The Song-Pegg Group

08/31/2026

Private markets are an increasingly vital part of the financial ecosystem, but they've long been out of reach for many individual investors. At Morgan Stanley, we've been focused on thoughtfully expanding access—helping eligible clients incorporate private investments in a way that's aligned with their goals and overall portfolio construction.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Private Markets and Alternatives Fund (PMAX) portfolios offer exposure to private equity, private credit and real assets, with asset allocation guided by Morgan Stanley's Global Investment Committee. The portfolios are now available to a broader range of investors, with lower investment minimums.

Investments in private markets involve a high degree of risk. Read the full news release, including important disclosures about liquidity, valuation and risks:
https://livesocial.seismic.com/avaU5n

08/19/2026

Business owners: Whether your exit is 10 years away or right around the corner, the time to plan is now.

Join The Song-Pegg Group at Morgan Stanley for our Beyond The Portfolio Financial Planning Series, where we'll discuss key considerations for selling, merging, or transitioning ownership of your business.

This session is designed for business owners at any stage who want to think strategically about the next chapter — for their business and for themselves. https://livesocial.seismic.com/awDZZJ

08/12/2026

Are you nearing retirement? Here's a conversation I've been having more often.

A client recently came in and said something I hear frequently: "I think I'm ready to retire… but I'm worried there's something I'm not thinking about."

On paper, they had done many things right. They saved consistently, had retirement accounts, and had a general idea of when they wanted to stop working. But as we started talking through the details, it became clear that retirement readiness is about much more than just having a number in an account.

We talked about questions like:

When should they claim Social Security?
How much income would they actually need each month?
What would health care costs look like before and during Medicare?
Should they stay in their current home or consider downsizing?
How would market volatility affect their income once they begin taking withdrawals?
What lifestyle choices mattered most to them in this next chapter?
One of the biggest mistakes I see is assuming retirement planning is only about investments. It's not.

morganstanley.com

08/11/2026

Divided government is the base case, and markets may benefit as post-election policy uncertainty fades.

brightcove.net

08/07/2026

I turned 43 this year, and I'll be honest — the idea of being "financially fit at 40" hits differently when you've actually lived that decade.

At 40, I remember thinking about how much life had already happened — career changes, family responsibilities, competing priorities, and the constant feeling that there is always something else pulling on your time, energy, or money. Even working in this industry, I know how easy it is to put your own financial wellness on the back burner while you're busy taking care of everyone and everything else.

What I've learned — both personally and through the clients I work with — is that being financially fit at 40 does not mean having everything perfectly figured out.

It means being willing to take an honest look at where you are.

It means creating habits that support where you want to go.

And most importantly, it means knowing that it is not too late to make meaningful progress if you put the right activities in place.

For many people in their 40s, this is the decade where things start to feel very real: retirement no longer feels far away, college planning may be in full swing, aging parents may need support, careers may be changing, and life can look very different than you expected it to look at 30.

When I talk with clients about getting financially fit in this stage of life, we focus on practical steps, including:

Understanding where your money is actually going
Building or refreshing a realistic budget
Reviewing retirement savings and contribution levels
Creating a plan to manage debt
Making sure insurance coverage still fits your life
Updating beneficiaries and estate planning documents
Rebalancing investments so they remain aligned with your goals
Identifying the gaps — and building a plan to address them
The biggest message I want people to hear is this: if you feel behind, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, you are not alone. And you are not out of time.

Small, consistent decisions can create real momentum.

I'm sharing this podcast because it speaks to an important conversation: what it means to become financially fit around 40 and how to start taking control of your financial picture with more intention.

If this resonates with you, I'd be happy to talk through where you are today and what steps may help you feel more confident about what comes next.

Cara Heiser

morganstanley.com

07/30/2026

Divorce can bring major life changes — emotionally, personally, and financially.

In the podcast I'm sharing, Victoria is recently divorced and managing her own money again for the first time in a while. Her story is one I see often in my work with clients: one spouse may have handled most of the financial decisions during the marriage, and then suddenly the other spouse is expected to understand accounts, budgets, investments, insurance, retirement planning, and long-term financial decisions — all during an already difficult transition.

