Matt TenHaaf MS

06/04/2026

I was told this twice in the last week from prospective clients with over $500,000 in gains in a taxable brokerage account and answering clearly turned them into clients:

"I would love to work with your team, but I'm not sure I want to liquidate my portfolio and realize the capital gains to transfer my accounts over."

Transferring your investment portfolio between firms does not require liquidating your assets. Through the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS), your stocks, ETFs, and bonds are moved "in-kind", allowing your investments, cost basis, and holding periods to remain intact without triggering taxable events.

Here is how the in-kind transfer process actually works:

The Magic of "In-Kind" Transfers:
Instead of selling your assets into cash and buying them back, Morgan Stanley requests your current firm to move the actual shares. You maintain your exact market exposure and never realize capital gains or losses during the move.

The Timeline:
Transfers are typically completed within 3-5 business days. During this period, your assets are securely in transit and cannot be traded.

Once the assets are in, my team can get to work - taking into consideration the cost basis, holding period, and, of course, your specific investment goals.

06/02/2026

Whether you want to donate to charity or invest in a loved-one's future, consider these tax-smart ways to help make your giving go further.
https://livesocial.seismic.com/alwN4r

05/29/2026

Worried that a 529 plan isn't flexible enough? Here are 5 things you may not know about 529s (but should). Let's talk about how you can use these funds beyond college. https://livesocial.seismic.com/3SxL_ https://livesocial.seismic.com/ah4DW8

05/27/2026

My team is currently being asked the following questions:

- With markets at all-time highs, where should I invest my money?
- How does inflation impact my future spending?
- How would an economic slowdown affect my investments?

If you are seeking answers to any of these questions, please send me a message.

I can help you turn uncertainty into a strategy.

05/21/2026

Need help designing a new strategy or updating an old one you have lost confidence in?

My team can help you:

1) Understand your options
2) Protect what matters
3) Feel more in control

As Winston Churchill said: "Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning."

Let's turn your worries into a concrete plan.

05/20/2026

Bad investments are made in booms and exposed in busts.

In heady times, rather than say, "That's too good to be true," people are more likely to ask, "How can I get in on that?"

Good times lead to complacency, high risk tolerance, and carelessness. Bad times expose the results of carelessness as the investments that were entered into without investigation fail to hold up in a hostile environment. This happens time and time again - the market cycle.

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I oversee new business development on one of the largest teams in West Michigan. On a weekly basis, my team reviews statements of investors in the area. We are continually surprised at how much risk investors are taking and the extreme impact a market downturn would have on their portfolio and future plans.

We have availability for two introductions and reviews each week - if you would like to schedule a meeting, please send me a message!

05/15/2026

Your last decade in the workforce can help set you up for success when you're ready to retire. Discover the steps we can take together to help ensure your golden years are what you intend them to be. https://livesocial.seismic.com/aZknNq

05/14/2026

Are we in a bubble? What causes a bubble?

Investor sentiment: euphorbia, speculation, and herd behavior create bubbles (not just high prices).

A bubble has 2 phases.

1) Installation Phase:
Need foolish investments to build tech at a very fast pace
Creates a foundation for a prosperous future, but destroys wealth
FOMO for investors
Some money going to life-changing investment winners, but most being wiped out
Lottery Ticket Thinking

2) Deployment Phase:
Bubble has popped, a few companies emerge
Clearer path to investing
Companies go bankrupt, sold for pennies on dollar, new owners get profits when industry stabilizes, future business becomes profitable

It is almost impossible to say for certain whether or not we are in a bubble. That said, if your advisor has not been proactive in taking profits & rebalancing your portfolio in this market, it may be time to seek a change.

05/13/2026

"The best portfolio is not the one that looks the most impressive on a spreadsheet. It's the one that allows you to live your life without constantly worrying about it.

For me, this means more liquidity, fewer moving parts, and making sure my money is working for me.

Be honest with yourself and don't be afraid to make a change, even if it's getting rid of something that used to work but no longer does."

- Graham Stephan

Simplicity, Liquidity, and Active Management - If you are looking for these 3 themes for your investments, please do not hesitate to message me. My team may have what you need right now.

05/11/2026

While you're spring cleaning your home, consider ways to also tidy up your finances. These five tips can help.

morganstanley.com