My Story

Paul Cox is an Executive Director and Institutional Consultant with Morgan Stanley based in Dallas, Texas. Serving an exclusive group of successful families, business owners and executives around the country. He understands the complexities that come with substantial wealth and the importance of providing bespoke solutions through a vast network of global resources.

Before rejoining Morgan Stanley in 2015, Paul was an Executive Director and Banker in the ultra-high-net-worth group of J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank. His focus was on endowments, foundations, family office and other institutional relationships. While there, he served clients in West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Dallas/Fort Worth.

He previously worked in the investment bank at Morgan Stanley in New York, Moscow, and London, where he was a Vice President on the Leveraged Finance team and Head of Emerging Market Loan Syndicate. His primary focus was Central and Eastern Europe, Russia CIS, the Middle East and Africa. From 2007-2010, Paul was General Director for the Mortgage Bank Morgan Stanley owned in Russia. He was tasked with selling the bank in 2010. He also served as Lead Director on the board of the bank’s holding company.

Paul holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Science with Merit in international political economy from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in international politics and Russian from Brigham Young University.

He is active in his community and is involved with several charitable organizations, including the Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Seacology, a non-profit organization focused on preserving island habitats around the world that his family founded in 1991. Away from the office, Paul enjoys family time with his wife and their four boys. He is an avid reader, skier, and bodyboarder.
Services Include
  • Comprehensive Wealth Planning
  • Retirement PlanningFootnote1
  • Estate Planning StrategiesFootnote2
  • Trust ServicesFootnote3
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Philanthropy Management
  • Endowments and FoundationsFootnote4
  • Risk Management
  • Pre-Liquidity Planning
  • Proprietary Investment Opportunities
  • Institutional ServicesFootnote5
  • Alternative InvestmentsFootnote6
  • Corporate Stock Plans
  • Sustainable & Responsible InvestingFootnote7
Securities Agent: NY, NE, TX, PA, OH, ME, MD, LA, CO, UT, SC, NC, MS, MI, IL, CA, MT, KS, AZ, AL, WA, MO, MN, IA, GA, FL, DE, CT, AK, SD, NM, OR, NJ, MA, HI, WI, NV, AR, TN, PR, OK, KY, IN, DC, ND, VT, VA, NH; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1067364
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Approach

Discovery Process
Investing the time to learn about you and your family; your assets and liabilities and the risk exposures, enables us to formulate strategies and customize the relationship to your needs.
Formulation of Tax, Trust and Estate Strategy
Working with your tax and legal advisors, we help analyze your income and estate tax circumstances to identify and tailor planning techniques that may be used to address your objectives.
Creation of Customized Strategic Asset Allocation
Your customized asset allocation reflects risk, opportunities and taxation across multiple entities, while integrating your investing and estate plans.
Integration of Tactical Asset Allocation
Short-term adjustments seek to capitalize on temporary market distortions. Before making adjustments, we analyze the impact of taxes and trading costs on potential returns.
Implementation of a Customized Wealth Strategy
After comprehensive due diligence and analysis of expected results across multiple market scenarios, strategies are chosen from our expansive investment platform.
Ongoing Assessment
In coordination with your other advisors, we can conduct ongoing reviews and comprehensive reporting to ensure that your strategy adapts to changing financial and family needs.

Graystone Consulting, A business of Morgan Stanley

Graystone Consulting began in 1973. It is the combination of two premier consulting firms who had been industry leaders dating back more than forty years. Previously known as Citi Institutional Consulting, we rebranded the consulting group in 2009 after the merger of Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. We created Graystone Consulting with a simple mission: to set the industry standard in institutional investment consulting services for sophisticated investors.

A central staff of more than 270 professionals supports Graystone out of offices in Purchase, NY, Wilmington, DE and New York City. Although our organization is global, seasoned Consulting Directors provide services locally. Our Consulting Directors have relevant industry experience and understand the unique needs of institutional investors. Over 200 Graystone professionals across the United States are responsible for their individual client relationships, and their practices are anchored by Graystone Institutional Consulting Directors.

Graystone Consulting is one of the only independent consulting firms of its kind to be associated with a large financial services provider. We address the complexities that face trustees, directors and investment committees. The strength of Morgan Stanley backs up our resources. As of December 31, 2020, Graystone Consulting consulted on over $336 billion of clients’ assets.

