Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                          WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.

                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                           Effective February 1, 2002

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                                Table of Contents

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ARTICLE I.

ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE...............................................................................     1

                        1.1         Establishment.......................................................     1

                        1.2         Purpose.............................................................     1

                        1.3         Effective Date of Plan..............................................     1

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS.............................................................................................     2

ARTICLE III.

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION...........................................................................     4

                        3.1         Eligibility.........................................................     4

                        3.2         Participation and Classification of Participants....................     4

ARTICLE IV.

DETERMINATION OF CONTRIBUTION AMOUNTS...................................................................     5

                        4.1         Deferral............................................................     5

                        4.2         Election of Deferral Amount.........................................     5

                        4.3         Deferral Amount Election Forms......................................     5

                        4.4         Matching Contribution...............................................     5

                        4.5         Discretionary Contribution..........................................     6

ARTICLE V.

PAYMENTS OF BENEFITS....................................................................................     7

                        5.1         Time of Payment.....................................................     7

                        5.2         Method of Payment...................................................     7

                        5.3         Death Benefit.......................................................     8

                        5.4         Disability Benefit..................................................     8

                        5.5         Beneficiary Designations............................................     8
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ARTICLE VI.

ACCOUNTS AND ACCOUNT ADJUSTMENTS........................................................................     9

                        6.1         Participant Accounts................................................     9

                        6.2         Adjustment of Accounts..............................................     9

                        6.3         Investment Alternatives.............................................     9

                        6.4         Adjustments for Earnings or Losses..................................    10

                        6.5         Vesting.............................................................    10

                        6.6         Account Statements..................................................    10

ARTICLE VII.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN..............................................................................    11

                        7.1         Administration......................................................    11

                        7.2         Compensation and Expenses...........................................    11

                        7.3         Claims Review Procedures............................................    11

                        7.4         Voting of Securities................................................    12

ARTICLE VIII.

PROVISIONS FOR BENEFITS.................................................................................    13

                        8.1         Provisions for Benefits.............................................    13

ARTICLE IX.

AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, OR MERGER.......................................................................    14

                        9.1         Amendment and Termination...........................................    14

                        9.2         Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition................................    14

ARTICLE X.

GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................    15

                        10.1        Effect on Other Plans...............................................    15

                        10.2        Nonalienation.......................................................    15

                        10.3        Incompetency........................................................    15

                        10.4        Effect of Mistake...................................................    15

                        10.5        Plan Not an Employment Contract.....................................    16

                        10.6        Tax Withholding.....................................................    16
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                        10.7        Severability........................................................    16

                        10.8        Applicable Law......................................................    16

                        10.9        Binding Effect......................................................    16
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                          WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.

                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                           Effective February 1, 2002

                                   Article I.

                            Establishment and Purpose
                            -------------------------

1.1  Establishment. Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., a corporation organized under
     -------------
     the laws of the state of Delaware ("Company"), hereby establishes a
     deferred compensation plan for Eligible Employees to be known as the
     Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan ("Plan").

1.2  Purpose. The Plan shall provide Eligible Employees the ability to defer
     -------
     payment of Incentive Awards paid by the Company. In addition, the Plan
     shall provide a Company Matching Contribution and allow for Discretionary
     Contributions for selected Eligible Employees.

1.3  Effective Date of Plan. The Plan was approved by the Company's Board of
     ----------------------
     Directors, and is effective on February 1, 2002.

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                                   Article II.

                                   Definitions
                                   -----------

     Pronouns and other similar words used herein in the masculine or neuter
gender shall be read in the appropriate gender. The singular form of words shall
be read as plural where appropriate. Where capitalized words or phrases appear
in the Plan, they shall have the meaning set forth below.

     "Account" means the recordkeeping account maintained in the name of a
      -------
Participant to which Deferral Amounts, Matching Contributions, Discretionary
Contributions, and adjustments for earnings, gains and losses are recorded
pursuant to the provisions of Article V1.

     "Affiliate" means:
      ---------

     (a)  Any corporation other than the Company (i.e., either a subsidiary
          corporation or an affiliate or associated corporation of the Company),
          which together with the Company is a member of a "controlled group of
          corporations" within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal
          Revenue Code.

     (b)  Any organization that is under "common control" with the Company
          determined under Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     (c)  Any organization which together with the Company is a member of an
          "affiliated service group" within the meaning of Section 414(m) of the
          Internal Revenue Code.

     "Beneficiary" means the person, persons, trust, or other entity designated
      -----------
by a Participant to receive benefit, if any, under this Plan at such
Participant's death pursuant to Section 5.5.

     "Committee" means the Compensation Committee or such other committee as may
      ---------
be appointed by the Board of Directors of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. from
time to time to oversee the administration of the plan.

     "Company" means Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. and its Affiliates and any
      -------
successor thereto.

     "Deferral Amount" means the portion of the Eligible Employee's Incentive
      ---------------
Award which he elects to defer pursuant to Article IV.

     "Deferral Period" means the period established under Section 4.1 to which a
      ---------------
Deferral Amount election shall apply.

     "Disability" or "Disabled" means a mental or physical condition which
      ----------      --------
qualifies the Participant as being disabled for purposes of the Westwood
Holdings Group, Inc. Long Term Disability Plan. If a participant is not covered
by such plan, disability means a mental or physical condition, which in the
opinion of the Committee will cause the Participant to be unable to perform
usual duties of the employer for a period of at least six months.

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     "Discretionary Contribution" means a supplemental amount credited to a
      --------------------------
Participant's Account as allocated by the Committee from time to time.

