoing monitoring of your portfolio to make certain your assets are positioned to help meet your changing circumstances, as well as fluctuating market conditions. If necessary, I will recommend adjustments to your strategy. 6 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Strategies for Life s Most Important Goals With an experienced professional and the right resources, reaching your most important goals can be less challenging and more rewarding. I am ready to help you with your goals, by combining my insight into your needs with the resources of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Setting a confident course Thorough, thoughtful planning planning that analyzes where you are as well as where you want to go is one of the most important steps in establishing a path to your goals. I will work with you to explore and define your objectives and needs, and then structure a plan that is uniquely your own. Shaping your retirement Whether you re entering your prime earning years or wondering if you can really afford to retire as planned, I can help you proceed with confidence to the future you envision for yourself. I will develop a strategy that integrates investing with your pension, 401(k) or other plan to which you may be a participant. If you re self-employed, I ll help you determine whether your current plan is truly suitable for your needs. And when you change jobs, I ll provide you with the advice you need to help make an informed decision about any retirement plan distribution for which you are eligible. Educating new generations Helping to meet the education costs of children and grandchildren may be one of the most attractive and personally fulfilling investment opportunities available for you. As part of your plan, I will help estimate the future cost of education, provide a savings recommendation, and show the potential growth of various savings vehicles including 529 College Savings Plans and custodial accounts. Protecting your wealth Insurance can play a critical role in virtually any comprehensive financial strategy, helping you to protect the value of your assets, protect your income and your family s financial security even perform important functions in a business succession or estate plan. I can help you analyze your current insurance portfolio and work to update your coverages to fulfill personal and strategic goals. Building a unique legacy Estate planning typically brings together all the dimensions of life: personal, family, financial and charitable. I will work with you to understand the connections between your life and legacy goals, work with your accountant and attorney to develop an integrated plan, and appropriately position and manage your portfolio. And if your plan involves one or multiple trusts, I can serve as your link to skilled, comprehensive fiduciary capabilities. 8 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney strives to offer clients the finest in financial thinking, products and execution to help them meet their individual needs and achieve their personal financial goals. When we work together, you ll benefit from personalized advice, objective guidance and dedication to your success as an investor. With access to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney s renowned global resources and investment opportunities, we can help you develop and maintain an optimal investment strategy. Our wealth management strategy will address key areas of your financial life beyond traditional investments and may incorporate diverse recommendations for building and protecting your wealth. 10 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney 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 contact us to understand these differences. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. This material was not intended or written to be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. 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. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect a loss. Portfolio Management is an advisory program in which the client s Financial Advisor invests the client s assets on a discretionary basis in a wide range of securities. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. This material was not intended or written to be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. Individuals are urged to consult their tax or legal advisors to understand the tax and related consequences of any actions or investments described herein. 2011 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. 6645903 06/11