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Shades Creek · Birmingham, Alabama

Where Clarity
Meets Lasting
Prosperity

An independent wealth advisory firm guiding organizations and individuals through every current of financial life — with precision, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to your goals.


The Shades Creek Story

Shades Creek is representative of our roots, its headwaters originate in Birmingham and flow quietly towards the Cahaba, then merge with the Alabama river to reach the Gulf. It's a journey that has resonated with us working with clients, each stage a reflection of the plans our clients want at that moment in life.

Every wealth journey starts somewhere. A first investment, a savings plan, a decision to get serious about the future. Those early steps matter more than most people realize, because each one builds on the last.

As resources grow, so does complexity. Protecting what you've built, planning for what's ahead, making sure your wealth is working toward something meaningful. That’s where intentional strategy makes all the difference.

At Shades Creek Wealth Advisors, we guide clients through every stage to provide clarity and confidence.


Built on Independence,
Driven by Purpose

Since our founding by Hamilton "Ham" Poynor, SCWA has partnered with a select group of clients across two core markets: Endowments and Foundations, and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals. We believe wealth management should be simple in purpose and rigorous in execution, helping every client preserve and grow what matters most through the same time-tested, institutional caliber strategies trusted by the world's premier endowments.

2019
Founded

Meet Our Team

Managing Your Wealth with a Long-Term Perspective

Good investing isn't reactive, it's disciplined. We align your portfolio with your goals and keep it there through market cycles and life changes, so what you've built continues to grow and endure

Planning All Aspects of Your Future

Your financial life doesn't exist in silos. We look at the full picture, retirement, estate structures, tax efficiency, and everything in between, and make sure every decision today is connected to where you're headed.

Endowment-Style Investing

The world's top institutions don't invest like everyone else, and neither do we. SCWA applies the same patient, diversified approach used by leading endowments to build wealth that holds up regardless of where markets stand.

Five Pillars of Exceptional Service

Alternative Investments
Access to institutional-quality opportunities you won't find at most traditional firms — strategies designed to strengthen and differentiate your portfolio.
Open-Architecture Platform
No proprietary products, no hidden agendas. We build strategies entirely around what's right for you, with access to the full market landscape.
Boutique Service
You'll always reach someone who knows you. Every client gets direct, responsive communication from an advisor who understands their full picture.
Comprehensive Wealth Management
Integrated investment management, financial planning, and insurance advisory services—all under one roof to keep every detail aligned.

Strategies Shaped by Who You Are


Organizations · Endowments & Foundations
Endowments & Foundations
SCWA builds investment programs around the distinct missions and financial objectives of endowments and foundations. Our investment approach utilizes all available asset classes to design allocations customized to each organization’s unique needs. We deliver transparent performance reviews and develop asset allocation frameworks to each organization's risk tolerance and liquidity requirements.
Services We Provide
Investment ManagementBoard EducationIPS DesignAsset Allocation
Explore This Partnership →

Individuals · High Net Worth
Ultra High Net Worth
Managing significant wealth means navigating a lot of moving parts — portfolio complexity, tax exposure, estate planning, and often a business that's deeply tied to your personal financial picture. At SCWA, we bring institutional-grade thinking to all of it, with the attentiveness you'd expect from a boutique practice.

Whether you're coordinating a business sale, planning an ownership transition, or making sure your wealth is structured to last across generations, we build strategies around your full financial life — not just one piece of it.
Services We Provide
Portfolio ManagementAlternative InvestmentsEstate & Legacy PlanningTax EfficiencyPhilanthropy PlanningExit PlanningBusiness SuccessionLife Insurance AdvisoryAsset Protection
Explore This Partnership →

The People Behind Your Plan

Behind every client relationship at SCWA is a small, focused team that takes that responsibility seriously. We believe our greatest asset isn't any platform or product — it's our collective intellectual capital and a servant's heart. Every person on this team brings deep expertise and a genuine commitment to the people we serve.


Shades Creek · Our Namesake
Just as a river finds its course through every obstacle, we chart a clear path through the complexity of wealth.
Begin Your Journey →

Perspectives on Markets & Wealth

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A Conversation Worth Having

Whether you're building an endowment or planning your next chapter, the best place to start is a conversation. We'd love to hear where you are and where you're headed.

Schedule an Introductory Meeting
2318 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203  ·  205.874.9299