The Zektzer Group at Morgan Stanley

06/02/2026

The inventor of the 4% rule offers advice on how retirees can preserve their capital.

morningstar.com

05/29/2026

Today is 5/29 ("529 Day")—a good reminder to revisit education savings.

A few practical 529 planning questions families often consider:
• What's the goal and timeline? (College, trade school, grad school—or even K–12 tuition in some cases.)1
• Are contributions aligned with your broader plan? Education savings is important, but it shouldn't come at the expense of emergency reserves or retirement priorities.
• Do you understand the "qualified expense" rules? 529 withdrawals are generally intended for qualified education expenses, and details matter.1,2
• Is the investment approach still appropriate? Many 529 savings plans offer different investment options, and it can help to confirm the risk level matches the time horizon.2
• Have you reviewed beneficiary and flexibility features? 529s are typically set up for a designated beneficiary, and families sometimes revisit how the account is titled and who it's intended to support.2

If education funding is on your family's radar this year, a quick check-in now can help you stay organized before deadlines and decisions pile up.

Web Search References: [1] Publication 970 (2025), Tax Benefits for Education - irs.gov/publications/p970
[2] 529 Plans | FINRA.org - finra.org/investors/.../529-plans

morganstanley.com

05/28/2026

Artificial intelligence and evolving market conditions continue to shape the opportunity set. Alternative investments may help diversify traditional portfolios and generate income, with potential to protect against inflation. Explore the themes.

morganstanley.com

05/20/2026

On May 20, we recognize World Bee Day—a UN-designated day created to highlight the vital role bees and other pollinators play in healthy ecosystems (and ultimately, our food systems).

One of my favorite "bee lessons" for investing is how a hive balances individual initiative + collective resilience. When a forager finds a strong food source, it shares the location with the colony through the famous waggle dance—communicating direction and distance so others can act on good information quickly.

That's a helpful parallel to wealth management:

• Good decisions compound when they're guided by clear signals (a plan, data, and discipline)—not noise.
• Diversification matters: bees don't rely on a single flower forever, and portfolios shouldn't rely on a single outcome either.
• Resilience is built over time—through consistent contributions, risk management, and adapting when conditions change.

Bees also remind us that small systems can have outsized impact: a large share of major crop species globally rely on pollinators.

Today, consider doing one small thing that supports pollinators—planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, or supporting local beekeepers. And if you'd like to talk about building a resilient financial plan designed to weather different "seasons," I'm always happy to connect.

05/05/2026

Changes that take effect this summer will reshape how students and parents borrow and repay their federal loans.

kiplinger.com

04/30/2026

Kevin Warsh, President's Trump's nominee for the next Fed Chair, testified in front of the Senate earlier this week. Our Global Head of Fixed Income Research Andrew Sheets presents key takeaways from the two-and-half-hour testimony.

morganstanley.com

04/28/2026

How your spouse handles an inherited IRA can shorten—or extend—your children's tax-deferred growth.

morningstar.com

04/23/2026

The war has rattled stocks and shaken expectations about the usual market "rules." Here's what investors can learn from the episode.

morganstanley.com

04/17/2026

Before you settle into that cushy lounge chair, skip the rookie moves that annoy other travelers and can even get you kicked out.

kiplinger.com

04/16/2026

The war has rattled stocks and shaken expectations about the usual market "rules." Here's what investors can learn from the episode.

morganstanley.com