Experience

Makes all the difference

Michael Brennan

Senior Vice President–Wealth Management

Financial Advisor

Professional Profile

Michael believes that for ultra-high-net-worth households, taxes represent the largest ongoing drag on long-term wealth accumulation. As the leader of the MB Group at UBS and a Senior Vice President with over two decades of experience, he has built his practice around this core conviction.

As a result, his team's investment and financial planning process evaluates every decision not just for its return potential, but for its structural tax efficiency. By weaving advanced tax-minimization strategies throughout the portfolio construction process, Michael's ultimate objective is simple: maximizing his clients' net after-tax wealth.

Michael’s clientele consists of a distinct group of high-achieving professionals: corporate executives, business owners, early-stage employees of successful private companies, and families managing multigenerational wealth. Having earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2008, he provides the technical framework required to navigate the intersections of taxes, life and long-term care insurance, tax-efficient wealth transfer, charitable giving, creative lending solutions, and retirement income planning.

Over the course of his career, Michael has advised corporate leaders through the intricate lifecycles of stock-based compensation:

Executive Compensation: Managing the complexities of RSUs, ISOs, NQSOs, and PSUs.
Liquidity Events: Guiding clients through pre-IPO positioning, post-IPO lock-up periods, large block trades, and open trading windows.
Regulatory Navigation: Assisting corporate and Section 16 insiders with the implementation of 10b5-1 plans while strictly adhering to material, non-public information (MNPI) constraints.

Concentrated stock positions often present one of the most complex challenges a wealthy family can face. Significant unrealized gains, emotional biases, and immediate liquidity needs frequently conflict. Michael helps clients balance these competing priorities by designing customized hedging and diversification strategies, frequently drawing upon the specialized institutional resources of the UBS Concentrated Equity Solutions team.

Ultimately, Michael believes successful wealth management begins with total balance sheet optimization. This means that every asset, liability, and strategy serves a distinct, intentional purpose - whether it’s a portfolio goal like risk management, income generation, or long term-growth, or a bespoke personal milestone.

 

Beyond the Office

On the personal side, Michael is originally from Northeast Ohio. Today, his family lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland alongside a pair of loud but adorable French bulldogs, Myles and Dash. Michael retains his deep Cleveland sports team allegiances but is a longtime Washington Capitals fan and season ticket holder. When away from the office, Michael is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys downhill skiing, scuba diving, and golfing.

Registered States:
  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • DC
  • DE
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • KS
  • KY
  • LA
  • MA
  • MD
  • ME
  • MI
  • MN
  • MS
  • NC
  • NE
  • NH
  • NJ
  • NM
  • NY
  • OH
  • OR
  • PA
  • SC
  • SD
  • TN
  • TX
  • UT
  • VA
  • VT
  • WA
  • WI
  • WV

Recognized as an industry leader:

  • UBS Wealth Management Director’s Council, 2026UBS Financial Services Inc. Councils are a distinction held by UBS Financial Advisors based on criteria including evaluation of compliance with firm rules, standards & policies and revenue. Council membership is not representative of any one client's experience and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance.

Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures

1700 M Street NW
5th Floor
Washington, D.C., DC 20036

Email Me

m.brennan@ubs.com
Michael Brennan
1700 M Street NW,Washington, D.C.,DC,20036

Jessica Hayes

Client Associate

1700 M Street NW
5th Floor
Washington, D.C., DC 20036

Email Me

jessica.k.hayes@ubs.com
Jessica Hayes
1700 M Street NW,Washington, D.C.,DC,20036

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