Charles W. Mason CFP®, CLU
Charles W. Mason, founder of Mason & Associates, Inc., specializes in comprehensive wealth management, individual financial planning, and strategies to help clients achieve long-term financial security. He has over 40 years of experience in personal financial management and life planning. Charles majored in Business Administration at Montgomery College and the University of Maryland and studied finance while serving in the United States Air Force. Charles earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1980 and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1983. Charles is also an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters.
Charles has lived in Southern California for over 45 years. He served as the Commissioner for Glendale Parks and Recreation Commission, as Chapter President for the Crescenta Valley American Red Cross, and was a member of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors. He also served on the Verdugo Hills Hospital Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. Charles enthusiastically supports Glendale Community College, spearheading a parking development project that gained national recognition. He was recognized by the City of Glendale with their Character and Ethics in Business Award for outstanding community leadership and for best exemplifying their guiding principles.
He was honored with the Outstanding Advisory Achievement Award as well as an outstanding leadership award by Transamerica Financial Advisors. He was also honored by Worth Magazine as a Leading Wealth Advisor in their 2022 debut issue.
Charles and his late wife were married for over 55 years, building a life together in Pasadena, California. They raised two sons, Brent & Thomas, and are proud grandparents to five grandchildren. Charles also has a passion for art and painting, often expressing his creativity through these media. He enjoys staying active as an avid Golfer and tennis player and stays engaged in his community. In addition, Charles is a skilled photographer, capturing moments with a keen eye for detail. With decades of experience in investment management and financial planning, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his professional endeavors. Above all, he remains closely connected to his family, cherishing the strong bonds they continue to share.
Charles’s life is also defined by his deep faith and devotion to his church community. His trust in God and commitment to his congregation continue to guide and strengthen him, reflecting the values by which he has lived his life.
Brent M. Mason AIF®
Brent M. Mason is the President of Mason & Associates, Inc. a Registered Investment Advisory Firm located in Los Angeles. Brent began his career with Putnam Investments in Boston, MA, where he was a vice-president and served as the marketing manager for Putnam’s Insurance Products Division. During Brent’s career at Putnam he was one of the youngest corporate officers in the Company’s history. Brent also worked closely with Robert Goodman, PhD., the firm’s senior economic advisor. Brent earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, TX, where he focused on marketing and finance. He currently holds the certification as Accredited Investment Fiduciary®.
Currently, Brent is a member of the Board of Directors at Hillsides, an organization that specializes in meeting the needs of at-risk children in the greater Los Angeles area. Brent previously served as Board Chairman from 2014 – 2016. Brent is an active alumnus at Saint Francis High School in La Canada and a volunteer at his children’s schools.
Brent lives in Pasadena with his wife Leah and their three children: Alexandra, Zachary, and Samantha. He enjoys golf, snow skiing and spending time with family and friends.
Thomas D. Mason Esq.
Thomas D. Mason joined Charles W. Mason & Associates, Inc. in January 2015 as the Director of Business Development. Thomas now serves as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. In his role, Thomas is responsible for leading an effective culture of compliance within the firm. He is responsible for maintaining and administering the RIA compliance program pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission standards, which includes maintaining policies and procedures, performing testing, and executing various regulatory filings. With the ever-increasing complexities of our industry and new regulatory rule making, Thomas is also responsible for organizing and maintaining proper record-keeping of all policies, filings, and certifications required.
In addition to his role as Chief Compliance Officer, Thomas also runs a successful Estate Planning practice. In this role, he provides highly customized estate planning and settlement solutions that meld convenience with exceptional client experience. Thomas utilizes his legal knowledge to create practical solutions for complex planning and trust settlement issues.
Thomas received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Long Beach. He received his law degree from California Western School of Law and is an active member of the California State Bar Association.
In his spare time, Thomas enjoys tutoring at risk youth, both at the high school and grammar school levels, helping them prepare for standardized testing. He is an avid golfer and enjoys playing basketball, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Thomas lives in Pasadena with his wife Jamie and their two children: Ryan and Taylor.
Sun Mi “Anne” Shim AEP®, CFP®, EA
Anne Shim serves as Vice President and Financial Planning Advisor for Mason & Associates, Inc. She joined the firm in 2002 and has over 30 years of financial services experience. Anne handles financial planning matters for new and existing clients of the firm. As a licensed tax professional, she works closely with clients’ tax professionals and estate planning attorneys regarding tax and/or estate planning matters.