What stands out to me is that this is not about capability. It's about access, experience, confidence, and having the right support system.

Our team focuses on helping clients who are going through divorce — particularly those who may not have been the primary financial decision-maker in the household. We help bring organization, education, and structure to the process so clients can better understand where they stand and what decisions may be ahead.

When we work with clients in this situation, we often help them:

Organize financial documents and accounts
Understand income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and liquidity needs
Review investment and retirement accounts
Coordinate with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals
Evaluate different financial scenarios
Build a plan for life after divorce
Divorce is not just a legal event — it is often a financial reset. And no one should have to navigate that reset alone.

If Victoria's story resonates with you or someone you care about, I hope you'll take a listen. And if you need guidance during a similar transition, our team is here to help.

morganstanley.com

07/28/2026

Each month, I host financial planning seminars designed to help clients, families, and business owners feel more informed and confident about the decisions in front of them.

I'd love to hear from you: What financial topics are you most interested in learning more about?

Even if you can't join us live for a seminar, your feedback helps me understand what questions are top of mind and what would be most helpful to cover in future conversations.

Some of the topics we've discussed or are considering include:

Making the most of IRAs and retirement accounts
Understanding your "retirement number" and how much you may need to save
Financial planning for business owners
How to begin creating a business succession plan
Medicare planning
Social Security decisions
Financial planning through divorce
Managing finances after the loss of a spouse
Cash flow, budgeting, and building better financial habits
Estate planning basics
Helping adult children or aging parents with financial decisions
These conversations often start with one simple question: "What should I be thinking about that I may not be thinking about yet?"

So I'm asking you — which of these topics would be most valuable to you? Or is there another financial planning topic you wish more people were talking about?

Feel free to comment below or message me directly. I'd love to incorporate your ideas into upcoming seminars.

07/28/2026

Lately, I've found myself having more conversations with clients who are navigating life after losing a spouse — and one theme comes up again and again: "I never handled this part before."

In many cases, one spouse managed the investments, paid the bills, coordinated with advisors, or kept track of the overall financial picture. Then, suddenly, the surviving spouse is grieving while also being asked to make important financial decisions, locate documents, understand accounts, and plan for what comes next.

I recently sat with someone who described feeling overwhelmed not because they were incapable, but because they had never been the one responsible for managing the full financial picture. That distinction matters. With the right guidance, patience, and process, confidence can be rebuilt one step at a time.

This is something I'm seeing more often with aging clients, but it's important to remember: this can happen to anyone, at any age.

When we work with someone during this transition, our process is centered on helping them slow things down, get organized, and understand their options. We typically help clients:

Gather and review key financial documents, accounts, insurance policies, annuities, and estate planning materials
Understand immediate cash flow needs and upcoming expenses
Coordinate with attorneys, accountants, executors, and other professionals as appropriate
Review survivor benefits, beneficiary designations, and account titling
Create a clear picture of assets, liabilities, income, and goals
Build a plan for the next chapter — at a pace that feels manageable
Most importantly, we try to create a space where clients feel supported, informed, and not alone.

I'm sharing this article because it offers helpful perspective for anyone who may be taking control of their finances after losing a spouse — or for anyone who wants to be better prepared before that day comes.

If this resonates with you or someone you care about, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to help.

morganstanley.com

07/20/2026

A wonderful evening at 28 Mile in Highwood celebrating the clients and partners who mean so much to our team.

Each year, we look forward to hosting events like this as a way to say thank you — not only for the trust our clients place in us, but also for the relationships we are fortunate to build along the way. Spending time together outside of the office, catching up, sharing laughs, and enjoying a little fun is truly one of the best parts of what we do.

This year's event featured dueling pianos, a beautiful atmosphere, and great company. We are so grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a memorable one.

Thank you to our clients and partners for your continued trust, support, and partnership. We appreciate you more than we can say.