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Citrine Capital
Citrine Capital is a fee-only virtual wealth management firm serving startup founders and tech professionals.
Citrine Capital
Citrine Capital began as Cole Wealth Advisors, founded by Ryan Cole in 2014 after he left Ameritas Investment Corporation. Two years later, Jirayr Kembikian joined as co-founder, and the firm rebranded as Citrine Capital. The founders had met at a national broker-dealer in 2012 and shared frustration with commissioned sales and hidden fees. Over 98% of clients transitioned from Ameritas when the firm opened. The firm deploys capital through low-cost, diversified portfolios consisting only of sustainable investment funds. It targets a globally diversified mix of stock and bond exposures using an evidence-based strategy that avoids market timing and stock picking. Services include investment management, retirement planning, tax preparation, and Bitcoin investment guidance. Citrine Capital does not make direct private equity or venture capital investments; its clients are employees and executives at venture-backed startups, and the firm advises on equity compensation, QSBS, and 10b5-1 plans. Citrine Capital serves 115 client households as of 2026 (per the firm's website). The team includes 8 professionals: three lead wealth advisors, one associate wealth advisor, one director of tax, one manager of operations, and one paraplanner. All advisors are fee-only and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals. The firm operates virtually from its San Francisco office, with team members located in Sacramento, Huntington Beach, Mammoth Lakes, Columbia (South Carolina), and Columbus (Georgia). No recent operational events of note were publicly reported. The firm's structural differentiator is its pure fee-only, fiduciary model focused exclusively on startup founders and tech professionals — a niche that demands expertise in equity compensation, tender offers, and IPO liquidity events. Citrine Capital's virtual-only delivery eliminates geographic barriers, and its commitment to sustainable investment funds across all portfolios reflects a values-aligned approach uncommon among independent RIAs of its size.
General information
Firm type
RIA
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, CA, United States
Principals
Ryan S. Cole
Founder, Chairman, Managing Director
Jirayr R. Kembikian
Co-Founder, Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Citrine Capital?
Ryan Cole, Founder and Managing Director, and Jirayr Kembikian, Co-Founder and Managing Director, lead the firm's investment committee and wealth management process. Cole focuses on tax-efficient investing and low-cost portfolio management; Kembikian specializes in equity compensation and Bitcoin wealth strategies (per the firm's website).
How does Citrine Capital generate revenue?
Citrine Capital is a fee-only firm — it charges clients a flat or percentage-based advisory fee and does not accept commissions, sell proprietary products, or receive third-party compensation. The firm states it has 'absolutely no proprietary products, no commissioned sales, and no hidden fees' (per the firm's website).
Does Citrine Capital make direct investments or only manage public-market portfolios?
Citrine Capital manages clients' investable assets through diversified portfolios of publicly traded securities — primarily low-cost index funds and sustainable investment funds. It does not invest directly in private companies or alternative assets on behalf of clients, though it advises on company equity (RSUs, stock options, QSBS) held by clients who work at venture-backed startups.
What is Citrine Capital's client profile?
The firm targets startup founders, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals, particularly those with concentrated equity in private or public companies. As of 2026, Citrine Capital serves over 115 client households, most of which are employees or executives at venture-backed technology companies (per the firm's website).
Does Citrine Capital have a minimum account size or asset requirement?
Citrine Capital does not publicly disclose a minimum asset requirement. The firm states it is 'very selective' in whom it works with and asks prospective clients to complete a questionnaire to assess mutual fit (per the firm's website).
Is Citrine Capital related to any larger financial institution or family office?
No. Citrine Capital is an independent, fee-only registered investment advisor (RIA) founded by Ryan Cole and Jirayr Kembikian. It has no affiliation with a bank, broker-dealer, or family office. The firm's sole predecessor was Cole Wealth Advisors, which rebranded after Kembikian joined in 2016 (per the firm's website).
What tax and equity compensation services does Citrine Capital offer?
The firm provides tax preparation, tax planning, IRS account monitoring, equity compensation planning, qualified small business stock (QSBS) analysis, and 10b5-1 trading plan coordination. It employs a dedicated Director of Tax, Todd Bartman, CPA (per the firm's website).
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