Anne has earned the designations of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Anne is also an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) and a member of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, whose mission is to promote the multidisciplinary approach to estate planning by supporting local estate planning councils and their members and by encouraging the formation of new councils. She has passed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Anne also holds the IRS Enrolled Agent designation. Enrolled agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before. Anne also obtained a designation, Certified Tax Coach™(CTC), from the American Institute of Certified Tax Planners to better serve clients with the various tax savings strategies while keeping up with the latest tax laws that are crucial to the clients she serves.
Anne is also a licensed California insurance agent (0D70949) and can offer life, health, and long-term care insurance policies.
Anne is registered with the CFP Board as a pro bono advisor for families with cancer. Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Business/Accounting from the University of Phoenix and graduated with Honors. Anne emigrated from South Korea and is also fluent in Korean. Anne and her husband have two daughters and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Anne also volunteered as a PTA President for Mukunghwa Korea School for the last 10 years. Anne enjoys spending time with her children and her dog and learning Tae Kwon Do any chance she gets.
Kent Dallmeyer
Mr. Kent Dallmeyer is Investment Advisory Representative and has more than 40 years of experience in the financial industry. Kent began his career as a banker and transitioned into a registered representative and branch manager for independent broker dealers. Kent attended Cornell College and the Colorado School of Banking, and served in the Iowa National Guard as the company clerk. Throughout his career, Kent has remained very active in the community. He served as the Treasurer for the City of Washington, March of Dimes, and the Chamber of Commerce. He is a major donor and benefactor of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Kent currently holds his Series 65 license. He maintains his insurance license In Iowa for life, health, long-term care, and annuities. He is a lifelong resident of Washington, Iowa along with his wife, Jane, their two adult children, and six grandchildren. Kent enjoys attending Iowa Hawkeye sporting events, as well as traveling and playing pinochle. He and his family spend their winters in beautiful St, George, Utah.
Michelle Adams
Marketing is fun! For Michelle Adams, it’s all about connecting with real people and having meaningful conversations that inspire them to grow their financial confidence. As the Marketing Manager at Mason & Associates, Inc., she brings warmth, creativity, and authenticity to every interaction.
With over 16 years of experience in marketing strategy and management, Michelle continues to love what she does—sharing the Mason & Associates message in a way that reflects the firm’s values while shining a light on the importance of financial awareness and delivering outstanding customer service experience.
Michelle holds a UCLA extension certificate in marketing and a nursing degree from Maric College in San Diego. She is also a Notary Public, offering traveling notary services throughout Los Angeles County, and a licensed California insurance agent providing life and health insurance products.
Michelle applies the wisdom she’s gained at Mason & Associates to her own financial journey and enjoys sharing that empowerment with others. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and daughter, exploring the outdoors, traveling, and creating memorable moments together. She also values alternative health care as part of overall well-being, enjoys dancing with her hula sisters, and has a playful passion for holiday decorating, especially Halloween and Christmas. These passions, both personally and professionally, allow Michelle to bring fresh energy, balance, and authenticity to her role at Mason & Associates, enriching the client’s experience every step of the way.
Liliana Verduzco
Liliana Verduzco joined Mason & Associates, Inc. in October 2011 and currently serves as the firm’s Operations Manager. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm, ensuring seamless coordination across departments while delivering exceptional service to clients. She also leads the firm’s Insurance Department.
Liliana holds a California Insurance License (#0E31197) and successfully passed the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination (Series 65) in 2016. She has earned certificates in both Human Resources Management and Personal Financial Planning from UCLA Extension, further enhancing her leadership and financial expertise.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Liliana enjoys traveling, hiking, and music. She is passionate about animals—especially the office dog, Roxy, and her beloved cat, Nala. She is also actively involved in her community and regularly volunteers alongside her husband.
Alexander Santibáñez CFA®, MBA
Alex Santibáñez is the Director of Investments at Mason & Associates, where he oversees the firm’s investment strategy, research, and portfolio management. Since joining the firm in 2018, Alex has led the development of Mason & Associates’ investment process and chairs the investment committee. He directs the firm’s approach to asset allocation, investment due diligence, and risk management, overseeing client assets across a wide range of strategies and asset classes.
