Vice President, Financial Planning Director (Southeast Region)

The Global Investment Office (GIO) is the investment and research hub within Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, comprising more than 250 analysts, strategists, and planners dedicated to supporting financial advisors and their clients. Led by the Wealth Management CIO, GIO develops the firm’s investment strategy by integrating financial planning, asset allocation, and portfolio construction insights. Serving as an extension of an advisor’s practice, GIO provides the tools, research, and intellectual capital to help advisors deepen client engagement, enhance investment performance, scale their businesses, and drive growth across all client segments.Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides holistic financial solutions to individuals, families and institutions. With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to excellence, our Financial Planning Directors empower Financial Advisors and clients to make confident decisions around life’s most complex financial questions. Position Summary The Financial Planning Director (FPD) partners with Financial Advisors to deliver a comprehensive and personalized planning experience for high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients. This strategic role provides expertise across advanced planning topics – including tax mitigation strategies, charitable giving, trust and estate planning, and equity compensation – elevating client engagement and enhancing outcomes. Key Responsibilities Partner with Financial Advisors to create personalized financial plans using both cash-flow and goals-based planning tools offered by third-party vendor, MoneyGuidePro®, and Morgan Stanley’s proprietary planning platform and modeling tools.Deliver advanced technical guidance in areas such as:Tax-efficient portfolio strategiesRetirement income distribution planningExecutive compensation and equity planningCharitable and philanthropic strategiesRisk management and insurance planningWealth transfer, trust, and estate planningLead client-facing planning conversations alongside Financial Advisors and Support Professionals, providing clarity on trade-offs, risks, and long-term implicationsServe as a planning subject matter expert and coach for Financial Advisors, elevating planning integration into the wealth management process and connecting Financial Advisors to relevant Firm resourcesContribute to meaningful planning outcomes including net acquired assets to the Firm, track planning engagement metrics, and monitor client follow-throughContribute to Financial Advisor development through workshops, CE-eligible sessions, and peer mentoring across the financial planning professional networkStay current on tax lax, estate regulations, product and strategy solutions, and market trends to ensure up-to-date advice delivery  What Makes This Role Unique Impactful Client Work: Work on complex, multigenerational wealth strategies that go beyond basic planning modelsHigh Advisor Engagement: Collaborate with some of the top Financial Advisors in the industry, supporting their most sophisticated client relationshipsTech-Enabled Planning: Leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver positive outcomes for clients and employees while accessing an ecosystem that integrates seamlessly with client dataProfessional Development: Participate in a robust peer network, continuing education support, and career pathway opportunities within the planning and advisor management tracksFirmwide Visibility: Contribute to a firm-level strategic initiative to embed planning in the core of wealth management – driving long-term firm growth  Qualifications Bachelor’s degree requiredCertified Financial Planner CFP® designation required5+ years of experience delivering financial plans or wealth strategies to high-net worth clientsStrong knowledge in tax and estate strategies, and insurance planningDemonstrated ability to collaborate with client-facing professionals and communicate planning concepts clearly and crediblyProficiency with financial planning platforms (Morgan Stanley proprietary tools, MoneyGuidePro®, or equivalent.)Current active Series 7 and 66 required for role**Candidates will be considered for the following locations:Charlotte, NCWashington, DCHiring Process Our hiring procedure is a multistep process that can take four to six weeks to complete. Successful candidates can expect multiple interviews and assessments. All offers of employment are contingent on a background check.WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY: At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years.  Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work. To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices​ into your browser.DC - Salary range for the position: 140,000 - 160,000 per year. The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award. The successful candidate may be eligible to participate in the relevant business unit’s incentive compensa