Graystone Consulting has hired Robert Dow as executive director, based in the Chicago, IL wealth management office of the firm’s parent company, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

Dow joins after more than two decades at Northern Trust, where he set up the firm’s first dedicated non-profit advisory business. He was latterly managing director for the company’s foundation and institutional advisors in the Midwest and the Northeast.

Working for the the institutionally-focused consulting group, Dow will expand the footprint of Graystone Consulting as well as interacting with the private wealth advisors at Morgan Stanley. He is part of a team based in Columbus, Oh, and headed by Phil Shaffer. The Shaffer Team has primarily served non-profits and large family consulting needs for around 25 years in the central and southeast parts of the US, the firm said.