     "Eligible Employee" means an Employee who is designated by the Committee as
      -----------------
belonging to a "select group of management or highly compensated employees," as
such phrase is defined under ERISA and who meets such other criteria as
determined by the Committee.

     "Employee" means an individual who is an employee of the Company or
      --------
Affiliate.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
      -----
amended.

     "Incentive Award" means any Annual Incentive Award or Performance-Based
      ---------------
Award to an Eligible Employee under the Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended or modified from time to time, or any successor plan.

     "Investment Alternative" means the investment selected by the Participant
      ----------------------
pursuant to Section 6.3.

     "Matching Contribution" means the amount credited to a Participant's
      ---------------------
Account by the Company, as defined in Section IV.

     "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who has been designated a
      -----------
Participant under the Plan pursuant to Section 3.2. A person shall continue to
be a Participant under the Plan until the entire remaining balance of his or her
Vested Account Balance has been distributed in accordance with Article V. of the
Plan.

     "Plan" means this Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan,
      ----
as amended from time to time.

     "Plan Year" means the 12-month period beginning each January 1 and ending
      ---------
December 31.

     "Retirement Date" means the first day of any month after a Participant
      ---------------
separates from service, attains age 55 and completes 10 years of Service.

     "Service" means the most recent period of whole years of uninterrupted
      -------
service with the Employer.

     "Stock" means Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Common Stock.
      -----

     "Vested Account" means the vested portion of a Participant's Account as
      --------------
defined in Section 6.5.

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                                  Article III.

                          Eligibility and Participation
                          -----------------------------

3.1      Eligibility. Only those Eligible Employees selected by the Committee
         -----------
         shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. All determinations as to
         an Employee's status as an Eligible Employee shall be made by the
         Committee. The Committee may also determine that an Employee that was
         previously eligible under the Plan is no longer eligible. The
         determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all
         Employees. The Committee shall provide each Eligible Employee with
         notice of the Employee's status as an Eligible Employee under this Plan
         and permit such Eligible Employee the opportunity to make the Deferral
         Amount election pursuant to Article IV. Such notice may be given at
         such time and in such manner as the Committee may determine.

3.2      Participation and Classification of Participants. Each Eligible
         ------------------------------------------------
         Employee who has a Deferral Amount credited to an Account under this
         Plan shall be a Participant. An Eligible Employee shall continue as a
         Participant as long as there is a balance credited to the Participant's
         Account.

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                                  Article IV.

                      Determination of Contribution Amounts
                      -------------------------------------

4.1      Deferral. The Company and each affiliate which has Eligible Employees
         --------
         shall establish a Deferral Period to which any Deferral Amount election
         made by such employees shall apply. Such Deferral Period shall be at
         least twelve months in length except for the Participant's initial
         Deferral Period. Only Incentive Awards which become payable within such
         Deferral Period may be covered by a Deferral Amount election.

         For any Deferral Period, a Participant may elect to defer up to 50% of
         any Incentive Award that may be payable by the Company. The amount
         deferred shall be specified as a percentage (deferrals made in 1%
         increments).

4.2      Election of Deferral Amount. An Eligible Employee must file a Deferral
         ---------------------------
         Amount election form for each Deferral Period for which a Deferral will
         be made. Such election must be made not less than 45 days prior to the
         commencement of the Deferral Period to which it is to apply, except
         that an Eligible Employee's initial election may be made within 30 days
         of his selection as a Participant provided no Incentive Award payable
         to the Participant at the date of such election shall be considered
         part of such Deferral Amount.

         If an Eligible Employee does not file a Deferral Amount election form
         within the foregoing period prior to any Deferral Period, such Eligible
         Employee will be deemed to have elected not to defer receipt of any
         Incentive Awards which otherwise become payable during such Deferral
         Period.

         Once made, an election will be in force for the entire Deferral Period.
         If a severe and unforeseeable financial hardship (as determined under
         Section 5.1) occurs during the Deferral Period, a Participant may
         revoke the Deferral Amount election with the consent of the Committee.
         Following such a revocation, a Participant may resume Deferrals only
         during the above-described period for the following Deferral Period by
         executing a new Deferral Amount election and delivering it to the
         Committee.

4.3      Deferral Amount Election Forms. All Deferral Amount elections shall be
         ------------------------------
         made on a Deferral Amount election form. A Deferral Amount election
         form shall specify the Deferral Amount, the Investment Alternative
         pursuant to Subsection 6.3, and the Eligible Employee's designated
         Beneficiary to receive any death benefit applicable to such Deferral
         Amounts.

4.4      Matching Contribution. The Company shall match a Participant's annual
         ---------------------
         Deferral Amount as of the date on which the Deferral Amount to which
         the Matching Contribution relates is credited to the Account of the
         Participant. The Company match will equal 25% of the Participant's
         annual Deferral Amount, but not to exceed a total Matching Contribution
         of $10,000.

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4.4      Discretionary Contribution. From time to time, the Company may make
         --------------------------
         additional contributions to selected Participants' Discretionary
         Accounts, as the Committee deems appropriate. Discretionary
         Contributions shall be made in Stock, unless otherwise determined by
         the Committee.

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                                   Article V.

                              Payments of Benefits
                              --------------------

5.1      Time of Payment. Payment of the Vested Account will commence within 90
         ---------------
         days of the earliest to occur of 1) termination prior to Retirement
         Date, 2) retirement after a Retirement Date, 3) death, or 4)
         disability. A Participant may defer commencement of payment under the
         Plan beyond his Retirement or termination date with the consent of the
         Committee, provided his request to do so is received by the Committee
         not less than one year prior to the date that payment would otherwise
         be made or commence and the Participant agrees to defer payment or
         commencement to a definite future date not less than two years from the
         date payment would otherwise be made or commence. The election must be
         made at least one year prior to his Retirement Date.

