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2019 Men of the Year: Greg DeLong

Morgan Stanley

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Missouri native Greg DeLong uses his talents to better his community. As senior vice president of Morgan Stanley in Springfield, where he operates The DeLong Group, the financial adviser manages $228 million in assets for clients in addition to lending his 33 years of expertise civically on numerous local boards.

DeLong earned a bachelor’s of business and English from Westminster College and a master’s of business administration from University of Missouri. His first job was at family-owned steel fabricator DeLong Inc. However, he later began building his financial career with Edward Jones from the ground up in 1986 as he went door to door engaging in word-of-mouth advertising.

“Along my work journey, I was nicknamed the godfather of Springfield by my regional leader at Edward Jones, Dan Stanley, for my work efforts and leadership,” DeLong says.

In 2014, after 27 years with Edward Jones, DeLong made the move to Morgan Stanley, with 90% of his clients following him.

DeLong is the 2014 recipient of Springfield Business Journal’s Trusted Advisers Wealth Manager Award, Forbes’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisers Award in 2018 and 2019 and the Jim Goodknight Award through Edward Jones Region 98 in 2000.

In 2011, DeLong was appointed to a six-year term on the Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees, a time during which the college was ranked in the top 150 community colleges in the country and named a finalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. In his last year on the board, voters approved the Proposition A and B renewals for 5-cent tax levies.

“My election as trustee at OTC is without a question my proudest civic accomplishment. [Hal] Higdon told me I received more votes than anyone running for public office in all elections in southwest Missouri,” DeLong says. “I was humbled and grateful for the public’s support of me.”

DeLong also gives back through personal mentorship of up-and-coming professionals in his field, including his business partner and son who now operates an investment adviser practice in Colorado.

“I served as an official coach for many young advisers at Jones,” DeLong says.

“I served on the hiring task force at Jones. In this capacity, I hired many financial advisers who continue to work as successful advisers at Jones. I employed many college interns over the years at Edward Jones from Drury, (Missouri State University) and the University of Missouri.”

DeLong served for three years in the late 1980s on the Missouri secretary of state’s Securities Advisory Panel. He also in the early 2000s was on the Edward Jones Grassroots Taskforce representing Missouri in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C.

“During this time, IRA contribution limits were increased as a direct result of our efforts,” DeLong says.

Currently, DeLong serves on the Greene County Estate Planning Council, OTC Foundation board, Burrell Behavioral Health board, MSU Department of Finance and General Business board and at his alma mater Westminster College as a trustee.

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