Ab o ut MAS EC O As ia Lim it e d
MASECO Asia Limited (MASECO) was established in 2016
and is an investment advisory firm providing fee-based
wealth management services primarily for private clients
based either in the US or Asia. It is a limited company
established in Hong Kong (HK Companies Registry
#2340717) and has its registered office and principal
place of business in Hong Kong. Mark E Scher, Ashley J
Scher, Joshua Matthews and James Sellon are the
principal owners of MASECO directly. Ashley Scher is
Chief Compliance Officer of the firm. Further
information regarding Mr. and Mrs. Scher, Mr. Matthews,
and Mr. Sellon is located at the end of this brochure.
MASECO Asia Limited is a Registered Investment Advisor
with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). MASECO Asia Limited is authorized
and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission
in the Hong Kong to carry out Type 9 asset
management activities.
S e rvice s o ff e re d b y MAS EC O As ia Lim it e d
MASECO offers discretionary asset management
services, including wealth management and financial
modelling services for its clients. The offering is designed
for clients with $500k or more to invest.
A. In ve s t m e nt Ma n a g e m e n t
MASECO manages discretionary portfolios on behalf of
its clients. MASECO adopts a risk-based approach to
portfolio construction creating a range of risk-graded
model portfolios which generally use institutional asset
class strategies to mirror the various sub-asset classes that
it believes are suitable for a particular model portfolio.
Funds are selected on the basis of various criteria, such
as management style, investment philosophy, track
record, investment objectives, portfolio composition, risk
management, portfolio construction, and fees and
expenses.
Each portfolio is constructed primarily of mutual
funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), and other pooled
investment vehicles, but may also include individual
equities (including exchange-listed securities, securities
traded over-the-counter or foreign issuers), and bonds
(including warrants, corporate debt securities, certificates
of deposit, municipal securities and United States
governmental securities), as well as fund of hedge funds.
While each portfolio is designed to achieve a particular
goal and the investments within the portfolio are in turn
selected to help achieve that goal, clients are given the
opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types of
investments to be included within their individual
account. Clients retain beneficial ownership of all
portfolio securities.
MASECO regularly monitors the underlying securities in
client accounts and rebalances portfolios as necessary. If
MASECO believes that a reallocation is required, for
example, that a particular investment is performing
inadequately, or that a different investment may be more
appropriate, it may recommend a different investment and
reinvest the assets in accordance with the discretionary
authority granted by the client.
B. W e a lt h P la n n in g a n d Fin a n cia l Mo d e llin g
Incidental to MASECO’s asset management services,
wealth planning and financial modelling is part of
MASECO’s process to establish a holistic view of the
client’s circumstances so as to form a solid foundation for
investment recommendations.
Wealth Planning will, in general, address any or all of the
following
areas:
• Tax & Cash Flow: Income and spending analysis
and planning for current and future years. We
will also illustrate the impact of various
investments on a client’s current income tax and
future tax liability.
• Personal: Family records, budgeting, personal
liability, estate information, and financial goals.
• Education: Education IRAs, financial aid, state
savings and 529 plans, grants, and general
assistance in preparing to meet dependents
continuing educational needs through development
of an education plan.
• Death & Disability: Cash needs at death, income
needs of surviving dependents, estate planning,
and disability income analysis.
• Retirement: Analysis of current strategies and
investment plans to help the client achieve his or
her retirement goals.
• Investments: Analysis of investment alternatives
and their effect on a client’s portfolio.
• Wealth Transfer: Provide an assessment of the
most efficient estate planning strategies and
outline ways to efficiently pass on wealth based on
individual needs, objectives, and priorities.
Charitable Giving: If there are charitable giving
intentions, we can discuss available options and outline
effective ways to meet charitable goals.
Through personal discussion and a comprehensive
information gathering process, MASECO establishes a
client’s attitude to risk and capacity for loss, their
goals, objectives, time horizon, liquidity needs, income
7 | FORM ADV | © 2023 MASECO Asia Limited. All rights reserved. Mar 2023
requirements, and investment needs, and by using the
information gathered, MASECO determines which of its
model portfolios or tailored portfolio is best suited to
meet those individual and multiple needs. It may be in
certain circumstances that MASECO suggests either
making modifications to a portfolio (create a bespoke
portfolio) or recommends the portfolio allocation is spread
between two or more accounts if this means it can more
effectively achieve the required outcome.
When portfolios have been determined, MASECO
provides the client with a Discretionary Investment
Mandate (DIM) that outlines its recommendation.
MASECO then manages the portfolio(s) in accordance
with the mandate described in the DIM.
In order to ensure that MASECO’s initial
recommendation of an appropriate portfolio
continues to be suitable on an ongoing basis and that
the account continues to be managed in a manner
fitting the client’s circumstances, MASECO maintains
up-to-date client suitability information by scheduling
a client review at least once a year. MASECO asks
clients, on an annual basis, to confirm that their
circumstances have not changed to ensure that the
portfolio remains suitable. MASECO requests prompt
notification from clients of any material change in their
financial circumstances in the meantime that may affect
their position.
MASECO does not provide custody services, and at no
time will it accept or maintain custody of a client’s
portfolio or account. MASECO will introduce clients to a
non-affiliated third-party platform provider who will be
responsible for the safe-keeping and administration of
the client’s account.
The client is responsible for all custodian and execution
fees charged by the platform and executing
broker/dealer.
C. Am o un t o f m a n a g e d a s s e t s
As at 31/12/2022, MASECO managed $63,396,266 of
clients’ assets on a discretionary basis.