         Subject to Section 5.2, all or a portion of the Participant's Account
         may be paid during active employment of a Participant if he makes an
         election to receive such distribution at least two years prior to the
         date such distribution is to be paid. Only one such election shall be
         permitted and any such election shall be irrevocable except in the case
         of the Participant's subsequent death or Disability. The Committee may
         also permit a Participant to receive payment of all or a portion of his
         Vested Account to the extent he incurs a severe and unforeseeable
         financial hardship. An unforeseeable financial emergency will not be
         deemed to exist if the hardship may be relieved through other sources
         or cessation of Deferrals under Section 4.2 of the Plan.

5.2      Method of Payment. When a Participant becomes entitled to a
         -----------------
         distribution, the Plan shall, except as provided below, pay the balance
         of the Participant's Vested Account in 10 annual installments. The
         first installment shall be due on the first day of the month following
         the Participant's Retirement or termination. Each subsequent annual
         installment shall be paid on the first business day in January
         following the initial payment and shall continue on each subsequent
         January 1 until all installment payments have been made. The amount of
         the first installment shall equal one-tenth of the Vested Account on
         the valuation date established under Section 6.2 which coincides or
         immediately precedes the Participant's Retirement or termination. The
         amount of the second installment shall be one-ninth of the Vested
         Account on the valuation date coincident with or next preceding the
         second installment date and so forth until all installment payments
         have been made; provided that if any installment payment would be less
         than $50,000, the Plan may distribute the entire remaining Vested
         Account Balance. After commencement of installment payments, a
         Participant's Account shall continue to be adjusted in the same manner
         as set forth in Section 6.4.

         A Participant may request the Committee to authorize payment of his
         Vested Account balance in a lump sum. The Committee shall have the
         discretion to agree to such payment upon such terms and conditions, as
         it shall establish from time to time. Without limiting the generality
         of the foregoing, the Committee may require a Participant to enter into
         a non-competition agreement or to execute one or more releases of
         claims against the Company and its Affiliates and their officers,
         employees and agents as a condition to such lump sum payment. The
         Committee may, with or without the request or consent of

                                                                        Page -7-

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         the Participant, require the Participant to accept a distribution of
         his Vested Account in a single lump sum payment.

         The portion of the Account invested in mutual funds shall be
         distributed in cash. The remaining portion, if any, invested in Stock
         shall be distributed in shares of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Common
         Stock.

5.3      Death Benefit. If a Participant dies with a balance credited to the
         -------------
         Employee's Account, such balance shall be paid to the Employee's
         Beneficiary designated on the applicable Deferral Amount election form.
         The then current balance of the Vested Account payable to a designated
         Beneficiary shall be paid in a single lump sum payment.

5.4      Disability Benefit. If a Participant becomes Disabled with a balance
         ------------------
         credited to the Employee's Account, such balance shall be paid to the
         Employee. The then current balance of the Vested Account shall be paid
         in a single lump sum payment.

5.5      Beneficiary Designations. A Participant shall designate a Beneficiary
         ------------------------
         who, upon the Employee's death, shall receive payments that otherwise
         would have been paid to him under the Plan. All Beneficiary
         designations shall be in writing. Any such designation shall be
         effective only if and when delivered to the Committee during the
         lifetime of the Participant.

         If a designated Beneficiary of a Participant predeceases the
         Participant, the designation of such Beneficiary shall be void. If a
         Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary with respect to any death
         benefit payments or if such designation is ineffective, in whole or in
         part, any payment that otherwise would have been paid to such
         Participant shall be paid to the Employee's surviving spouse or, if
         none, to the Employee's estate.

                                                                        Page -8-

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                                  Article VI.

                        Accounts and Account Adjustments
                        --------------------------------

6.1      Participant Accounts. The Committee shall maintain, or cause to be
         --------------------
         maintained, a bookkeeping Account for each Participant for the purpose
         of accounting for the Participant's interest under the Plan. The
         Committee shall maintain within each Participant's Account such
         Deferral Amount, Matching Contribution, and Discretionary Contribution
         subaccounts as may be necessary. In addition to the foregoing
         bookkeeping subaccounts maintained for each Participant, the Committee
         shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, such other accounts,
         subaccounts, records or books as it deems necessary to properly provide
         for the maintenance of Accounts and to carry out the intent and purpose
         of the Plan.

6.2      Adjustment of Accounts. Each Participant's Account shall be adjusted to
         ----------------------
         reflect all Deferral Amounts, Matching Contributions, and Discretionary
         Contributions credited to the Employee's Account, all earnings, gains
         or losses credited or debited to the Employee's Account as provided by
         Section 6.4, and all benefit payments charged to the Employee's
         Account. A Participant's Deferral Amount shall be credited to such
         Participant's Account as soon as possible on or after the date on which
         the amount being deferred would have become payable to the Participant
         absent the deferral election. Participant Accounts shall be adjusted to
         reflect earnings and losses pursuant to Section 6.4. Changes to a
         Participant's Account to reflect benefit payments shall be made as of
         the date of any such payment. As of any relevant date, the balance
         standing to the credit of a Participant's Account, and each separate
         subaccount comprising such Account, shall be the respective balance in
         such Account and the component subaccounts as of the close of business
         on such date after all applicable credits, debits and charges have been
         posted.