Before Mason & Associates, Alex was a Senior Analyst at Stonemark Wealth Management, where he collaborated with the Chief Investment Officer on portfolio construction, trading, and security analysis. He began his career as a Credit Research Analyst on the municipal trading desk at Hilltop Securities (formerly Southwest Securities), conducting research and financial analysis across a variety of municipal sectors.
Alex earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside, and an MBA in Finance from the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University. He is a CFA® charterholder and an active member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Los Angeles.
In his free time, Alex enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with his family.
Amanda Messmore
Amanda Mendoza Messmore has been a part of Mason & Associates since 2019, where she plays a key role in supporting the firm’s financial operations and client services. She is committed to ensuring clients feel confident and cared for throughout their financial planning experience.
Amanda earned her B.S. in Business Consumer Affairs with minors in Marketing and Apparel Merchandising from California State University, Northridge. She graduated with University Honors with Commitment to Excellence and gained early career experience in financial services, human resources, and licensing at The University Corporation. She also completed a business internship with Walt Disney World in Florida, further developing her skills in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
Outside of work, Amanda treasures time with her husband, Cory, and their two children, McKinley and Austin. Together, they love making memories at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, a tradition that combines their love of travel, fun, and family time. Sporting events are also a big part of Amanda’s life, whether it’s cheering on the Rams at SoFi Stadium or catching a Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium, she enjoys the energy and excitement that comes with being a loyal fan. Amanda finds the most joy in experiences that bring her family together and create lifelong memories.
Melody-Anne Legaspi
Melody-Anne (Melody) Legaspi joins our team with over 19 years of experience in the investment industry. She is well versed in all aspects of back-office operations, with special interest in trust administration. She has a keen attention to detail and prides herself in establishing and nurturing client relationships. Previously, she worked for local RIA firms in the Pasadena area, where she attended to high net-worth clients and foundations.
Melody grew up in Eagle Rock, CA and still calls it home. A graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University with a double major in Accounting and English Literature, Melody was awarded magna cum laude in 2002. Melody is married to Marco, also a native of Eagle Rock, and they have four children (and two fur babies, Mango and Mochi). As a family, they love to travel, explore new destinations, and visit Disney parks. When she’s not at a volleyball game cheering for her kids, she enjoys catching up on K-drama shows.
Mitchell Crocker CFP®
Mitchell is an Investment Planning Analyst at Mason & Associates and a Certified Financial Planner® professional. He is dedicated to helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals through thoughtful analysis, personalized strategies, and a commitment to excellence in financial planning. He collaborates with the firm’s investment committee to design, implement, and monitor investment strategies with an emphasis on risk management and long-term client objectives.
Before joining Mason & Associates, Mitchell was an Account Executive at Petersen International Underwriters, where he developed group insurance plans for large corporations. He holds his Series 65 license and is California Insurance licensed (4116052), allowing him to provide life, health, and long-term care insurance solutions. Mitchell earned his B.S. in Kinesiology from Westmont College, where he was also a member of the baseball team. He is an avid sports fan and a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons as well as playing golf.
Jenell Gabra
Jenell Gabra serves as Executive Support & Client Relations Specialist at Mason & Associates, Inc., where she is dedicated to ensuring clients receive the highest level of care, organization, and support throughout their life planning journey.
After taking time away to raise her three children—Marlow, Braylin, and Camden—Jenell was excited to return to Mason & Associates in 2023, bringing both her professional expertise and a renewed perspective shaped by her experiences as a mother. She takes pride in building strong relationships with clients, helping them feel comfortable, informed, and confident.
Beyond the office, Jenell is actively involved in her community and her children’s education. She serves on the PTO Board at their school and stays engaged in their many extracurricular activities—cheering Camden on at soccer, supporting Braylin’s basketball team, and watching Marlow shine in theater. She and her family are also active members of their church community, where Jenell teaches Sunday school alongside her husband, Joey, who serves as Music Director for the praise service. Jenell’s ability to balance professional excellence with family, faith, and community involvement reflects her deep commitment to service, connection, and leadership—values that align seamlessly with the mission of Mason & Associates.