For two decades, James Lee has guided professionals, founders, and multigenerational families across the D.C. metro through markets that reward patience and punish noise. This is planning that compounds.
James builds plans around the life you actually want — not the headlines of the week. Every recommendation is grounded in Morgan Stanley's global research and stress-tested against the realities of your balance sheet.
Most portfolios fail not because of poor investments, but because of poor behavior under pressure. James structures accounts to absorb volatility, manage taxes deliberately, and keep you committed to the plan when discipline matters most. The result is a calmer relationship with your money — and a clearer line from where you are to where you intend to be.
Advice aligned to your interests, with fee structures disclosed upfront and reviewed annually.
The families I work with don't want noise. They want a plan that holds up — and an advisor who picks up the phone.— James Lee, Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley
Engagements are scoped to your complexity. Indicative starting fees are shown below — final terms are confirmed in writing after our initial consultation.
Actively managed investment portfolios built from Morgan Stanley's global research platform, aligned to your risk tolerance, time horizon, and tax situation. Quarterly rebalancing and ongoing due diligence included.
Sequencing withdrawals across taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts to minimize lifetime taxes and sustain cash flow through a 30+ year retirement. Includes Social Security optimization and Roth conversion ladders.
For executives at Lockheed, Marriott, and D.C.-area tech firms — RSU vesting schedules, ISO/NSO timing, 83(b) elections, and concentrated position risk management. Coordinated alongside your CPA and estate attorney.
Multi-state 529 plan selection, grandparent contribution strategies, and FAFSA-aware funding paths for families with students heading to Maryland, Georgetown, or out-of-state institutions.
Term and permanent life insurance needs analysis, LTC funding strategies, and annuity evaluation — sold only when the math genuinely supports your situation, never on commission incentive.
Trust structure review, beneficiary coordination across accounts, gifting strategies, and charitable planning. Worked in concert with your estate attorney to keep documents aligned with your current balance sheet.
The differentiators aren't slogans — they're patterns that show up in the work, week after week, year after year.
Call before 3pm and you'll hear back the same business day. No call centers, no ticket queues.
Morgan Stanley's institutional research, filtered through two decades of D.C. metro client reality.
Every dollar of cost disclosed in writing — advisory, custodial, and fund-level — reviewed at every annual meeting.
Whether you retire to Annapolis, Asheville, or abroad, your plan is built to flex across jurisdictions.
The first meeting is a 30-minute discovery call — no cost, no obligation. We'll discuss your situation, your timeline, and whether the fit makes sense on both sides. If it does, we'll outline next steps before any engagement begins.