6.3      Investment Alternatives. Participants may elect among the following
         -----------------------
         investment alternatives with respect to their Deferral Amounts in
         accordance with such limitations as may be approved by the Committee
         from time to time:

         (a)  Deemed Investment Options. A Participant may request that all or
              -------------------------
              a portion of his Deferral Amount be invested in selected mutual
              fund(s) approved by the Committee from time to time. The purchase
              price used for any shares or units of mutual funds held in
              Participant Accounts shall be based on the price of such shares
              or units on the date such shares or units are actually purchased
              with such Deferral Amount. Participants may elect to change, on a
              calendar quarter basis, the deemed investment election with
              respect to future Deferral Amounts, by following such procedures
              as shall be established by the Committee. Participants may also
              elect to reallocate any portion of their Deferral Amounts, on a
              calendar quarter basis, among the deemed investment mutual fund
              options then available, by following such procedures as shall be
              established by the Committee.

         (b)  Company Stock. A Participant may request that all or a portion of
              -------------
              his Deferral Amount be deemed to be invested in Stock. The
              purchase price used for Stock

                                                                        Page -9-

<PAGE>

              units held in Participant Accounts shall be based on the Stock
              price on the date such Deferral Amount is credited to the
              Participant's Account.

6.4      Adjustments for Earnings or Losses. The amount credited to a
         ----------------------------------
         Participant's Account shall be adjusted on a quarterly basis as of the
         last day of each calendar quarter to reflect net earnings, gains or
         losses for the quarter, weighted in accordance with the Participant's
         investment allocation.

         The rate earned (positive or negative) by each deemed investment mutual
         fund available (taking into account earnings distributed and share
         appreciation (gains) or depreciation (losses) on the value of shares in
         the fund), shall be determined and credited to the Participant's
         Accounts that are invested in the mutual fund deemed investment
         options.

         Shares of Stock credited to a Participant's Account shall be adjusted
         to reflect any dividends or distributions paid on such Stock, or any
         split or consolidation of outstanding shares of Stock. If the
         outstanding Stock shall, in whole or in part, be changed into or
         exchangeable for a different class or classes of securities of the
         Company or securities of another corporation or cash or property other
         than Stock, whether through reorganization, reclassification,
         recapitalization, merger, consolidation or otherwise, the Board of
         Directors of the Company shall adopt such amendments to the Plan as it
         deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the Plan, including the
         continuing deferral of any Accounts deemed invested in Company Stock.

6.5      Vesting. Subject to the conditions and limitations on payment of
         -------
         benefits under the Plan, a Participant's Deferral Amount subaccount
         shall be 100% vested as of any relevant date. Company Matching
         Contributions and Discretionary Contributions shall be vested 25% per
         year on a class year basis. The entire balance of the Account shall be
         100% vested upon death, Disability, or retirement after Retirement
         Date.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant is terminated due to
         theft or other dishonesty or if the Participant violates any obligation
         to which he is subject to refrain from competition or disclosure of
         confidential information, the Committee may require the Participant to
         forfeit any portion of his Vested Account derived from Matching or
         Discretionary Contributions and any earnings or appreciation of his
         Deferral Amounts.

6.6      Account Statements. The Committee shall provide each Participant with a
         ------------------
         statement of the status of the Employee's Account under the Plan. The
         Committee shall provide such statement annually or at such other times
         as the Committee may determine. Such statement shall be in the format
         prescribed by the Committee.

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                                  Article VII.

                           Administration of the Plan
                           --------------------------

7.1  Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority
     --------------
     of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a
     majority of a quorum of the Committee at a meeting or acts approved in
     writing by a majority of the Committee without a meeting shall be the acts
     of the Committee. The Committee shall have the discretionary authority to
     make such rules as it deems necessary to administer the Plan, to interpret
     the Plan, to decide questions arising under the Plan, and to take such
     other action as may be appropriate to carry out the purpose of the Plan.
     The Committee is authorized to employ attorneys, accountants or any other
     agents or delegate specified duties to employees of the Company as it shall
     deem proper in the discharge of its duties. The Committee shall be the
     "plan administrator' and the Company shall be the "named fiduciary" as such
     terms are defined by ERISA.

7.2  Compensation and Expenses. Any member of the Committee may receive
     -------------------------
     reimbursement by the Company for expenses properly and actually incurred.
     All expenses of the Committee shall be paid by the Company. Such expenses
     shall include any expenses incident to the functioning of the Committee or
     the Plan, including, but not limited to, fees of actuaries, accountants,
     legal counsel and other specialists, and other costs of administering the
     Plan.

7.3  Claims Review Procedures.
     ------------------------

     (a)  Denial of Claim. If a claim for benefits is wholly or partially
          ---------------
          denied, the claimant shall be given notice in writing of the denial
          within a reasonable time after the receipt of the claim, but not later
          than 90 days after the receipt of the claim. However, if special
          circumstances require an extension, written notice of the extension
          shall be furnished to the claimant before the termination of the
          90-day period. In no event shall the extension exceed a period of 90
          days after the expiration of the initial 90-day period. The notice of
          the denial shall contain the following information written in a manner
          that may be understood by the claimant:

          (1)  The specific reasons for the denial.

          (2)  Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
               denial is based.

          (3)  A description of any additional material or information necessary
               for the claimant to make a claim and an explanation of why such
               material or information is necessary.

          (4)  An explanation that a full and fair review by the Committee of
               the denial may be requested by the claimant or authorized
               representative by filing a

                                                                       Page -11-

<PAGE>

               written request for a review with the Committee within 60 days
               after the notice of the denial is received; and

          (5)  If a request for a review is filed, the claimant or an authorized
               representative may review pertinent documents and submit issues
               and comments in writing within the 60-day period described in
               Section 7.3(a)(4).

