Meet Morgan Stanley’s Youngest Black Advisers Bringing Diversity To Wealth Management

Wealth management is known for being notoriously dominated by white men with little diversity. As the conversation on workplace discrimination becomes louder, many are looking to create change from within their places of work. For these two business partners, their goal was to bring light to this subject through their work with the finance giant, Morgan Stanley, by becoming the youngest Black advisers in the company.

Isaac Richard III and Dominique Jordan have managed numerous clients on their team and look to change the perception people have when hiring financial advisers. “We’re a CFO for high net-worth families if you will. It’s a relationship-based practice helping clients protect and grow their assets while engaging all of their other professional relationships and strategic partners,” said Richard in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “When we begin working with a client we do so with the expectation of working with them for several decades. This allows us to help clients make educated decisions surrounding wealth that incorporates their families for generations to come.”

“With the lack of representation in the wealth management space, I almost ask myself do those members of that respective group even know we exist,” said Jordan in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.” Lastly, and most importantly, community education. The wealth inequality gap between Black and white households is too drastic, even to this day. So using the platform to educate our community through wealth management is paramount.”

Jordan advises those who look to enter the field not be discouraged and work to grow within the sector. “My advice is to know that you are valued beyond measure,” added Jordan.”Just being able to walk through the doors of a Wall Street firm as an African American presents that you hold professionalism and the ability to maintain many different weights on your shoulder. Use that to be confident and know you can handle anything and always ask questions. Pay your dues, but also be persistent and specific in your growth.