A. Mason & Associates, LLC (“Adviser”) is an investment adviser founded in 2020, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and is principally owned by Michael Mason, Kenneth Mason, John Mason, and Thomas Blackburn.
B. Adviser offers the following types of advisory services: i. Investment Management Adviser provides ongoing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services to its clients based upon each client’s current financial condition, investment objective, risk tolerance, income, liquidity requirements, investment time horizon, and other information that is relevant to the management of clients’ account(s). Adviser generally recommends that clients fulfill their investment objectives by allocating their assets across diversified risk-based portfolios (each, a “Model Portfolio”). This Model Portfolio is rebalanced periodically to remain in-line with the client’s agreed-upon asset allocation, though the asset allocation may be changed from time to time based on changes to a client’s specific situation. Adviser typically provides investment advice with respect to limited types of investments, which generally include mutual funds and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).
In discretionary relationships, clients grant Adviser a limited power of attorney pursuant to the terms of a signed investment management agreement. This authority permits Adviser to buy, sell, and otherwise transact in clients’ accounts without receiving such clients’ approval in advance of each trade. In non-discretionary relationships, clients may accept or reject Adviser’s portfolio recommendations, and trades are not placed in any account without a client’s approval.
For most clients, Adviser recommends the retention of one or more independent and unaffiliated third-party investment advisers, or selects such independent and unaffiliated third-party advisers on the client’s behalf (each, an “Independent Adviser”). The Independent Adviser is designated as a sub-adviser to such clients’ accounts, and provides advisory, asset allocation, and administrative services to clients through Adviser’s oversight and supervision. Such services can include, for example, model portfolio construction and management, transaction processing, back-office support, quarterly reporting, fee-debiting, delivery of market commentary, and custodial interfacing. Both Adviser and the Independent Adviser share responsibility for rendering advisory and administrative services. As of the date of this brochure, Adviser recommends the retention of Strategic Equity Management, Inc. (“SEM”) as the Independent Adviser for substantially all investment management clients. ii. Financial Planning In addition to investment management, Adviser also offers ongoing financial planning services that clients will be responsible for implementing at their discretion. Ongoing financial planning will typically include analyses and recommendations with respect to financial statement preparation and analysis (including cash flow analysis/planning and budgeting), insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning (among other related topics). A conflict of interest exists with respect to financial planning services to the extent a financial plan recommends that the client engage Adviser for investment management services. Financial planning clients are advised that they are under no obligation to act upon Adviser’s financial planning analyses or recommendations, and if a financial planning client elects to act on any such analyses or recommendations, he or she is under no obligation to affect them through Adviser.
iii. Divorce Planning & Educational Seminars From time to time, Adviser will also render miscellaneous standalone services as requested. Typically such services are focused on divorce planning and the delivery of educational seminars regarding federal employee retirement benefits, but can vary based on the specific needs of the client.
iv. Tax Return Preparation & Filing Through its partnership with an independent and unaffiliated

third-party firm (the “Third-Party Tax Consultant”), Adviser can also facilitate the preparation and filing of clients’ tax returns with applicable taxing authorities. Such services are generally separate from any investment management and/or financial planning services that Adviser may render to a client, and the exact scope of such tax services will depend on the nature of a client’s specific tax situation. As a condition of engaging Adviser and the Third-Party Tax Consultant, client must sign a separate engagement letter that specifically describes the tax services to be provided and the fees that will be incurred. v. Estate Planning Service Through its partnership with an independent and unaffiliated third-party firm (the “Third-Party Estate Planning Service”), Adviser can facilitate the preparation of various estate planning documents for clients. Such services are generally separate from any investment management and/or financial planning services that Adviser may render to a client, and the exact scope of such estate planning services will depend on the nature of a client’s specific estate planning needs. As a condition of engaging Adviser and the Third-Party Estate Planning Service, client must sign a separate engagement letter that specifically describes the estate planning services to be provided and the fees that will be incurred. For the avoidance of doubt, Adviser does not itself render legal advice or legal services, including but not limited to estate planning advice.
C. Adviser tailors its advisory services to the individual needs of its clients by taking the time to understand clients’ current financial condition, goals, risk tolerance, income, liquidity requirements, investment time horizon, and other information that is relevant to the management of clients’ account(s). This information will then be used to make investment decisions and recommendations that reflect clients’ individual needs and objectives on an initial and ongoing basis. As described above, Adviser’s decisions and recommendations typically entail the retention of an Independent Adviser. To the extent a client has engaged Adviser on a non-discretionary basis, Adviser will review all such recommendations with clients, and clients will have the opportunity to accept or reject any recommendations. Non-discretionary clients are under no obligation to accept or implement any recommendation made by Adviser. To the extent a client has engaged Adviser on a discretionary basis, Adviser and the Independent Adviser retain the ability to buy, sell, exchange, and otherwise transact in securities in client accounts without first seeking such client’s specific pre-approval. Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities so long as such restrictions may reasonably be implemented by Adviser.
D. Adviser does not participate in any wrap fee programs. E. When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), as applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must: i. Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give prudent advice); ii. Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give loyal advice); iii. Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments; iv. Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your best interest; v. Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and vi. Give you basic information about conflicts of interest. F. As of December 31, 2022, Adviser has the following assets under management: i. Discretionary: $273,736,374 ii. Non-Discretionary: $0 5