     (b)  Decision After Review. The decision of the Committee with respect to
          ---------------------
          the review of the denial shall be made promptly, but not later than
          60-days after the Committee receives the request for the review.
          However, if special circumstances require an extension of time, a
          decision shall be rendered not later than 120 days after the receipt
          of the request for review. A written notice of the extension shall be
          furnished to the claimant prior to the expiration of the initial
          60-day period. The claimant shall be given a copy of the decision,
          which shall state, in a manner calculated to be understood by the
          claimant, the specific reasons for the decision and specific
          references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is
          based.

     (c)  Finality of Determinations. All determinations of the Committee as to
          --------------------------
          any matter arising under the Plan, including questions of construction
          and interpretation shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all
          interested parties.

     (d)  Indemnification. To the extent permitted by law and the Company's
          ---------------
          bylaws, the members of the Committee, its agents, and the officers,
          directors and employees of the Company shall be indemnified and held
          harmless by the Company from and against any and all loss, cost,
          liability or expense that may be imposed upon or may be reasonably
          incurred by them in connection with or resulting with any claim,
          action, suit or proceeding to which they be a party or which they may
          be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the
          Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by them in
          settlement with the Company's written approval or paid by them in
          satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding. The
          foregoing provision shall not be applicable to any person if the loss,
          cost, liability or expense is due to such person's gross negligence or
          willful misconduct.

7.4  Voting of Securities. The Committee shall direct the Trustee as to the
     --------------------
     manner in which voting, dissenter's rights or other stockholder's rights of
     any securities held by the trust created by Article VIII shall be
     exercised.

                                                                       Page -12-

<PAGE>

                                  Article VIII.

                             Provisions For Benefits
                             -----------------------

8.1  Provisions For Benefits. Amounts payable under the Plan to or on account of
     -----------------------
     an Eligible Employee shall be paid, directly or indirectly, from assets of
     the trust established by the Company for such payment, the assets of which
     shall be subject to the claims of creditors of the Company in the event of
     the Company's insolvency. The Company shall make contributions to the trust
     in amounts that are reasonably estimated to be sufficient to satisfy the
     Company's obligations to make benefit payments under the Plan. To the
     extent that the assets of the trust are not sufficient to make benefit
     payments hereunder, amounts payable under the Plan shall be paid directly
     by the Company from its general assets. No assets of the Company shall be
     used solely for the purpose of providing benefits hereunder (except as to
     the amounts paid or payable to the trust established for this Plan), and
     the Company's obligation to pay such benefits is not limited to any
     particular assets of the Company. The Company's obligation to make credits
     to the Accounts of each Eligible Employee is merely a contractual
     obligation, and an Eligible Employee shall be treated as a general creditor
     of the Company with respect to any amounts credited to his Account.

                                                                       Page -13-

<PAGE>

                                   Article IX.

                        Amendment, Termination, or Merger
                        ---------------------------------

9.1  Amendment and Termination. The Board of Directors of the Company may amend,
     -------------------------
     modify or terminate the Plan at any time and in any manner. In the event of
     a termination of the Plan, no further Deferral Amount elections shall be
     made under the Plan. Amounts which are then payable or which become payable
     under the terms of the Plan shall be paid as scheduled under the provisions
     of the Plan, unless the Committee directs the payments be accelerated.

9.2  Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition. In the event of a merger,
     ------------------------------------
     consolidation, or acquisition or other reorganization in which the Company
     is not the surviving or resulting corporation, (i) all Accounts in the Plan
     shall become 100% vested, and (ii) the surviving or resulting corporation
     may elect to continue and carry on the Plan, and in such event, shall have
     the same rights with respect to the Plan as the Company. If the Plan is
     terminated as part of a reorganization, all Accounts shall be considered
     fully vested at such date and participants shall receive payment of their
     Accounts pursuant to Section 5.2.

                                                                       Page -14-

<PAGE>

                                   Article X.

                               General Provisions
                               ------------------

10.1 Effect on Other Plans. Deferred Amounts shall not be considered as part of
     ---------------------
     a Participant's compensation for the purpose of any qualified employee
     pension plans maintained by the Company. However, such amounts may be taken
     into account under all other employee benefit plans maintained by the
     Company in the year in which such amounts would have been payable absent
     the deferral election; provided, such amounts shall not be taken into
     account if their inclusion would jeopardize the tax-qualified status of the
     plan to which they relate.

10.2 Nonalienation. Except as otherwise required by law, no benefit payable at
     -------------
     any time under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to alienation, sale,
     transfer, assignment, pledge, attachment, garnishment, or encumbrance of
     any kind. Any attempt to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or
     otherwise encumber any such benefit, whether presently or hereafter
     payable, shall be void. No benefit payable under the Plan shall in any
     manner be liable for or subject to the debts or liabilities of any
     Participant or Beneficiary entitled to any benefit. Without limiting the
     generality of the foregoing, no benefit payable or in pay status under the
     Plan shall be subject to division in connection with any divorce or
     separation proceeding involving a Participant.

10.3 Incompetency. Any person receiving or claiming benefits under the Plan
     ------------
     shall be conclusively presumed to be mentally competent until the date on
     which the Committee receives written notice, in an acceptable form and
     manner, that such person is incompetent and a guardian or other person
     legally vested with the care of the Employee's estate has been appointed.
     If the Committee finds that any person to whom a benefit is payable under
     the Plan is unable to care for the Employee's affairs because of any
     disability or infirmity and no legal guardian of such person's estate has
     been appointed, any payment due may be paid to the spouse, a child, a
     parent, a sibling, or to any person deemed by the Committee to have
     incurred expense for such person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such
     payment so made shall be a complete discharge of any liability therefor
     under the Plan. If a guardian of the estate of any person receiving or
     claiming benefits under the Plan shall be appointed by a court of competent
     jurisdiction, benefit payments shall be made to such guardian, provided
     proper proof of appointment and continuing qualification is furnished in
     the form and manner acceptable to the Committee. Any such payment so made
     shall be a complete discharge of any liability therefor under the Plan.

