Firm Description
Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc. (“MIAS” or the “Firm”) is a Securi�es and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in Reston,
Virginia. MIAS was founded in 1982 and is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Mason
Interna�onal, Inc. (“Mason Interna�onal”).
MIAS provides personal financial planning services, investment management for private
individuals and families, and investment stewardship services for ins�tu�onal non-profit
organiza�ons (each a “Client” and collec�vely “Clients”). As used in this brochure, the words “we,”
“our” and “us” refer to MIAS and the words “you”, “your” and “Client” refer MIAS’ advisory
clients.
Financial Planning Services
MIAS provides fee-based financial planning services to Clients in the U.S. and around the world.
Generally, financial planning services involve preparing a financial program for a client based on
the Client’s specific needs and circumstances. The process begins with iden�fying the Client's
financial and non-financial objec�ves. In some cases, these objec�ves are known and
quan�fiable, but o�en they are developed as part of the counseling process. This informa�on
normally would cover present and an�cipated assets and liabili�es, including funding strategies,
re�rement planning, income tax planning, stock op�ons and other compensa�on plan strategies,
investment planning, charitable giving strategies, risk management, and estate planning.
O�en the focus of the planning process is to assist our Clients in working towards the goal of
mee�ng their financial needs throughout the various stages of their lives. Each Client receives a
strategic plan of ac�on addressing the specific objec�ves. Once the plan is presented to the Client
and understood, our staff plays an ac�ve role in assis�ng in comple�ng all agreed upon ac�on
steps.
Investment Management Services
MIAS offers investment management services to individuals and ins�tu�onal investors through
separately managed accounts (“Accounts”). Through personal discussions in which goals and
objec�ves based on a Client's par�cular circumstances are established, we develop a Client's
personal investment profile and create and manage a por�olio based on that profile. Each
Account is established by entering into a writen advisory agreement with the Client through
which the Client may impose restric�ons on inves�ng in certain securi�es or types of securi�es.
MIAS will typically create a por�olio of mutual funds, Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and in
limited circumstances private funds (collec�vely “Funds”). Addi�onally, the Firm may select and
use the services of other third-party money managers that directly manage separate accounts in
the Client’s name (“Third-Party Managers”). A separate brokerage account is opened for each
Third-Party Manager used in the por�olio, whereby they are given discre�on over the account
assigned to them. While MIAS typically u�lizes Funds or Third-Party Managers for investment
purposes, in certain instances we may invest directly in equi�es or fixed income securi�es to
achieve the Client’s objec�ves. The Firm will allocate the Client's assets among these various
investments taking into considera�on the overall management style selected by the Client.
The Firm generally provides these services through three (3) kinds of rela�onships.
Mason Investment Management Service ("MIMS")
MIAS offers advisory services to private clients and ins�tu�onal investors as part of the Firm’s
Mason Investment Management Service (“MIMS”). MIMS Accounts may be established
with
either no discre�on, limited discre�on or full discre�on. Regardless of MIAS’ discre�onary
authority, each MIMS Account generally offers Clients the same three (3) services: (1) the
development of an asset alloca�on strategy to accommodate the unique financial circumstances
and investment objec�ves of each client; (2) implementa�on or selec�on and acquisi�on of
investment vehicles and/or securi�es to be purchased by the MIMS Account; and (3) MIMS
Account maintenance, monitoring, and repor�ng.
Investment Stewardship
MIAS has developed an Investment Stewardship program for non-profit organiza�ons,
founda�ons, corporate businesses, and re�rement accounts to assist them with managing their
por�olios. Investment Stewardship services may be both discre�onary and non-discre�onary in
nature.
Usually, MIAS ini�ates this process by reviewing the Client's investment policy statement and
working with the Client's investment commitee to outline objec�ves and principles for
investment decisions. This process addresses risk tolerance, return goals, payout objec�ves,
permited and prohibited investments, manager selec�on, performance benchmarks, and
evalua�on criteria. MIAS then assists the Client’s investment commitee in analyzing payout
policy op�ons, if applicable, and makes recommenda�ons which assist the Client's annual payout
needs, along with its long-term investment objec�ves. MIAS also recommends an alloca�on
strategy for the Client's por�olio, which is consistent with the Client’s investment goals.
The next phase is implementa�on, or the selec�on and acquisi�on of investment vehicles to be
used in the por�olio, including Funds and Third-Party Money Managers, as applicable. Depending
on whether the engagement is discre�onary or non-discre�onary, MIAS will then select, or assist
the Client in selec�ng, managers that best fit its needs through a due diligence process. This
process analyzes long term performance, asset class fit, consistency of investment style,
management team turnover, performance in uncertain markets, and cost-effec�veness among
other review criteria.
The last phase includes account maintenance (on-going management), monitoring, and quarterly
repor�ng to the Client’s investment commitee. When requested, MIAS will also provide the
Client's financial staff with monthly consolidated transac�on repor�ng covering all of the Client’s
investments, which may include investments over which MIAS has no discre�on.
Short Term Reserves Service
MIAS offers Clients a short-term cash reserves service, whereby MIAS ac�vely manages Clients’
cash balances through a separate account by u�lizing various short-term investments (e.g. ultra
short bond mutual funds or ETFs, U.S. treasury securi�es, cer�ficates of deposit, commercial
paper, short-term, agency paper, short-term municipals, and money market funds). Clients may
opt for this addi�onal service as part of their MIMS advisory agreement or sign a separate
advisory agreement.
Aggregate Data Reporting
MIAS provides data aggrega�on and repor�ng on certain Client’s mul�ple custodial rela�onships
and prepares mul�ple consolidated reports on a monthly and quarterly basis. For some clients
MIAS provides advice on Client’s mul�ple custodial rela�onships and the investments held in
these rela�onships.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, MIAS managed a total of approximately $12,155,269,613, of which
$11,541,595,284 was managed on a discre�onary basis and $613,674,329 was managed on a
non-discre�onary basis.