About

Meet The Team

Lindsey Cooksen, CFP®

Founder, Managing Director

Lindsey Cooksen (Founder, Managing Director) established Cooksen Wealth in 2019. She previously spent over a decade with Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management as a Private Wealth Advisor, Family Wealth Director and Portfolio Management Director. She began her Wall Street career as an Analyst at Citigroup Global Investment Bank in New York and London. Lindsey currently serves as a Director of Targa Resources Corp (NYSE: TRGP), a leading provider of midstream services and one of the largest midstream energy companies in North America.

Lindsey earned an MBA and Masters in Education from Stanford University and was voted Co-CFO of the Student Association. She graduated Cum Laude from Rice University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics, Managerial Studies and Kinesiology. While at Rice, Lindsey was captain of the women’s basketball team and awarded the Joyce Pounds Hardy Award, presented annually to the most outstanding female varsity athlete for athletic and scholastic achievement.

Lindsey holds the Certified Financial Planner® designation and was named to Investment News’ 40 Under 40 in 2021. She was previously named to Forbes Magazine’s List of America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors in 2018. She was selected as an honoree in the Houston Business Journal Top 40 under 40 Class of 2015. While at Morgan Stanley, Lindsey was named to the firms’ MAKERS Class of 2017 and the Pacemakers Club in 2014. She also served on the firms’ Houston Women’s Advisory Council from 2012-2018.

Lindsey remains active in the community, devoting time to a number of nonprofit organizations, including The John Cooper School Board of Trustees, Jack and Jill of America, and Impact Church of The Woodlands. She previously served as a founding board member of Families’ Empowered for over a decade.

Lindsey returned to her hometown of The Woodlands, Texas in 2013 with her husband, Rich, who is a management consultant and native New Yorker. As a graduate of The Academy of Science and Technology, she enjoys exploring the same bike trails that she did as a child with their three young children - Reagan, Scott and Zachary.


Safalta Sherpa

Director of Planning

Safalta Sherpa brings over 15 years of experience in the Wealth Management industry to her role. Previously, she excelled as an Associate Planner at an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in Northern Virginia, specializing in crafting personalized financial plans for high net worth and second-generation clients.

At Cooksen Wealth, Safalta collaborates closely with founder Lindsey Cooksen to develop and implement tailored, comprehensive financial plans that address each client’s unique needs. Her responsibilities include data analysis, client relationship management, and contributing to the creation of detailed financial strategies. She utilizes advanced financial technology resources at Cooksen Wealth to effectively guide clients towards their financial goals.

Safalta holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting and is a licensed Series 65 investment advisor representative, having successfully completed the educational requirements for the CFP® certification.

Beyond her professional achievements, Safalta loves the life of adventure and trying new things. She enjoys global travel and exploring diverse cultures. Recently settling in Denver, Colorado, she also treasures spending time with her two rescues, Jake and Brody, and often takes them on hiking adventures in the local trails and mountains.

Taj Smith

Operations Associate

Taj Smith is an accomplished professional with a strong foundation in Communications, holding both a bachelor's and master's degree in the field, complemented by a minor in Journalism. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Taj developed a passion for technology early on, which she seamlessly integrated with her communications expertise to carve out a successful career in technical project management. Her journey through the consulting and finance industries honed her skills in managing complex projects and client relationships with exceptional care and accountability.

In her role at Cooksen Wealth, Taj leverages her technical acumen and project management experience to oversee all systems, ensuring efficiency and reliability. Since joining the company in 2023, she has been instrumental in streamlining business processes and enhancing client satisfaction through her innovative approach and problem-solving capabilities. Taj’s ability to nurture and maintain strong client relationships is a testament to her outstanding communication skills and dedication to excellence.

Outside of her professional life, Taj enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and staying active. She finds joy in playing with her dog and participating in intramural sports alongside her fiancé, balancing her dynamic career with a fulfilling personal life.


1The Forbes ranking of America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors born in 1980 or more recently, with a minimum of four years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes or SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.See https://www.forbes.com/top-next-gen-advisors/#7720c4ed6df0 . For additional detail on the criteria Forbes used for the ranking, see https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2018/07/25/methodology-forbes-top-1000-next-gen-wealth-advisors/?ss=next-gen-advisors#6ec1db056e68 .

2Houston Business Journal” (HBJ), September 23, 2015, Nominees must be under 40 years of age as of May 1, 2015, and reside in the 10‐county Houston area. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges not affiliated with the HBJ. Candidates were evaluated based on professional accomplishments, philanthropic efforts and other exemplary qualities.

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