Long-time Dallas resident and trusted community leader Stephen Tosha has joined Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in the Wealth Management Group as a Financial Advisor to local foundations and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The hiring of Tosha, an openly gay and highly visible member of the Dallas LGBT community, reflects the global firm’s significant investment in North Texas to address the specific and unique financial planning needs of the gay people and same-sex families.
According to an analysis of 2010 Census figures by the Williams Institute at UCLA’s School of Law, Dallas has the highest percentage of same-sex households of any city in Texas. Same-sex couples account for 0.76 percent, or 67,413 households in Texas. In Dallas, the rate is double at 1.5 percent, or 6,876 same-sex households.
“I have always had a dream to work with people in my community, where we could all work together and enjoy an abundant and happy life. There are hurdles we must leap to safeguard things that are important to us. I understand the Texas and Federal laws and the extra steps required for many LGBT people … I walk them every day,” said Tosha.
Stephen Tosha’s financial advisor office is located at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, 5950 Berkshire Lane, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75225. He can be reached by email at Stephen.Tosha@mssb.com, phone 214-696-7182 or his website at http://www.morganstanley.com/fa/stephen.tosha
As a lover of the Dallas arts scene, and business and non-profit management educated, Stephen worked most recently as Executive Director of the renowned Turtle Creek Chorale, Dallas’ award-winning men’s chorus. Under his direction the Chorale moved from an eight-year budget deficit to a surplus fiscal model, increasing development funding by 850 per cent in his first year in the position.
Prior to his non-profit leadership at the Chorale, Stephen was employed by Verizon for more than 29 years where he retired in January 2009. His career is similar to a Cinderella story where he worked literally from an entry-level position at GTE to a senior telecommunications manager post at a Verizon solutions, products and services division.
“I’m excited about the work ahead in my community and at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. I’m a happy and successful gay man and I want to teach everyone in the LGBT community to do the same with a successful life plan and financial strategy,” said Tosha. He and his partner, Stephen Strecansky, and their dog, Dave, live in Dallas.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, a global leader in wealth management, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, credit and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services. For further information about Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, please visit www.morganstanleysmithbarney.com.
Investments and services offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, member SIPC.