Serving with Intention. built with discipline. Rooted in Values. Honoring Legacy
Our team works collaboratively to deliver a client experience that is thoughtful, responsive, and consistent—
supporting each relationship from strategic planning through ongoing service and execution.
We don’t just advise families. We are one.
Chad d. Cooper, mba, ricp®
President, Financial Planner
Chad began in the financial services industry in 2003. His experience spans retirement income planning, investment strategy, insurance and risk management, estate and legacy considerations, and business-owner planning. Chad supports clients across both the accumulation and distribution phases of their financial lives, emphasizing clear communication, coordinated strategies, and ongoing engagement as circumstances evolve.
Chad earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology/Anthropology from Middlebury College and an MBA from the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management. He holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) designation and is a Qualifying and Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).*
Chad is actively involved with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), serving as past President of NAIFA New Mexico and 2026 President-Elect of NAIFA Florida. He was named NAIFA’s National Diversity Champion** in 2021 and was recognized in 2025 as an InvestmentNews Excellence Awards DEI Trailblazer of the Year Awardee and National Finalist.*** He also serves on the Cambridge Investment Research Commitment to Inclusion Committee and co-hosts the Financial Hellness Podcast.
Melita Cooper White
Operations Manager
At Cooper White and Associates, Melita is responsible for operational workflow, internal coordination, and the implementation of systems that support the firm’s service model and long-term client relationships. She does not provide investment advice or securities recommendations.
Before joining the firm full time in 2025, Melita spent more than a decade in education, serving as a Health and AP Psychology teacher with Albuquerque Public Schools and holding leadership roles including Science Department Chair. She also founded and directed a youth volleyball club, managing budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and operational logistics—experience that strengthened her organizational, communication, and management skills.
Melita was a Division I volleyball player at the University of Arizona and later competed professionally in Europe. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arizona and completed dual-certification teaching degrees through Central New Mexico College. She is fluent in Greek.
Zia Cooper
Office Security
Security is not reactive. It is deliberate.
Zia Cooper serves as Head of Security at Cooper White and Associates. She brings elite-level instincts and commitment to perimeter control. Zia’s multidisciplinary background in vigilance and protection supports the firm’s commitment to stability and oversight. Drawing from her Malinois drive, Great Dane stature, Rottweiler resolve, Shepherd intelligence, and Pyrenees guardianship, she maintains strict access protocols.
Her approach is simple: Anticipate. Observe. Protect. To her, protection is less of a job and more of a calling.
Zia believes security should be proactive, visible, and occasionally dramatic. She has maintained a flawless security record to date, with particular expertise in delivery monitoring, environmental threat detection, and morale reinforcement.
Zia guards what matters most because complex lives require layered protection.