Morgan Stanley Adds Discretionary Capabilities to Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Advisory Services

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management today announced that it has expanded its defined contribution retirement plan advisory services offering to include a new discretionary investment program. The new program enables Morgan Stanley's Corporate Retirement Directors and Graystone Institutional Consulting Directors to assume certain fiduciary responsibilities assisting plan sponsors with complex investment selection and asset allocation decisions.

Morgan Stanley can assume responsibility for the discretionary selection and monitoring of investment options within a plan's investment lineup. In addition, plan sponsors may choose to utilize Morgan Stanley's strategic risk-based models or target date model portfolios to provide plan participants with important asset allocation tools.

The new target date models have been developed by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Global Investment Committee and feature three unique allocation solutions or “glide paths” that adjust the equity and fixed-income allocations as participants get closer to retirement.

According to Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer, Chair of the Global Investment Committee and Head of Research for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, “There's a need to recognize that one size doesn't fit all. Different plans have different circumstances, and that means a different complexion of risk for participants.”

Each of the three allocation options offer protection against different risks that participants are likely to face over time and during retirement. One option offers a greater hedge against longevity and shortfall risk, another option hedges against inflation risk and market risk and the third looks to strike a dynamic balance between inflation and longevity risks. These discretionary offerings help plan sponsors get the optimal value for the benefit dollars spent.

“As a leader in the corporate defined contribution marketplace, Morgan Stanley is committed to investing in the tools that innovate and expand our services. This is one of the many services that we are developing to help our clients achieve a successful retirement,” commented Marc Brookman, Head of Graystone Consulting and Institutional Consulting at Morgan Stanley.

Graystone Consulting, a business of Morgan Stanley, provides a complete range of investment consulting services to institutional clients, which include corporations, endowments and foundations, health care organizations, insurance entities, state and local governments, Taft-Hartley funds and family offices. Tailored investment advice is delivered by Institutional Consulting Directors, experienced investment professionals who are backed by a dedicated consulting team and the broad resources of Morgan Stanley. For further information, please visit www.morganstanley.com/graystoneconsulting.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, banking services, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services.

Morgan Stanley MS is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

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