10.4 Effect of Mistake. If, in the sole opinion of the Committee, a material
     -----------------
     mistake or misstatement occurs with respect to the eligibility of a
     Participant, the amount of benefit payments made or to be made to or with
     respect to a Participant, the Investment Alternative selected by a
     Participant or other matters related to the administration of the Plan, the
     Committee may make such adjustments as it deems appropriate to correct such
     mistake or misstatement. To the extent that the Committee determines that
     such mistake or misstatement results from an act or failure to act of a
     Participant, the Committee may require the Participant to hold the Plan
     harmless from any loss or expense incurred by it.

                                                                       Page -15-

<PAGE>

10.5 Plan Not an Employment Contract. This Plan is not an employment contract
     -------------------------------
     and does not confer on any person the right to be continued in employment.
     All Employees remain subject to change of salary, transfer, change of job,
     discipline, layoff, discharge or any other change of employment status.

10.6 Tax Withholding. The Company or other payor may withhold from a benefit
     ---------------
     payment or Deferral Amount any federal, state or local taxes required by
     law to be withheld with respect to such payment or Deferral Amount. All
     contributions will be subject to FICA tax as required by federal law. In
     the event the Deferred Amount is invested in Stock and the Participant's
     Account does not contain sufficient cash for the required withholding, the
     Company or other payor may sell shares of Stock to supply sufficient cash
     to fund the required withholding.

10.7 Severability. If any provision of the plan is held invalid or illegal for
     ------------
     any reason, any illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining
     provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if
     the illegal or invalid provision had never been contained therein. The
     Company shall have the privilege and opportunity to correct and remedy such
     questions of illegality or invalidity by amendment.

10.8 Applicable Law. The Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with
     --------------
     the laws of the State of Delaware, except to the extent such laws are
     preempted by any applicable federal law. No reference to ERISA in the Plan
     shall be construed to mean that the Plan is subject to any particular
     provisions of ERISA.

10.9 Binding Effect. This Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its Affiliates
     --------------
     and their respective successors and assigns and upon the Participant and
     each Participant's Beneficiary, heirs, executors, administrators,
     representatives, successors and assigns.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed
by a duly authorized officer of the Company, effective as of February 1, 2002.

                                         WESTWOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

Attest:

By:______________________________        By: __________________________________

                                                                       Page -16-<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                            TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENT

         This TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
____________ __, 2002, is by and between SWS Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("SWS"), and Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Westwood").
SWS and Westwood may be jointly or separately referred to herein as the
"Parties" or a "Party." For the reasons and under the terms below, the Parties
desire to fix their joint and separate tax liabilities as follows:

         SWS, Westwood, Westwood Management Corporation ("WMC") and/or Westwood
Trust ("WT") have heretofore joined in filing certain consolidated, combined and
unitary federal, state, local and/or foreign income tax returns.

         As of December 14, 2001, SWS sold 19.82% of its 100% interest in
Westwood to certain members of Westwood's management and transferred all of the
capital stock of WMC and WT to Westwood in a transaction intended to qualify for
non-recognition treatment under Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). SWS intends to distribute its remaining
80.18% interest in Westwood to its stockholders in a transaction intended to
qualify for non-recognition treatment under Section 355(a) of the Code (the
"Spin-off").

         The Parties desire to allocate their rights and obligations with
respect to the handling of Taxes (as defined below) and to agree as to certain
other matters.

                                    ARTICLE 1
                                   DEFINITIONS

         "Agreement" has the meaning assigned to it in the introductory
paragraph hereof.

         "Assessed" means self-assessed or determined by a Taxing Authority that
a Person is, or may become, subject to legal proceedings.

         "Code" has the meaning assigned to it in the recitals hereto.

         "Consolidated Tax" shall mean any Tax payable to a Taxing Authority on
a consolidated, combined or unitary basis.

         "Managing Party" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 5(A).

         "Other Party" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 5(A).

         "Party" and "Parties" has the meaning assigned to it in the
introductory paragraph hereto.

         "Person" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 7701(a)(1) of the
Code.

<PAGE>

         "Prime" means the rate announced from time to time as "prime" as
reported in the Wall Street Journal's Money Rates table as the prime rate with
respect to the applicable currency.

         "Return" shall mean any return, report, filing, declaration,
questionnaire or other document required to be filed (or permitted to be filed
in order to obtain a Favorable Tax Attribute), including information reports,
requests for extensions of time, filings made with estimated tax payments,
claims for Tax refunds and amended Returns that may be filed for any period with
any Taxing Authority in connection with any Tax.

         "Separate Tax" means any Tax other than a Consolidated Tax.

         "Spin-off" has the meaning assigned to it in the recitals.

         "Spin-off Date" means _____________ ____, 2002.

         "Straddle Period" has the meaning assigned to it in Article 2 of this
Agreement.

         "SWS" has the meaning assigned to it in the introductory paragraph
hereto.

         "SWS Consolidated Group" means SWS and each of its direct and indirect
corporate subsidiaries, including each subsidiary that is a member of the
Westwood Group, that is eligible to join with SWS or a member of the SWS Group
in the filing of a Consolidated Tax Return.

