Cottonwood Capital Advisors is a fee-only, independent RIA built on a simple belief: that great advice starts with an honest conversation.
Fee Philosophy
We are compensated exclusively by our clients — never by commissions, product sales, or third-party referral arrangements.
When we recommend a strategy, you can be confident that our only interest is yours. Our fees are based on assets under management. We work primarily with families who have $2M or more in investable assets, though we have always made room for those we believe need a trusted advisor most — including widows navigating finances alone for the first time and those serving in missionary work. Some things matter more than minimums.
Who We Serve
We work with high-net-worth individuals and families who want more than a portfolio manager — they want a planning partner who will engage every dimension of their financial life with honesty and care.
Our clients tend to share a few things in common. They have accumulated meaningful wealth and recognize that protecting and growing it requires disciplined, personalized attention. They value candid advice over comfortable answers. And they want a team that will coordinate with their CPA, attorney, and other advisors so that nothing falls through the cracks.
We work with families across a range of circumstances — those preparing for retirement, navigating a business transition, managing an inheritance, or simply looking for a higher standard of care than their current advisor provides.
“We are not the right fit for everyone, and we are honest about that from the first conversation.”
Our Process
Every client relationship at Cottonwood begins the same way — with a conversation, not a pitch.
01 — Discovery
We start by listening. In our first meeting, we want to understand your full financial picture — your goals, your concerns, your family dynamics, and anything keeping you up at night. No forms, no jargon. Just an honest conversation.
02 — Analysis & Planning
We build a comprehensive financial plan around your specific goals — retirement projections, cash flow analysis, tax strategy, insurance review, estate planning coordination, and more. This is where the real work begins.
03 — Investment Implementation
Your portfolio is constructed to support your plan — not the other way around. We partner with Opal Capital as our OCIO, providing independent portfolio management, ongoing research, and rigorous due diligence on every investment we use.
04 — Ongoing Partnership
We meet with clients at least annually to review their plan, assess portfolio performance, and address anything that has changed in their lives or the markets. Our team proactively manages deadlines and ensures your plan evolves as your life does.
Why Independent Matters
After a combined 50+ years at large financial institutions, our founders left to build something better — a firm with no corporate quotas, no proprietary products to push, and no conflicts between what's good for the firm and what's good for you.
As an independent, fee-only RIA, we are held to the fiduciary standard — a legal obligation to act in your best interest at all times. That is not the standard at every firm. At Cottonwood, it is the only standard we have ever operated under.
Form CRS: Client Relationship Summary
Copyright © 2026
Cottonwood Capital Advisors
105 Decker Ct, Suite 730, Irving, TX 75062
P 972.573.4030 | F 972.573.4040