Valuable Tools and Resources

Paul believes financial education leads to better insights into investment strategies and discipline, and ultimately, better long-term decisions. As a result he is committed to providing you with important information about managing your wealth more effectively in today’s global markets.
Paul has assembled the following resources that reinforce the fundamental investment strategies and concepts of his practice. He's provided links to these materials, where available, and hopes you’ll return often to learn more about the topics that impact your overall wealth.
    Icon Image
    Will Mortgage Rates Go Down in 2025?
    Mortgage rates are forecast to drop over time, but affordability likely won’t return to pre-pandemic levels. Here’s what to expect.
    Read More
    Icon Image
    GIC: On The Markets Research Reports
    Detailed market commentary from Morgan Stanley's thought leaders on topics such as global equities, fixed income, monetary policy and more.
    Read This Month's Edition Here
    Icon Image
    Thoughts On The Market Podcast
    With perspectives on the forces shaping the market, join Mike Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief US Equity Strategist for Morgan Stanley, as he and his colleagues discuss a variety of viewpoints regarding the latest trends in the financial marketplace.
    Listen Here
    Icon Image
    Wealth Management Insight Audiocasts
    Wealth Management Insights brings you the latest investment advice from thought leaders within Wealth Management Investment Resources (WMIR). They provide their latest thinking on various market topics in 3-5 minute audiocasts.
    Listen Here
    Icon Image
    GIC Weekly
    The Global Investment Committee's Lisa Shalett headlines this weekly look at markets, asset class performance, and fixed income.
    Read More
    2025 Tax Tables
    Read More
Tab Image

WORKPLACE FINANCIAL BENEFITS WITH MORGAN STANLEY AT WORK

Our mission is to help your company elevate your workplace financial benefits—helping you to attract and retain top talent. Our end-to-end solutions support your company and employees at any stage of growth through a powerful combination of modern technology, insightful guidance, and dedicated service.

    Equity Solutions

    Equity ownership is a powerful motivator. Streamline equity management through our leading-edge technology and provide global audit-ready reporting and insights, alongside customizable participant experiences to engage and educate your employees on how to make the most of their benefits. Our global solutions support private and public companies at any stage of growth.

    • Equity Administration and Financial Reporting
    • Liquidity Events
    • 409A Valuation Services and Cap Table Management

    Learn more
    Retirement

    For your employees, retirement is more than a date in the future—it's a milestone that takes time, hard work, and the right tools. Through our consultative process, we strive to assist with the management of your fiduciary responsibilities and risk, simplify plan management, and help you improve retirement readiness for your employees.

    • Defined Contribution Consulting
    • Solutions-Oriented Plans
    • Fiduciary Investment Oversight

    Learn more
    Deferred Compensation

    Access a range of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plan services or pick the ones that best fit your needs. We provide recordkeeping and plan design, portfolio construction services, and plan education for your executive talent. We help you determine the appropriate plan design and inform a funding strategy through a needs-based assessment and consultative approach.

    Services include:

    • Recordkeeping and Plan Design
    • Portfolio Construction
    • Wealth Management Services
    Learn more
    Executive Services

    Our dedicated team provides concierge-level support for your executives' equity compensation plans, from 10b5-1 trading plans to form filing related to Rule 144 transactions, to access to wealth management and tax-optimization strategies, so helping them navigate their complex financial needs with greater confidence and certainty:

    • Equity Compensation Services
    • Equity Award Analysis
    • Specialized Solutions
    Learn more
    Saving and Giving

    Saving and Giving benefits can make a real difference in your employees' lives as they can support the things that matter most to them—like saving for education and repaying student loans. Show that you are committed to your employees' priorities with leading-edge solutions that help them chart a path toward financial well-being.

    • College Savings
    • Student Loan Repayment and Refinancing
    • Charitable Giving
    Learn more
    Financial Wellness

    We offer Financial Wellness with every solution we provide. Through a powerful combination of education, digital tools and guidance, Financial Wellness is designed to address the unique needs of your employees and empower their financial journey at every stage. Give your employees the confidence to take charge of their finances.

