Neda Hooks

Neda Hooks Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley MSSB will not accept purchase or sale orders via LinkedIn or its messaging systems.

Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley

NMLS #: 1282482

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06/21/2026

My favorite souvenir from any trip isn’t something I buy—it’s the professional photos we take along the way.

It all started on our honeymoon in Italy. We were in Florence, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I’d ever seen, and I remember feeling disappointed that our phones just weren’t capturing it the way I was experiencing it. My husband surprised me with a professional photo shoot, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Now, whenever we travel, we try to book a family photo session. Not only do we come home with incredible memories, but the photos often double as our Christmas card pictures, which saves us from having to schedule another session later in the year.

One tip: do your homework before booking. Read reviews, look through portfolios, and choose a photographer with a strong reputation. The goal is to come home with photos you’ll treasure for years—not a travel horror story.

Years later, those photos have become far more meaningful to me than anything I’ve ever bought on a trip.



06/16/2026

Why does my hair always look better on vacation?

It’s definitely not because I’m using the hotel hair dryer.

I’ve blown a straightener and a curling iron trying to use them with adapters in Europe. My regular hair dryer doesn’t work there at all, even with an adapter. And before anyone asks, yes, I’ve tried buying hair tools specifically designed for European outlets. In my experience, they’re about as disappointing as the dryers hanging on the hotel bathroom wall.

At some point, I gave up.

Now, before every trip, I book a few blowouts (which they call a “brush” or “brushing” in many parts of Europe). Sometimes I have my hotel concierge arrange them for me, but there are great salons all over Europe where you can often just walk in. And many times, a blowout costs less than what I’d pay back home in the U.S.

My favorite travel hack for Europe? Skip the adapters, skip the frustration, and book the blowout.

Because if you’re doing your own hair on vacation, are you really even on vacation? 😉

06/12/2026

Things I wish I knew before booking Airbnbs in Europe…

Don’t get me wrong—I love a good Airbnb. But after years of international travel, I’ve learned that the lowest price doesn’t always mean the best value.

Some things to consider before you book:

🏢 Many older European buildings don’t have lifts (elevators). We once carried our luggage up five flights of stairs. Make sure “elevator” is on your list of must-have search filters before you book.

🧳 Hotels make arrival day easier. They’ll usually store your bags before check-in, and many have lounges, spas, gyms, or even showers you can use while you wait.

✈️ If your luggage gets lost, hotels can be a lifesaver. On one trip, our bags were delivered directly to our room. Another time, while staying in an Airbnb, we spent days coordinating with the airline and host and didn’t get our luggage until almost the end of the trip.

🔑 No front desk means no immediate help if you’re locked out, arriving late, or have an issue with the property.

🍽️ A great concierge can be worth their weight in gold. They can arrange transportation, book reservations before your trip, and sometimes even get you into restaurants that seem impossible to book on your own.

🧹 Some Airbnbs charge cleaning fees and still ask you to take out the trash, wash dishes, or start laundry before leaving.

❄️ Air conditioning isn’t always guaranteed, especially in older European buildings.

🔊 That charming apartment in the city center may also be above a busy restaurant, bar, or plaza.

🎒 Many Airbnbs don’t have a secure place to store luggage after checkout if your flight leaves later in the day.

But Airbnbs have some major advantages too:

📍 Incredible neighborhoods where there may not be hotels at all.

🏠 More space for families.

🍳 Kitchens and laundry.

💰 Often a lower nightly cost.

❤️ A chance to experience a destination more like a local.

My takeaway?

Hotels sell convenience.

Airbnbs sell space, character, and local experiences.

The cheapest option isn’t always the least expensive once you factor in time, stress, and convenience.

06/08/2026

Thinking about purchasing a luxury item while you’re in Europe?

Before you do, compare the European price to the U.S. price and ask whether you’re eligible for a VAT refund. In many cases, luxury goods are priced lower in Europe, and the VAT refund can create additional savings.

For example, let’s compare purchasing a Burberry Kensington trench coat in New York City versus Paris:

• New York City price: $2,850
• NYC sales tax (8.875%): $253
• Total out-of-pocket cost: approximately $3,103

Paris:

• Paris price: approximately €2,200
• At today’s exchange rate, that’s about $2,530
• After a typical VAT refund, your effective cost may be closer to $2,250–$2,350

Potential savings: approximately $750–$850 on the exact same coat.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Exchange rates matter. The stronger the U.S. dollar, the greater the potential savings. In 2022, Americans generally benefited from a more favorable exchange rate than they do today.

• Bring your physical passport when making your purchase. Retailers now require it to process VAT paperwork.

• Before leaving the EU, make sure your VAT paperwork is properly completed and validated.

• This strategy generally applies to purchases made within the Eurozone. The United Kingdom uses the British pound, not the euro, and no longer offers VAT refunds to most international visitors.

As always, make sure your savings goals, emergency fund, and long-term financial plan are in order before making luxury purchases. 😉

06/03/2026

Our shameless food tour through Madrid and San Sebastián led us to unforgettable restaurants, incredible flavors, and more pintxos than I’d like to admit.

By the end of the trip, “check, please” wasn’t just a useful phrase—it was a survival skill. 🍷🦐💳

05/29/2026

Airport exchange counters often have some of the worst rates and highest fees. Using an ATM with a bank card or withdrawing from a reputable bank abroad is often much cheaper. If you’re carrying local currency at the end of your trip and plan to visit again, consider keeping it rather than paying another round of exchange fees when you return.

05/25/2026

Generational wealth, but in chandelier form. Every ceiling in the Royal Palace of Madrid competing for attention. ✨

05/23/2026

Why? Because choosing U.S. dollars abroad usually means the merchant is applying their own exchange rate — and it’s often worse than the rate your credit card company would use. Let your bank handle the conversion instead. It can save you a surprising amount over the course of a trip.

Finance, fashion, motherhood, markets, travel, art, health, philanthropy, and probably too much coffee. ☕️I’ve spent yea...
05/21/2026

Finance, fashion, motherhood, markets, travel, art, health, philanthropy, and probably too much coffee. ☕️

I’ve spent years helping people build wealth and plan for their futures, but this page is more than finance. It’s a little bit of everything I love - real life, real conversations, lessons learned, beautiful places, smart money habits, and the occasional chaos in between.

If you love thoughtful conversations, ambitious women, big dreams, and finding joy while building a life you’re proud of… welcome. 💫

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