Michael Eichner, CFP - Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley

01/05/2026

Mike's Monday Musings: Happy new year! With all the joy and chaos of the holiday season in the rear view, now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your finances and see if there's anything you want to focus on in the new year. Some people enjoy the process of budgeting/investing and others dread it, but whether you have help or not it's important to know that priorities, risks and objectives are constantly changing given all the moving pieces in life. Five of my top ideas to revisit include:
- Are my accounts titled properly? Do they have the right beneficiaries named?
- Are there any positions in my portfolio that have gotten larger than expected due to outsized gains? Would I buy that position again today if I owned none?
- Is there a year end bonus being paid out that isn't needed for my month-to-month cash flow? Where would the best place to place those funds for my short and long term goals?
- Is there a retirement plan, investment account, company stock or credit card I've neglected because it's not consolidated with my primary accounts? Am I being charged fees or paying subscriptions for something I'm not getting value out of?
- Lastly, do I have a defined review process for my finances with my significant other and/or advisor? Have I benchmarked my portfolio returns against an appropriate benchmark, whether that's a blended index or a financial planning goal?

morganstanley.com

09/23/2025

Mike's Monday Musings: In an effort to compete for the wallets of the wealthy, American Express recently unveiled a host of new perks for its Platinum Card® holders. In addition to enhanced Digital Entertainment and Uber credits, cardholders can also receive rebates at Resy-powered restaurants and Lululemon. These perks do come at a cost however, as the cost of the card increased 29% from $695 to $895 per year.

Morgan Stanley clients have access to a co-branded Platinum Card® and may be eligible to receive an annual engagement bonus equivalent to the cost of the card, if they leverage our Platinum CashPlus banking and brokerage account. For more information, check out the article below highlighting the card's adjustments or I'm happy to discuss further.

inc.com

09/15/2025

Mike's Monday Musings: While we will find out for sure at the FOMC meeting, the market is projecting a 96% probability of a decrease in the fed funds rate (according to CNBC) on Wednesday. This would be the first interest rate cut since December 2024. The article below details some items to think about with your personal finance but the area I am looking at most closely is high yield savings accounts.

While rates have come down off of highs, even after a potential cut Wednesday there is still an opportunity to earn a strong rate of FDIC-insured interest on excess cash held in a bank account. However, with each cut the question becomes whether products that have a higher yield at the expense of some liquidity make sense to consider in this environment - especially if no short-term goals for the funds.

cnbc.com

09/08/2025

Mike's Monday Musings: Recently, the question was posed to me... what is the difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner? I don't see much of a distinction, as both investment management and financial planning are vital to what we do on a day to day basis.

But this article expands on that premise, and gives you some key questions and thoughts on what type of financial advisor is right for you. Each firm and individual has a different communication style, value proposition and fee structure and it's important to understand the landscape as your needs may change.

wsj.com

08/25/2025

Mike's Monday Musings: It feels great to be back! After a discussion with a number of people in my network from friends to colleagues who appreciated the engagement, I am excited to bring back each week an idea, fact or thought from the world of personal finance. After almost 13 years at Morgan Stanley, I hope to bring real-life examples based on the clients I work with that may spark something in your portfolio.

I'll begin by announcing that for the third year in a row, I have been named to Morgan Stanley's prestigious Pacesetter's Club, an elite group of the Firm's Financial Advisors. I appreciate this recognition of my dedication in providing first-class service to my clients. There is nothing quite as gratifying as being able to make a tangible impact on a client's life, and I am so thankful to be in a profession that allows me to do so each day.

06/10/2024

Mike's Monday Musings: Today, at the beginning of year 12 on my work anniversary, I am very proud to announce that I have been named to Morgan Stanley's prestigious Pacesetter's Club for the second year in a row. I appreciate this recognition from the firm in delivering top tier client service and growth amongst an elite group of my peers. It's a honor to serve as trusted guidance for the individuals and families that have chosen to work with us, and I'm grateful for every conversation and introduction we've had.

Disclosure: https://mgstn.ly/48yHOEI

07/07/2023

I am very proud to announce that I have been named to Morgan Stanley’s prestigious Pacesetter's Club, a group of the Firm’s successful Financial Advisors. I appreciate this recognition of my dedication in providing a wide range of services to my clients. Thank you to everyone who has helped me grow as a Financial Advisor making this recognition possible!

Disclosure: https://mgstn.ly/3J3ywqw