    • Financial Education
    • Digital Tools
    • Financial Guidance

    Learn more

Location

2121 North Pearl St
Ste 500
Dallas, TX 75201
US
Direct:
(214) 468-7234(214) 468-7234
Toll-Free:
(866) 289-3159(866) 289-3159
Fax:
(214) 468-7250(214) 468-7250
60 East South Temple
20th Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
US
Direct:
(801) 935-8096(801) 935-8096
3800 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh, NC 27612
US

Meet My Team

About Jim Macfarlane

Jim Macfarlane is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Salt Lake City, Utah. Serving an exclusive group of successful families, business owners and executives, he understands the complexities that come with substantial wealth and the importance of providing bespoke solutions through a vast network of global resources.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, Jim was CEO & Co-Portfolio Manager for Certeza Asset Management, a boutique asset management firm located in Utah. Before Certeza, Jim spent 12 years with Goldman Sachs in both the US and Europe working with institutions and ultra-high-net-worth families where he was most recently Vice President in Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Minor in Personal Financial Planning from Utah State University – Huntsman School of Business. He also holds a Masters in Finance from the London Business School and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder. Jim has passed the Series 7, Series 66, and Series 3 exams as well as the Investment Management Certificate Exam in the UK.

Outside of the office, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife and their four boys and actively coaches basketball, football and lacrosse. Jim likes to stay active in sports with functional strength training, ice hockey and snow skiing. He is an enthusiastic consumer of audio books routinely averaging three to four books a month.
Securities Agent: MS, MO, GA, CT, AK, IL, CA, TN, NJ, NC, FL, DC, VA, SD, MT, MD, LA, KS, IA, AL, NE, MI, MA, VT, PR, PA, OR, NM, MN, KY, CO, ND, WI, TX, OH, NY, ME, HI, WA, SC, NH, IN, AZ, DE, OK, NV, AR, UT; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures

About Joan Mason

With 37 years of professional experience in Financial Services, Joan serves as a Relationship Manager designing and implementing wealth management strategies for Multi-Generational Family-Owned Businesses, Corporate Board Members and Executives and Private Foundations.

Having begun her career with E. F. Hutton & Company in 1986, Joan returned to the firm in 2008 bringing extensive experience in Wealth Management, as well as Branch and Regional Administrative Management. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, she spent six years in the Private Wealth Management Division of Deutsche Banc Alex Brown, where she was responsible for the firm’s largest Corporate Stock Plan. In this role she served as liaison to CFOs, Corporate HR, Plan Administrators and other key corporate officers tasked with managing Corporate Executive Compensation Plans. The previous eight years she served in various management capacities at RBC Wealth Management and Kemper Securities. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® professional designation.

Outside of the office, Joan enjoys spending time with her husband Chris & their daughter Taylor. She enjoys travel, hiking and golf. She is also active in the community, volunteering for organizations that focus on research & caregiver resources for families impacted by Alzheimer’ disease and other Dementias.to that end, Joan has served on the Advisory Council for the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas – Dallas and an on officer and long-standing member of AWARE Dallas.
Securities Agent: TX, NY, IL, DC, WA; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Principal; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Managed Futures

About Matt Millard

Matt Millard is the Group Director for Paul Cox, Jim Macfarlane, & Joan Mason. Matt joins the team with over 17 years of experience in the finance industry. He was a Risk Officer for the Morgan Stanley Dallas Market where he oversaw 3 branches and over 20 advisors’ practices. As a Risk Officer Matt was responsible for the education and training of firm policies, supervision of advisor activities, and adherence to financial industry regulations for the firm’s core Dallas market offices. He has also served Morgan Stanley clients as a Business Service Officer with responsibility for 4 branches at a high-watermark and over 25 advisors. As BSO one of Matt’s responsibilities was mentoring new Client Service Associates across the market to obtain their FINRA securities licenses as well as furthering development of tenured service personnel. He also assisted in the training of new managers that are involved in protecting the firm, its employees, and clients. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Matt held various positions at Merrill Lynch from client service to management. While working at Merrill Lynch, Matt was named as one of the top 100 Client Associates for the firm. He was also successful in having the overall firm update/change a policy that helped improve supervision and redundancies in how Merrill Lynch oversaw High-Yield bond purchases – protecting both clients and the firm. He was also the regional administrative assistant coach, which involved mentoring/training administrative assistants across several states. Matt was born in Illinois but later moved to Texas with his parents (despite his dislike of the heat). He and his partner currently live in Southeast Dallas. In his free time, Matt enjoys reading fiction, staying up to date with technology (currently trying to teach himself the Linux operating system), and traveling to experience new cultures. His favorite place currently is Washington (state).