         "SWS Group" means SWS and each of its direct or indirect corporate
subsidiaries, other than those subsidiaries that are members of the Westwood
Group, that is eligible to join with SWS in the filing of a Consolidated Return.

         "SWS Share" means the ratio of (A) the number of days of such Straddle
Period preceding, and including, the Spin-off Date over (B) the total number of
days in such Straddle Period.

         "Tax" means any tax of any kind, together with any interest, penalties,
fines and other additions to Tax, imposed by any Taxing Authority. A
non-compulsory payment shall not be considered a Tax.

         "Tax Attributes" means items of income, gain, deduction, loss and
credit, and similar items that have an effect on a Tax. "Favorable Tax
Attributes" are Tax Attributes that reduce Taxes.

         "Tax Benefit" means an amount derived with respect to a Tax Attribute
that is equal to the excess of (i) the amount of Taxes that would have been
payable by the recipient of the Tax Benefit without the use of the Tax Attribute
(including, but not limited to, a carryback, carryforward, or reattribution of
the Tax Attribute), over (ii) the amount of Taxes, as the case may be, actually
payable by such recipient.

                                       2

<PAGE>

         "Tax Contest" means any judicial or administrative proceeding (i)
brought by a Taxing Authority against a Person for the collection of Tax or (ii)
brought by a Person against a Taxing Authority for refund of Tax paid or to
prevent imposition of assessment of Tax against the Person or the property of a
Person.

         "Tax Refund" means a reimbursement from a Taxing Authority for a Tax
previously paid or accrued by or on behalf of the recipient of the
reimbursement.

         "Taxing Authority" means any federal, state, local, foreign or
international court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
office or other regulatory administration or governmental authority that has
legal authority to assess a Tax.

          "Westwood" has the meaning assigned to it in the introductory
paragraph hereto.

         "Westwood Group" means Westwood and each of its direct or indirect
corporate subsidiaries that is eligible to join with Westwood in the filing of a
Consolidated Tax Return.

         "Westwood Group Consolidated Tax Benefit" means an amount derived by
the SWS Consolidated Group with respect to any Tax period prior to, and
including, the 2002 Tax year, by reason of the application of one or more
Favorable Tax Attributes of the Westwood Group (including any Favorable Tax
Attributes recognized in a Tax period following the 2002 Tax year that the
Westwood Group elects to be carried back to such earlier Tax period), that is
equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of Consolidated Tax that would
have been payable by the SWS Consolidated Group for such Tax period without the
use of the Favorable Tax Attribute(s), over (ii) the amount of Consolidated Tax
that is actually payable by the SWS Consolidated Group for such Tax period.

         "Westwood Group Consolidated Tax Liability" means the Westwood Group's
allocable share of the SWS Consolidated Group's Consolidated Tax liability for
the 2002 Tax year computed using the SWS Consolidated Group's historical method
of computations as if the Westwood Group were not, and never were, a part of any
consolidated group other than a consolidated group of which Westwood was the
common parent.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                STRADDLE PERIODS

         SWS and Westwood agree that with respect to any Tax period for the
payment of a Separate Tax that includes, but does not end on, the Spin-off Date,
if permissible under applicable law, the Parties will elect to close such Tax
period on the Spin-off Date. Any such Tax period not permitted to be closed
under applicable law shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be referred to
herein as a "Straddle Period."

                                       3

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 3
                                FILING OF RETURNS

         A. SWS shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of (i) all
Consolidated Tax Returns of the SWS Consolidated Group for all Tax periods; (ii)
all Separate Tax Returns of any member of the Westwood Group for all Tax periods
ending on or before the Spin-off Date and (iii) all Separate Tax Returns of any
member of the SWS Group for all Tax periods; provided, however, that such Tax
                                             --------  -------
Returns shall be filed consistent with past practice provided that with respect
to any Return in which an item relating to the Westwood Group or any member
thereof will be reflected, SWS agrees to (x) consult with Westwood prior to
filing such a Return regarding the manner in which such items will be reflected
therein; (y) prepare each such Return in a manner consistent with its past
practice; and (z) undertake in good faith to prepare such Returns in a manner
that SWS determines may be substantively beneficial to the Westwood Group for
any taxable period ending after the Spin-off Date, but only to the extent that
such manner of preparing Returns has no adverse impact on SWS. SWS shall be
responsible for the remittance of all Taxes with respect to any Returns filed
pursuant to this Section 3(A). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
SWS will hold the Westwood Group harmless from any cost or liability arising
from the failure to perform this Section 3(A).

         B. Westwood shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of all
Returns, including both Consolidated Tax Returns and Separate Tax Returns, and
the remittance of Taxes with respect thereto, of the Westwood Group or any
member thereof for all Tax periods ending after the Spin-off Date. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, Westwood will hold SWS harmless from any
cost or liability arising from the failure to perform this Section 3(B).

                                    ARTICLE 4
                                   TAX SHARING

         A. Westwood shall pay to SWS an amount equal to any Westwood Group
Consolidated Tax Liability.

         B. If the SWS Consolidated Group (or any member thereof) receives a Tax
Refund or Tax Benefit which relates to a period prior to the Spin-off Date
because of a Westwood Group Consolidated Tax Benefit or a Favorable Tax
Attribute of any member of the Westwood Group recognized after the Spin-off Date
is carried back to a Tax period that ends before or includes the Spin-off Date,
then any Tax Refund or Tax Benefit received by the SWS Consolidated Group
attributable to that Favorable Tax Attribute will be paid by SWS to Westwood.
SWS will pay to Westwood the amount of any such Tax Refund or Tax Benefit on or
before the due date of the SWS Consolidated Group's Consolidated Tax Return for
the Tax period in which the Favorable Tax Attribute is used and usable by the
SWS Consolidated Group or any of its members.

