Berkeley, CA Office

Mason & Associates serves individuals, retirement and profit‑sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and small businesses, providing personalized financial planning, investment management (both discretionary and non‑discretionary), and limited‑scope hourly planning and implementation services. While the firm generally operates on a fee basis for advisory services, some advisory affiliates are licensed insurance agents who may receive commissions for insurance products; the brochure discloses this as a potential conflict and notes clients are under no obligation to purchase insurance through the firm.

The firm’s investment process is grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and produces a Life Plan and client‑specific Investment Policy Statement, emphasizing strategic and tactical asset allocation, sector rotation and global diversification, typically implemented through no‑load or load‑waived mutual funds and ETFs. Mason uses an open‑architecture platform, may recommend or appoint third‑party portfolio managers, aggregates trades at times for execution, and provides periodic reviews tied to the client’s objectives.

Noteworthy distinctions include a relatively high stated account minimum of $1,000,000 and routine engagement with private placements and illiquid investments—transactions for which the firm may receive finders’ fees or have affiliated underwriting or sourcing arrangements—which the brochure identifies as creating potential conflicts of interest. The firm also discloses an ownership affiliation with an entity that manages a private fund, requires clients to use qualified custodians with which the firm has relationships, and staffs professionals holding credentials such as CFA, CFP, AEP, AIF and a JD.