Cordgrass Capital Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, pension consulting, and selecting other managers. Financial planning was provided to 101–250 clients last fiscal year.
Cordgrass Capital Advisors reports 448 clients. They include 294 individual clients, 131 high-net-worth individuals, and 12 corporations and other businesses. Of its assets, 63.6% ($465M across 1,527 accounts) are managed with discretion; $265M across 65 accounts are not.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 66% | 14% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 29% | 47% |
| Charitable organizations | 2% | 37% |
| Corporations and other businesses | 3% | 2% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 294 | $100M | 13.7% | $340K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 131 | $340M | 46.6% | $2.6M |
| Charitable organizations | 11 | $273M | 37.4% | $24.8M |
| Corporations and other businesses | 12 | $16.8M | 2.3% | $1.4M |
| Total | 448 | $730M | 100% | $1.63M |
- Clients
- 294
- Regulatory AUM
- $100M
- AUM share
- 13.7%
- Avg. per client
- $340K
- Clients
- 131
- Regulatory AUM
- $340M
- AUM share
- 46.6%
- Avg. per client
- $2.6M
- Clients
- 11
- Regulatory AUM
- $273M
- AUM share
- 37.4%
- Avg. per client
- $24.8M
- Clients
- 12
- Regulatory AUM
- $16.8M
- AUM share
- 2.3%
- Avg. per client
- $1.4M
Total
- Clients
- 448
- Regulatory AUM
- $730M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $1.63M
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 0
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 101–250
Cordgrass Capital Advisors charges up to 1.50% for its Portfolio Management. The brochure does not state whether the rate is annual. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning and Consulting
- Financial planning and consulting is billed on an hourly or flat fee basis, negotiated at the start of each engagement.
Paul Elam owns 50% to 75% of Cordgrass Capital Advisors. The leadership team of Cordgrass Capital Advisors includes Chief Compliance Officer Paul Elam. It has 8 employees, 4 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Paul ElamChief Compliance Officer, Manager
Chris HarrellManager
Investment adviser representatives
3 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 8 employees
- 4 in advisory functions
- 4 state-registered reps
- Owns 50% to 75% of Cordgrass Capital Advisors, LLC
Paul Elam
Control person · since October 2021
- Owns 50% to 75% of Cordgrass Capital Advisors, LLC
Chris Harrell
Control person · since October 2021
Cordgrass Capital Advisors’ regulatory assets grew from $548M (March 2022) to $730M (April 2026); clients rose from 386 to 448 and employees from 7 to 8.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | $730M | 448 | 8 | 1 |
| March 2025 | $623M | 1,480 | 8 | 1 |
| March 2024 | $566M | 420 | 7 | 1 |
| March 2023 | $508M | 423 | 7 | 1 |
| March 2022 | $548M | 386 | 7 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Cordgrass Capital Advisors has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in North Carolina.
North Carolina · 1 listed address
- 3101 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 102, RaleighHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Cordgrass Capital Advisors, LLC
- Headquarters
- 3101 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27612
- Website
- Not reported
- Phone
- 919-800-0705
- SEC file
- 801-122270
- Structure
- North Carolina LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Cordgrass Capital Advisors uses Charles Schwab ($576M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Cordgrass Capital Advisors has custody of $738K in client assets for 9 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $576M100%
At year end, Cordgrass Capital Advisors’ separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (63%) and stocks (34%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $268M across 225 positions; the largest are Caterpillar Inc. (6.2%), Apple Inc. (5.2%) and Vanguard Index Fds (4.1%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks34%
- Funds63%
- Bonds2%
- State and local bonds1%
- Investment grade corporate bonds1%
- Cash1%
Reported 13F holdings
- $268M
- Reported 13F value
- 225
- Positions
- 33.9%
- In the 10 largest
- −37.1%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Caterpillar Inc.6.2%
- Apple Inc.5.2%
- Vanguard Index Fds · S&P 500 ETF Shs4.1%
- Alphabet Inc. · Cap Stk CL C3.5%
- Costco Wholesale Corporation3.1%
- Lincoln Natl Corp. Ind2.9%
- iShares TR · Russell 2000 ETF2.5%
- Penumbra Inc.2.4%
- Invesco Exchange Traded FD T · S&P500 Eql Wgt2.0%
- Johnson & Johnson1.9%
Together, the ten largest are 33.9% of reported value.
How many clients does Cordgrass Capital Advisors have?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors has 448 clients and manages $730 million for them, as of April 2026. They include 294 individual clients, 131 high-net-worth individuals, and 12 corporations and other businesses.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 17 April 2026
What services does Cordgrass Capital Advisors offer?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, pension consulting, and selecting other managers.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
How much does Cordgrass Capital Advisors charge?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors charges up to 1.50% for its Portfolio Management. The brochure does not state whether the rate is annual. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
Which custodians does Cordgrass Capital Advisors use?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $576M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 17 April 2026
How many financial advisors does Cordgrass Capital Advisors have?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors has 4 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 8 employees, and 4 perform investment advisory functions. None are registered representatives of a broker-dealer or licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Cordgrass Capital Advisors invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Cordgrass Capital Advisors’ separately managed accounts held 63% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 34% exchange-traded equities, 1% state and local bonds, 1% investment grade corporate bonds and 1% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Cordgrass Capital Advisors?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors’ direct owners are Paul Elam (50% to 75%) and Chris Harrell (50% to 75%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 17 April 2026
How does Cordgrass Capital Advisors get paid?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Is Cordgrass Capital Advisors registered with the SEC?
Yes, Cordgrass Capital Advisors has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 3 September 2021. Its CRD number is 311528 and its SEC file number is 801-122270.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 17 April 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Cordgrass Capital Advisors?
Cordgrass Capital Advisors’ main office is at 3101 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27612. Its phone number is 919-800-0705.