Stephen Shipley, CPWA®
Founder
Director of Financial Planning
Stephen is patiently waiting for the invention of the universal translator, which, among other things, Star Trek promised would exist in 200 years.
Back on Earth, Stephen graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Building Construction. He began his financial advising career at Morgan Stanley in 1993, earning the titles of Estate Planning Consultant and Senior Portfolio Manager. After 20 years, Stephen moved down the street from Arlington to Irving, where he co-founded Cottonwood Capital.
Stephen is both a mountain person and a beach person and enjoys spending time with his wife, Kara, and their three adult children at either place. He’s looking forward to being a grandpa someday and hopes he won’t have to wait 200 years for that, too.
Jay Rubottom, CFP®
Founder
Director of Business Development
According to his kids, Jay is “tall” and “makes good food,” but don’t take their word for it. They’re children and very biased.
After graduating from Texas Christian University with a BS in finance and a concentration in real estate, Jay decided real estate was real enough without him. Instead, he took his talents to Morgan Stanley, where he spent 11 years in financial services and advising before co-founding Cottonwood Capital Advisors in 2013.
These days, Jay and his wife, Suzanna, live in Dallas with their three sons. He loves to spend his free time fishing, hunting, swimming, or golfing. You might even find him at Augusta National one day. Hopefully, fingers crossed.
Kristen Holt
Partner
Director of Operations
Born in England and raised in Texas, Kristen is the office's resident undercover European. She might even be hiding a British accent, but no one knows for sure.
Kristen graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in business management. During school, she worked at BBVA Compass and later joined Morgan Stanley as a client service associate and branch manager assistant. At Cottonwood Capital, she now oversees day-to-day client service and operational offerings and ensures the office doesn’t burn down.
On her own time, Kristen loves spending time outdoors with her husband, Tony, and their two sons. She hopes to visit Ireland and see the northern lights one day, ideally in one trip, to save on fuel.
Christa Bass, CFP®, CDFA®
Financial Advisor
Christa is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and an accomplished veteran in tolerating Chicago Cubs fans.
After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in psychology, Christa began her career at J.P. Morgan in Chicago in 2013. This eventually took her and her unemployed cat, Annie, to Fort Worth, where she worked as a private banker before joining Cottonwood Capital as an associate financial advisor.
Outside the office, Christa enjoys playing her guitar, singing karaoke, and practicing Spanish, all of which she might one day weave together into an elaborate or not-so-elaborate stand-up comedy bit. Depends on the crowd.
*Artwork by Treslyn Shipley
Our Credentials
Stephen Shipley — CPWA® (Certified Private Wealth Advisor)
Jay Rubottom — CFP® (Certified Financial Planner)
Christa Bass — CFP®, CDFA® (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst)
Form CRS: Client Relationship Summary
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Cottonwood Capital Advisors
105 Decker Ct, Suite 730, Irving, TX 75062
P 972.573.4030 | F 972.573.4040