This feature is designed to highlight trailblazing women who are shaping the wealth management industry with vision, integrity, and impact. Through this story, readers will gain insight into Roya Cole’s journey, leadership style, client philosophy, and her outlook on the future of wealth management.
Roya Cole serves as Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, and Portfolio Management Director with Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management division in Newport Beach, California. With over three decades of experience at the firm, Roya has built a distinguished career centered on integrity, client service, and a deep commitment to helping individuals and families plan for their financial futures. Her journey reflects resilience, dedication, and a lifelong focus on empowering clients through thoughtful financial guidance.
Early Journey & Inspiration
Roya, what first inspired you to pursue a career in wealth management, and how has your journey shaped the leader you are today?
I am afraid my joining the Wealth Management industry was a wonderful and welcome accident. I needed a job and was given the opportunity at my firm.
As Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, what personal values guide your approach to helping clients grow and preserve their wealth?
I am a firm believer in providing good service. There are a lot of different ways of managing clients’ assets, but where I feel I am unique, is that my clients are very much my family and their successful planning is my sincere goal.
Can you share a defining moment early in your career when you realized that financial advising was more than numbers, it was about empowering lives?
Absolutely, I worked as an assistant in the business and my manager one day said, you must take your exams to get your licenses and start a business on your own. I must say I was truly petrified, but he was adamant that I would be very successful. My success in life, is due to the people who believed in me and mentored me. My hope is to pay that blessing forward and continue to mentor other women in this industry.
How has your personal background or experiences influenced your mission to provide clients with clarity and confidence in their financial future?
Having lived and worked in many different countries, has allowed me to be more open and understanding of the differences in cultures around the world. This is a true blessing. I also believe that having worked as an assistant when I started helped me realize servicing customers properly, is incredibly important in our mission.
Leadership & Client Impact
You work with both individuals and businesses. How do you balance managing personal financial goals with larger, more complex corporate strategies?
At Morgan Stanley, we are blessed with an incredible array of resources that allows us to familiarize ourselves with strategies across a broad spectrum. To be frank, I wonder why Morgan Stanley is not a first choice for any financial advisor and or client.
Retirement and pension planning are often underestimated, how do you help clients see their long-term financial health as a priority?
PLANNING is the main duty of a financial advisor. The goal is to manage clients’ current financial needs and ultimately their future needs. This is a crucial aspect of our job.
What does “empowering clients” truly mean to you in the context of wealth management?
Providing them with the tools and services that allows them to feel confident that their futures as well as their loved one’s futures are in good hands.
In your view, what role does trust play in wealth advising, and how do you nurture that trust with every client?
Trust is the most important element of wealth management. Without trust between the client and advisor, nothing can be achieved. Trust provides clients with confidece in difficult years and joy in good years. Building trust, although it takes a very long time, can be the key to limitless success for an advisor.
What makes your advisory style unique compared to other leaders in the wealth management space?
Service, devotion, and sense of family are the keys to my success. I provide excellent service; I am devoted to my clients and I see them as my family.
Industry, Innovation & Women in Finance
Wealth management is undergoing rapid changes with digital tools and AI—how are you leveraging innovation while keeping the human touch?
Morgan Stanley is the greatest resource for me. They keep up with new technologies and help us limit the amount of time searching for what we need and providing the best results.
What are some of the biggest challenges clients face today in managing wealth, and how do you help them navigate those uncertainties?
The uncertainty of the markets is, indeed, the biggest challenge. I am often told; “well, you don’t have a crystal ball but …” their question is can you help me navigate difficult times. I let them know we do not need a crystal ball to do our jobs and that is why they work with me.
As one of the most empowering women in wealth management, what unique perspectives do women bring to this industry?
I believe most women have more compassion and are inherently loyal. This is an advantage in our industry.
What barriers have you faced as a woman leader in finance, and how have you turned them into strengths?
During my early years I was often shut down by the men in the room if I was providing an opinion that was new and uniquely mine. I learned to create a channel of communication that allowed me to express my thoughts without coming across as opinionated. When you take the time to understand who your audience is, you will win them by adjusting your approach.
What advice would you share with young women professionals aspiring to enter wealth management and advisory roles?
The best advice is what I was given; “You are not unique in the fact that you are a woman. What makes you unique is your style and your approach to others”.
Vision, Legacy & The Future of Wealth Management
What does being featured in The Most Empowering Women in Wealth Management – 2025 mean to you personally and professionally?
It means I have reached a long-awaited goal and an accolade in my industry. It will be a true honor for me to be featured and allow me to work as a mentor to other women to reach the same goal.
How do you define long-term success not just for your clients, but also for yourself as a leader in this industry?
My definition of success is being a positive force not only as a woman but as a leader to my peers.
Looking ahead, what key trends do you believe will define wealth management over the next 5–10 years?
Technology, Customer Service and Financial Planning. Being able to provide all aspect of Financial Services are the key trends right now and I see that continuing for the next 5 to 10 years.
What legacy do you hope to leave, both within Morgan Stanley and in the broader wealth management community? –
My legacy would be a community leader, devoted to my clients and charitable causes. I am extremely passionate about helping my community grow and thrive.
Finally, what message would you like to share with readers about taking control of their financial journey in 2025 and beyond?
Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks and believe in yourself. This will give you the power to grow and impact others’ journeys in their careers.
The Roya Cole Group at Morgan Stanley
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 500
Newport Beach, CA 92660
800-927-2292
advisor.morganstanley.com/roya.cole
Roya Cole is a Financial Advisor with the Wealth Management division of Morgan Stanley in Newport Beach, CA. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC [www.sipc.org]. Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor engage CIO Think to feature this profile in their magazine. Roya may only transact business in states where she is registered or excluded or exempted from registration (https://advisor.morganstanley.com/roya.cole). Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Roya is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a different type of relationship with different obligations to you. Please visit us at http://www.morganstanleyindividual.com or consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 4868734 10/25