         C. Any Tax Refunds or Tax Benefits realized by the SWS Consolidated
Group not otherwise allocated pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated to
SWS or Westwood based on the source of the Tax Refund or Tax Benefit.

                                       4

<PAGE>

         D. SWS will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Westwood Group from
and against any and all liabilities for any Consolidated Taxes of the SWS
Consolidated Group, other than Consolidated Taxes allocated to the Westwood
Group by this Agreement. Westwood will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
SWS Group from and against any and all liabilities for any Consolidated Taxes of
the Westwood Group, other than Consolidated Taxes allocated to the SWS Group by
this Agreement. SWS will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Westwood Group
from and against any and all liabilities for (i) Separate Taxes attributable to
the Separate Tax Returns described in Sections 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) of this
Agreement and (ii) the SWS Share of any Separate Tax of any member of the
Westwood Group attributable to a Straddle Period.

         E. If, as a result of Westwood's actions, a transaction or series of
transactions triggers application of Section 355(e) of the Code in connection
with the Spin-off, Westwood shall be liable to pay SWS the amount of Tax for
which SWS becomes liable solely by reason of application of Section 355(e) of
the Code and without consideration of any other Tax Attribute of SWS.

         F. If, as a result of SWS's actions, a transaction or series of
transactions triggers application of Section 355(e) of the Code in connection
with the Spin-off, SWS will be responsible for and will pay the Tax for which
SWS becomes liable under Section 355(e) of the Code and will hold Westwood
harmless for any and all costs and liabilities from application of Section
355(e) of the Code.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                                   PROCEEDINGS

         A. The Party who has filed, or is entitled to file pursuant to Article
3 of this Agreement or otherwise, a Return, shall be responsible for and
entitled to manage any Tax Contest relating to such Return (a "Managing Party");
provided, however, that the Managing Party shall keep the other Party (the
--------  -------
"Other Party") informed of all material developments and events relating to any
such Tax Contest to the extent the Tax Contest creates or affects any Tax
liability or Tax Benefit of the Other Party or may give rise to a claim for
indemnification by the Other Party against the Managing Party under Section 4(D)
of this Agreement.

         B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5(A) of this
Agreement or otherwise, Westwood may elect, at its expense, to act as the
Managing Party with respect to an issue raised under Section 355(e) of the Code
for which SWS may become liable as a result of Westwood's actions and for which
Westwood is responsible to pay SWS pursuant to Section 4(E) of this Agreement;
provided, however, that any disposition of an issue that may be adverse in any
--------  -------
way to SWS and that is not compensated for by Westwood pursuant to Section 4(E)
of this Agreement may be made only with the approval of SWS.

         C. The Managing Party is hereby authorized to settle any Tax Contest;
provided, however, that if any proposed settlement creates or affects any Tax
--------  -------
liability or Tax Benefit of the Other Party or may give rise to a claim for
indemnification by the Other Party against the

                                       5

<PAGE>

Managing Party under Section 4(D) of this Agreement, the Managing Party shall
provide the Other Party with ten (10) days advance written notice of such
proposed settlement. If the Managing Party and the Other Party are unable to
agree on the terms of such proposed settlement prior to the expiration of such
ten (10) day period, the Parties agree that such disagreement shall be resolved
pursuant to binding arbitration.

         D. The Managing Party shall bear the costs and expenses of any Tax
Contest. If, under this Agreement or otherwise, a Tax Contest results in a
payment or Tax Benefit to the Other Party, the Managing Party shall be entitled
to offset the payment by the amount of the Managing Party's costs incurred in
the Tax Contest multiplied by the ratio of (i) the Other Party's Tax Benefits
obtained in the Tax Contest, over (ii) the total Tax Benefits obtained in the
Tax Contest. If, under this Agreement or otherwise, a Tax Contest results in a
Tax deficiency to, or a decrease or offset of a Favorable Tax Attribute
attributable to the Other Party, the Other Party shall pay to the Managing Party
an amount equal to the product of (x) the Managing Party's costs in the Tax
Contest and (y) the ratio of the amount of the Other Party's Tax deficiency or
Favorable Tax Attribute decrease or offset over the total Tax deficiency or
Favorable Tax Attribute decrease or offset resulting from the Tax Contest.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                                   COOPERATION

         The Parties agree to cooperate in carrying out the terms of this
Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                                     PAYMENT

         Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any payment under this
Agreement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the date the paying Party
first had notice the payment was due. Any payment that is not made when due
shall bear interest at a rate equal to Prime until paid.

                                    ARTICLE 8
                     INCORPORATION OF DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

         Any issue not expressly addressed by this Agreement shall be decided
under that certain Distribution Agreement dated ____________ __, 2002, the
provisions of which are incorporated by reference hereto.

                                       6

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 9
                      ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMPLIANCE MATTERS

         Any and all existing tax sharing agreements or arrangements, written or
unwritten, between any member of the SWS Group and any member of the Westwood
Group shall be terminated as of the date of this Agreement. As of the date of
this Agreement, neither the members of the SWS Group nor the members of the
Westwood Group shall have any further rights or liabilities under any such
preexisting tax sharing agreements, and this Agreement shall be the sole tax
sharing agreement between SWS and Westwood as well as the respective members of
SWS Group and the Westwood Group.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

                                       7

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties having caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.

                                          SWS GROUP, INC.

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                          WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

Signature Page

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