About Michael Beste

Michael Beste is a Registered Associate at Morgan Stanley. Based in the Dallas office, Michael works closely with clients to deliver a very high level of service. His responsibilities include working to address client needs, analyzing portfolios and assisting with portfolio reviews. He is excited to grow the team client service model with the firm and understands the multifaceted challenges of managing significant wealth. Michael grew up in El Paso, TX and attended The University of Texas at El Paso where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and a concentration in Financial Analysis. During his time there, he served as President of the University’s Delta Sigma Pi professional fraternity chapter and worked as a Peer Leader.

Michael began his career in the Financial Services industry in 2020 as a broker and client service professional in Scottsdale, AZ. He moved on to a Financial Advisor role with Morgan Stanley in Gilbert, AZ before moving to Dallas to join Paul Cox’s group.

About Steven Leach

Steven is a Client Service Associate at Morgan Stanley and plays a critical role in supporting the team’s Financial Advisors and delivering exceptional service to individual and institutional clients. Steven brings several years of experience in analyzing procedural risk and operational efficiency. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Steven worked for Goldman Sachs in its Risk and Regulatory Control team. Originally from Dallas, Steven dual majored in History and Japanese at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Outside of work he enjoys clay shooting, cycling, and film photography.

Awards and Recognition

3
Wealth Management
From My Desk

6 Financially Smart Ways to Start 2025


Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

This is a video content

Equity Compensation

Helping you make the most of your equity awards and better understand how it may fit into your your larger financial picture – today and tomorrow.

  • Vesting events
  • Option expirations
  • Restricted stock units
  • Tax implications

Managing Significant Wealth

  • Investment Management
  • Wealth Transfer & Philanthropy
  • Cash Management & Lending
  • Family Governance & Wealth Education
  • Signature Access
  • Business Services
Compensation Practices of Investment-Focused Family Offices
Article Image

Compensation Practices of Investment-Focused Family Offices

Competitive compensation is key to attracting and retaining the best talent for your single family office. Discover the latest trends on relevant pay, benefits and bonus structures in Morgan Stanley's 2025 benchmarking report.

Insights and Outcomes

Thought Leadership for our ultra high net worth clients, which contains thought-provoking articles, authored by leading experts from Morgan Stanley Family Office Resources.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s Playbook on Leadership and Values
Article Image

Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s Playbook on Leadership and Values

The renowned NFL wide receiver shares insights on aligning your investments with your values.

Private Wealth Management Podcast

Bringing you engaging stories and key insights surrounding the complexities associated with significant wealth, including:
  • Intergenerational Planning
  • Philanthropic Giving
  • Non-Traditional Assets
  • Managing Family Wealth
LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art
Article Image

LISTEN | Passion Assets: Investing in Art

When a passion for collecting evolves into something of considerable value, new issues are raised. Hear what the professionals have to say about the best practices and pitfalls of collecting art and collectibles.

Financial Wellness

Enhancing Financial Wellness enables your workforce to do their best work. Companies that invest in financial wellness have an opportunity to:
  • Reduce employee stress,
  • Improve retention and engagement, and
  • Set themselves apart by offering comprehensive financial wellness benefits.
The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce
Article Image

The Business Case for a Financially Resilient Workforce

In the face of turbulent markets, the word “resilience” may be top of mind. Broadly speaking, resilience is the ability to “bounce back” when encountering life’s inevitable challenges.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Paul Cox today.
1When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

Back to top



2Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

Back to top



3Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

Back to top



4Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

Back to top



5Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.

Back to top



6Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

Back to top



7Investing in the market entails the risk of market volatility. The value of all types of investments may increase or decrease over varying time periods. The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of sustainable or impact investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because sustainability and impact criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria.

Back to top



Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.

The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.

Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.

The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.

Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
CRC 4665150 (8/2025)