Financial Advisor, Sr. Vice President, Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley
Florham Park, N.J.
When she obtained a bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University, Rebecca E. Powell became the first in her family to graduate from college and a role model for her six siblings, all of whom went on to graduate from college as well. For this, Powell credits her grandmother, who, despite a third-grade education, stressed the importance of education while tempering Powell’s “tumultuous” years as a new immigrant from Jamaica. “It’s important to have role models with strong values in the home. I would not be the person I am today had I not had that foundation,” Powell affirms. “When your confidence is built at a young age, it carries you through difficult times in your life.”
Powell is fortunate to have support from her managers, who pushed her out of her comfort zone and challenged her to stretch beyond her perceived capabilities; her husband, who encouraged her to take risks; and her circle of “life sisters” who supported her through triumph and tribulations. Today, she is a certified financial planner, senior vice president, and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, where she provides tailored investment advice to corporate executives, high-net-worth families, and entrepreneurs so that they can face their financial future with anticipation rather than apprehension. “One of the things I love about what I do is working with clients and helping them find solutions that help them achieve their desired goals. It’s hugely rewarding.”
As someone who benefitted from mentors at different points in her career, Powell considers it her responsibility to educate and mentor young women. She serves on Morgan Stanley’s National Diversity & Inclusion Council and is a founding member of The Central New Jersey Complex Diversity and Inclusion Council, whose goal is to make a difference in the local markets by working with and supporting organizations advancing diverse talent.
