(The Schroeder Fain Group at Morgan Stanley, from left to right: Jacob A. Fain, Vice President/Financial Advisor; Jennifer Payer, Senior Registered Associate; Jay L. Fain, Vice President/Financial Advisor; Christine M. Schroeder Fain, Vice President/Financial Advisor; and Sarah K. Hall, Financial Advisor | Photo Courtesy of Photo courtesy of the Schroeder Fain Group at Morgan Stanley)
Two generations of an extended Bend-based family — including a female financial planning pioneer — are cementing a legacy of helping clients achieve long-term life goals through comprehensive wealth management guidance.
With their roots in the financial field stretching back over three decades, the Schroeder Fain Group at Morgan Stanley features Christine M. Schroeder Fain, Vice President/Financial Advisor; her husband, Jay L. Fain, Vice President/Financial Advisor; Jay’s son, Jacob A. Fain, Vice President/Financial Advisor; and Christine’s daughter, Sarah K. Hall, Financial Advisor. They are additionally supported by Senior Registered Associate Jennifer Payer who has been an integral part of the team for some 15 years.
Christine Schroeder-Fain was an innovator in the industry and actually became one of the first female full-service financial brokers after gaining her license in 1985.
Since landing in Central Oregon in 1979, she has been active in the community and has been nominated for CBN’s Women in Business Award and for Woman of the Year by the Bend Chamber of Commerce in 2015. In her professional capacity, she has focused on assisting high net worth women, women entrepreneurs, and women who have unique issues such as divorce, or loss of a loved one, as well as Family Trusts.
She said: “I came to the business with two kids aiming to raise the bar for women. I firmly believed in education for women, particularly as far as financial guidance goes, and that was really something I prioritized, and I am also a strong believer in general education for families that will pass on their wealth to future generations.”
She gives regular seminars in the community on financial matters such as retirement planning, asset allocation, and many other strategies.
Originally with securities firm Dean Witter, Schroeder-Fain met future husband Jay, an assistant branch manager of his office in Houston, following a chance encounter at a company conference in Chicago.
As Jay recounted: “There was one last seat left on the bus and it turned out to be next to Chris, and we hit it off right away.
“It later became a question of a move to Houston or Bend, which was a ‘no-brainer’, and I moved to Central Oregon in 1998, before we combined our businesses in 2002.”
For their respective children, the route to the family firm was a little more circuitous.
Jacob, who joined the team over eight years ago, said: “I actually first had a conversation about potentially joining the family business when I graduated college, but I initially developed a career with non-profits, including as a development director with Deschutes Children’s Foundation.
“I have operated in a similar sphere since switching gears and have assisted with a number of prominent non-profit clients whose portfolios we manage.
“We focus on a team approach, and I also like to stress the importance of the ‘three P’s’ — which stands for ‘People, Portfolio and Planning’. It is key to look at financial planning from a long-term perspective, including referencing back to the plan when things seem volatile in the shorter run.”
In the case of Sarah, she had worked with Jay and Chris while in college, and then went on to work a total of seven years in finance before opening the popular Vibe Dance Center in Bend which she ran for some 16 years before selling the studio in 2020.
She said: “I really like the blended focus we can bring to the table, being able to relate through a generational perspective, as well harboring a diversity of skills.
“We can help define and strive to meet goals by delivering a vast array of resources in the way that is most appropriate for how any particular client invests and what they want to achieve.
“In bringing together a variety of experience, a wealth management process and dedicated personal service we can help people meet life goals.”
Jay Fain added: “Our team really is a nice blend and can look at things from the perspective of different generations and communicate effectively with clients.
“I am proud to say that we have often worked with multiple generations of the same families including original clients, their children and grandchildren.
“As a group, our role is to help you use your wealth to achieve what is most important to you. That may mean providing an education to children and grandchildren, buying a vacation home, meeting the special needs of a family member, retiring ten years early — the list is endless and the decision is uniquely your own.”
As a testament to those principles in practice, the Schroeder Fain Group, which is licensed in 48 states, has clients from across the country, including a significant customer base in Florida, California and Texas.
The team recognized the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and are thankful that the tools of the digital age enabled them and their clients to continue to communicate effectively and weather the storm.
Jay Fain also referenced a regular quarterly newsletter the group has developed, adding: “One of the main reasons we decided to compose our own newsletter was to provide a look behind the curtain and share the thinking supporting our recommendations.
“In short your goals become our focus, and achieving them becomes a commitment that we share. We are a team ourselves built on family, legacy and loyalty and, at the core, one of our missions is managing your money so you can enjoy your life!”
About Morgan Stanley:
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
The Schroeder Fain Group is located at Morgan Stanley, 705 SW Bonnett Way, Suite 1200, Bend, Oregon 97702. Tel. (541) 389-1282. For more information, visit website: https://advisor.morganstanley.com/the-schroeder-fain-group.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third‐party corporate trustee.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
CRC#3675552 07/2021
