Elizabeth Peterson, CFP, Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley

08/18/2026

Second quarter earnings results have helped drive the US equity market to all-time highs recently. Will the forces behind those earnings continue?

brightcove.net

08/14/2026

Today, Aug 14, is National Financial Awareness Day!

So here's something I don't share very often. When I started my 401(k) in 1997, at age 22, I had $0 invested. Today, I've personally (excludes spouse/partner) saved and invested more than $1.2 million.

And here's the part I hope encourages someone: I didn't get there because I spent my career earning a big income. I didn't. I started. I kept saving. I kept investing. And I kept going—even when life didn't exactly cooperate.

You don't have to be wealthy to build financial stability. And you certainly don't have to understand everything about investing before you begin.

Start with what you have. Learn as you go. Increase it when you can. And if you don't know where to begin, find someone you trust who can stand beside you, encourage you and answer your questions.

I'm a financial advisor today, but I was a 22-year-old starting with $0 once, too.

So on National Financial Awareness Day, I'll happily be the cheerleader saying:

You can do this. Just start. Awareness is the beginning. Action is what changes things.

07/08/2026

My clients have grown. It was time for me to grow with them.

After more than 30 years in banking and wealth management—and 20 years after earning my CFP®—I realized many of the families I serve had reached a new level of financial complexity. Executive equity compensation, business transitions, multigenerational wealth, and family dynamics often require planning beyond what I learned two decades ago.

That realization led me back to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business to earn the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation.

The journey required balancing eleven areas of study while running a business, serving clients, and making family sacrifices. It meant late nights, missed weekends, and even bringing study materials on vacation. I'm grateful to have earned the designation on my first attempt.

Returning to Chicago alongside Morgan Stanley colleagues (friends!) who share the same passion for lifelong learning was incredibly energizing. It reminded me that the best advisors never stop investing in themselves so they can better serve others.

One of my biggest takeaways wasn't technical at all. It was a deeper appreciation for the role that behavior, family dynamics, and communication play in helping families make thoughtful financial decisions across generations.

To my husband, thank you for your patience, encouragement, and understanding throughout this journey. Your support made this milestone possible.

This designation isn't about adding four more letters after my name. It's about honoring the trust my clients place in me every day and continuing to become the advisor my clients deserve.

The day we stop learning is the day we stop becoming the people our clients deserve. I'm not ready for that day.

06/12/2026

Wrapped up a special week at the 2026 Morgan Stanley APIC Conference at The Grand America in Salt Lake City.

As a member of the APIC Board and Chair of the Membership Committee, I had the opportunity to welcome many new members while reconnecting with colleagues and leaders from across the country. One of the greatest benefits of APIC is learning from advisors with different experiences and perspectives so we can bring the best ideas and resources back to our clients.

A personal highlight was hearing General James Mattis speak about leadership, preparation, and lifelong learning. As the daughter of a U.S. Air Force pilot who grew up on military bases, his remarks resonated with me more than I expected.

I was also proud to help coordinate and host a session on The Brain Advantage; importance of five pillars of health to reduce and slow cognitive decline. Conversations like these remind me that great financial planning is about much more than investments.

One idea I'm bringing home is the value of providing thoughtful questions before meetings. Better preparation often leads to deeper conversations, clearer priorities, and better planning.

Grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and bring new ideas back to the families, business owners, and investors I serve. Email if you'd like to discuss [email protected]

04/10/2026

Morgan Stanley's Portfolio Risk Platform helps us understand risks, hypothetically stress test your portfolio, and see how potential changes will impact the risk you're taking. Let's connect and discuss if it's time for a portfolio review and risk report. https://livesocial.seismic.com/r2MW3

01/22/2026

Explore the trends and opportunities shaping alternative investments with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's new video series, "The Alts Report." In this episode, hear from Jed Finn, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, as they explore the changing landscape of private markets, the innovative vehicles that are expanding access and what the rapid innovation can mean for investors. See the full video: https://livesocial.seismic.com/98DYq

01/09/2026

How may the One Big Beautiful Bill Act impact your 2026 financial plan? Join Morgan Stanley Wealth Management on Tuesday, January 20 for insights into what it could mean for the tax and financial planning landscape. Register here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/a6Q6Tz

07/08/2025

Cryptocurrency scams are becoming more sophisticated by the day. Discover strategies to identify common scams and safeguard your assets. https://livesocial.seismic.com/a3eKhB

06/24/2025

Big personal + professional milestone:
I'm proud to share that I've officially earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation!

This wasn't just another credential - it was a goal I've had since 2011. After 220 hours of study through the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (January to May), I sat for the exam and passed on my first attempt.

There were definitely moments I wondered if I had signed up for some kind of self-inflicted academic bootcamp - because the content was intense. But I kept pushing, driven by my desire to be among the most experienced and educated advisors in the market.

What helped? An incredible study group of four other smart, driven women advisors. I pulled us together, but they committed 100% and kept me going. I'm deeply grateful for the support (and caffeine!) that helped make this happen.

Now that it's done, I'm proud and relieved. And I'm excited to apply what I've learned- especially nuanced knowledge around manager performance and how to make economic insight feel clear for my clients.



Advisor

06/17/2025

Wrapped up a great week at the 2025 Morgan Stanley APIC Conference in Palm Beach, Florida! Those of us whom are members of the financial advisor only group known as Association of Professional Investment Consultants strive to achieve designations specific to our field to improve clients' financial outcomes. As peers we collaborate on fresh ideas as well as share learning.

We kicked things off with a dinner alongside our valued partners from NY home office and other Washington State advisors. My second photo was taken with advisors from TX, NJ, and NC during time allotted for impactful conversations and connecting, which we call SocialNetwork.

While I didn't take the stage this year, I was proud to continue serving on the APIC board and helped shape one of this conference's offerings on marketing in a compliant and client-centric way.

Grateful for this community and the continued opportunity to learn from and growth with such dedicated professionals.
Advisors Growth