Kurka

Michael J. Kurka/007 formally joined the Moors & Cabot business family in October 2017.  His career in financial services began in 1993 when he accepted a position as a Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch & Co. in Alexandria, Virginia. After seven years of tremendous success, he was offered a position to forego working with clients and to instead join the ranks of Merrill’s managerial team. Though flattered by the offer, he wanted to continue to work for and to serve individual client needs, which led him to instead accept a position as a Financial Advisor in the Alexandria, Virginia office of Smith Barney (then owned by Citigroup). In June 2009, Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley merged, which eventually became Morgan Stanley Inc. Michael rose to the position of Senior Vice President-Wealth Management. His team was #1 ranked at the firm in all of Virginia in 2015. He also represented over 175 Virginia financial advisors as the founding representative on a newly implemented Advisory Council to senior Morgan Stanley management from 2013-2015. 

 

Mr. Kurka is licensed and registered in 35 states to enact security transactions. Additionally, he holds insurance licenses in many of the same states in which he is registered for securities, has completed the Series 31 Managed Futures examination, has a financial planning specialist award from Smith Barney issued in 2004, and is an Investment Advisor Representative.

 

Michael’s team takes a holistic, planning-based approach to wealth management. The team distinguishes itself from its peers by implementing a customized approach toward helping clients to solve problems while accomplishing financial goals versus the “boiler-plate, assembly-line” method used by many within the profession. Their area of focus and specialization include:

 

• Financial Planning(Estate; Retirement; College; Income Tax; etc.)

• Retirement Income Asset Management and Strategies

• Small business cash flow and retirement needs

• Active duty and retired military financial area of focus

• Asset and liability(lines of credit; other lending) management focus

• Corporate Executive services

• Insurance, Long Term Care, and Annuity solutions

• Individually – managed stock and bond portfolios(some exposure to separately managed accounts as well)

 

Michael graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and then went on to serve as an unrestricted line officer for nearly six years. His Naval tenure including a six month NATO-based mission throughout the North Sea and other operational areas of the North Atlantic while serving onboard a guided-missile frigate. His more noteworthy assignment occurred while serving on the guided-missile destroyer, USS Macdonough DDG-39. During his time onboard, then-Lieutenant Kurka served in the Arabian Gulf in theatre for six months in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He now resides in Alexandria, VA with his beautiful wife of 16 years, Stephanie, along with their two sons, Cameron and Preston.  Michael played on the Navy Basketball team for two and a half seasons with former NBA MVP and two-time “Dream Team” player David Robinson. He still actively plays basketball, and has coached both sons in a Fairfax County Youth Basketball League. From time spent with his father as a youth, he enjoys ALL activities that are 007 related, and anything/everything that has a James Bond connection. The family also enjoys skiing, golf, running, swimming, riding roller coasters, and reading. They are active members both in attendance and in leadership positions within the Bush Hill Presbyterian Church. He is also a 45-year member of the U.S. American Legion/Sons of the American Legion.