Nonqualified Deferred Compensation - Plan Consultant

Organizational Overview:

Morgan Stanley 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, and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries. As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence, and strong team ethic. Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and prosper.

Morgan Stanley at Work is a division within Morgan Stanley Wealth Management comprised of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Solutions, Shareworks by Morgan Stanley Equity Compensation, and Financial Wellness. Our division offers in-depth knowledge and resources focused on providing a full range of solutions that help address various institutional and employee financial challenges and complexities. This business area is also where some of the biggest acquisitions internal to financial services are housed (ex: E*Trade, Solium) and hence, is a key growth area for the Firm.



 

The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation business supports corporate clients in designing, evaluating, and enhancing NQDC programs that help attract, retain, and reward key employees and executives. The team works across internal Morgan Stanley partners, institutional client relationships, Financial Advisors, plan administration teams, and other subject matter experts to deliver thoughtful, consultative guidance to plan sponsors.

Position Summary:
The NQDC Plan Consultant will serve as a strategic consulting resource for corporate clients and internal Morgan Stanley partners on matters related to nonqualified deferred compensation plan design, plan functionality, participant experience, governance, competitive positioning, funding considerations, and plan optimization.

This role is intended to be consultative and strategic in nature. Working with prospective and existing institutional clients to evaluate NQDC plan objectives, identify opportunities to enhance plan design and effectiveness, and deliver recommendations that align with client goals, market practices, executive benefit strategies, and operational feasibility.

The NQDC Plan Consultant will partner closely with sales, relationship management, implementation, administration, product, legal, compliance, and Financial Advisor teams to support the growth and effectiveness of Morgan Stanley at Work’s NQDC offering. This position will focus on plan consulting, solution development, technical expertise, strategic recommendations, and internal enablement.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as a senior NQDC plan consulting resource for institutional clients, prospects, and internal Morgan Stanley partners.
• Advise clients on NQDC plan design, plan features, eligibility, deferral and distribution structures, employer contribution strategies, vesting provisions, and governance considerations.
• Conduct strategic reviews of existing NQDC plans and identify opportunities for plan optimization.
• Partner with relationship management teams to support high-value client conversations related to NQDC plan design and enhancement.
• Translate complex NQDC concepts into clear, actionable recommendations for corporate decision-makers.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to evaluate operational, administrative, compliance, and participant experience considerations associated with plan recommendations.
• Develop client-facing presentations, plan review materials, design comparison summaries, and recommendation documents.
• Serve as an internal subject matter expert for Financial Advisors, sales teams, relationship managers, and other client-facing partners.
• Contribute to internal education and training related to NQDC plan consulting.
• Support development of thought leadership, sponsor education, and executive-facing materials.
• Work across Morgan Stanley at Work to connect NQDC solutions with broader workplace, equity compensation, financial wellness, and wealth management capabilities.
• Lead or support cross-functional projects related to NQDC product development, process improvement, and consulting model enhancements.
• Maintain a strong understanding of relevant NQDC regulatory, tax, operational, and market considerations.

Demonstrate strong ownership, accountability, and judgment in managing consulting engagements and internal deliverables.

Required Experience, Skills, and Qualifications:

• 5-7 years of relevant financial services industry or related experience with a focus on Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plans and COLI
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Consultative approach to working with institutional clients
• Strong COLI product knowledge
• Proven ability to communicate the economic, tax and financial benefits of various informal funding vehicles
• Strong track record of networking and relationship building with internal partners and stakeholders including Financial Advisors
• Strong project management skills
• Highly organized and able to work on multiple projects across functional groups
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite necessary; including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proactive nature, with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and entrepreneurial spirit
• Positive contributor to our team’s inclusive culture
• Insurance and Annuities licensing as well as FINRA licensing are required for this role

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

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New York only: Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $115,000 to $185,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs. 

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

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