Nonqualified Deferred Compensation - Plan Consultant

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• Show 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.
• A 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.
• Prominent track record of networking and relationship building with internal partners and stakeholders including Financial Advisors.
• Proven proven ability to manage 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.