February 2021 by Lucas Scott
The absolute worst customer experience I've ever had – unresponsive, uninformed, and completely lost.I have an annuity supposedly serviced at Morgan Stanley, the downtown Milwaukee branch. But after the sale of such a product, it seems no one wants to help with any common requests. Perhaps once the big commission is paid on the initial sale, no one wants to help because there's nothing in it for them.In 2020, after financial firms deleted IRA RMDs due to the Coved-19 pandemic, I contacted the rep and stated that I would like the 2020 RMD payment to take place. A simple request.After nearly 3 WEEKS of unresponsiveness and lack of movement on this request, I phoned the parent company, Equitable, and it was initiated that day.I won't name the specific financial advisor but I was shocked at how incapable and uninformed he was. I have dozens of back and forth emails about the simple request. "Oh, let me see if I can find the forms." "Oh, I have a call into Equitable and am waiting for them to get back to me." "Oh, the RMDs didn't happen this year because of Covid-19." On and on for nearly 3 weeks. When I could've used the funds months ago.Thanks for nothing Morgan Stanley. I'd recommend avoiding doing ANY type of investment work with this firm. And they charge you way too much for doing basically nothing.Do your homework. Financial advisor firms have NEVER beaten ETF funds over time. Especially when you factor in the 1.25% or MORE they swipe from your account for doing essentially nothing. Think about it, has your financial advisor ever once saved you from a dip or correction? Get out and go to Vanguard or Betterment and save the 1.25% or more for yourself. Watch "The Retirement Gamble" documentary on PBS and listen to John Vogel break down how much of a rip-off investment firms like this really are.
