Tommy Blackburn
CFP®, CPA/PFS
Mason & Associates, LLC
Senior Financial Advisor
Tommy Blackburn
CFP®, CPA/PFS
Mason & Associates, LLC
Senior Financial Advisor
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Tommy Blackburn, CFP®, CPA/PFS
Fee-Only financial planner located in Newport News, VA, serving clients locally and across the country
Tommy Blackburn is a Newport News, VA fee-only financial planner. Mason & Associates specializes in helping federal employees, state employees, military, and private sector employees organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Tommy Blackburn is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Areas of expertise include the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), retirement planning for military members, and tax planning.
LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST: Federal Employee Financial Planning
We speak specifically to federal employees and the unique planning techniques and strategies to help them maximize their benefits. Mason & Associates have over three decades serving as financial planners for federal employees.
Tommy Blackburn is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business as a Finance major and completed the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) education requirement. While pursuing his Bachelor’s degree, Tommy observed that taxation was integral in financial planning and decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Accounting at Virginia Tech with a focus in taxation.
Tommy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He also holds the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as the Series 65 and the Virginia Life and Health Consultant Licenses.
Tommy joined Mason & Associates in 2019 as a Senior Financial Planner and earned a partnership position in 2020. Prior to joining Mason & Associates, Tommy was a Senior Financial Planner at a respected financial planning firm in Richmond, VA, and also has experience with a “Big 4” public accounting firm. Tommy’s primary responsibilities consist of working directly with Mason & Associates clients in all aspects of their financial plan, with a particular emphasis on the subjects of tax, retirement, and estate planning. Tommy works closely with John Mason in developing and implementing technology initiatives at the firm, social media marketing, and is now a co-host of the Mason & Associates Ask the Expert radio show with Michael.
Tommy and his wife, Jess, reside in Williamsburg, Virginia with their dog Harper, and they recently welcomed their first child, Zoe, in July of 2020! Jess is a graduate of James Madison University and currently works for Citizens One Home Loans as an Assistant Vice President. Together, they are enjoying getting to know the area and being close to Jess’s parents who also reside in Williamsburg. In their free time they love traveling, riding bicycles, hiking, checking out local breweries, and taking walks.
Tommy Blackburn is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
We place clients' interests first and empower them to live their best life.
Mason & Associates, LLC is an independent, fee-only financial planning firm located in Newport News, Virginia. Our firm was founded in 2003 as the “go-to” firm for Federal employees seeking comprehensive financial planning advice. Success over the years has expanded our areas of specialty to include members of the Armed Forces, Virginia State Employees (Virginia Retirement System - VRS), Huntington Ingalls Industries personnel, and all private sector employees. Our goal is to maximize the use of employer-based pensions and benefits and guide clients as they supplement these benefits with private plans and investments.
The Mason Financial Planning Team offers comprehensive financial planning to State and Federal employees throughout the Peninsula and Tidewater region of Virginia (Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach). Because of our location in Hampton Roads, VA, we have the unique opportunity to specialize with Federal, State, and Military personnel due to our close proximity to Langley Air Force Base, Little Creek Base, Ft. Eustis Army Base, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, NASA, Department of Defense, and the VA Hospital, to name a few. You do not have to be a State or Federal employee to enjoy our exceptional planning services, but if you are, you absolutely want Mason & Associates on your team.
In addition, since many of our clients are Federal/Military, we utilize technology to maintain long-distance relationships with people who live all over the country. If you move from Virginia or live in another state, don't worry - we can work with you!
Tune in to the Mason & Associates Financial Planning Radio Show to hear more about financial planning strategies. Michael and John co-host the bimonthly call-in radio show, heard locally on WNIS AM 790. The show airs the first and third Tuesday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
OUR MISSION
We provide unique, transparent, and comprehensive financial planning advice that places clients' interests first and empowers them to live their best life.
OUR VISION
To uphold our commitment to family values, exceptional customer service, and individualized financial planning advice for future generations as we expand our team of qualified financial professionals.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Diligent Savers with $700,000 or More Saved for Retirement
- Nice People
- Looking for a Trusted Advisor
- Business Owners and Executives
Working Together
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Tommy Blackburn is a NAPFA-Registered Financial AdvisorThe National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Tommy Blackburn is a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
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Tommy Blackburn is a Member of the XY Planning NetworkThe XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
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Tommy Blackburn is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for VerificationCFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Tommy Blackburn is a Certified Public Accountant (Learn More)A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional accountant who has met the education and experience requirements set by their state's Board of Accountancy and has passed the Uniform CPA Exam. CPAs are licensed to provide a wide range of accounting services, including financial statement preparation, tax planning and preparation, auditing, consulting, and other financial advisory services.
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Tommy Blackburn is a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)The Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential is granted solely to CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) with considerable personal financial planning education and experience. All areas of personal financial planning—including estate, retirement, investments, and insurance—have tax implications, and the PFS professional has the experience, ethics, and expertise to get the job done right.
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Tommy Blackburn is Quoted on NerdWallet.com: "How to Put Your Tax Refund to Work for You"
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Tommy Blackburn is a Featured Member of the Virginia Society of CPAs
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Tommy Blackburn is Quoted on CNBC: "Home prices have surged. Here’s how to tap into that equity if you aren’t ready to sell"
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Tommy Blackburn is Quoted in Financial Advisor Magazine: "Clients Buying Or Refinancing Pricey Homes Face New Tax Rules"
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Tommy Blackburn is Featured in Richmond Biz Sense: "The Herd: New hires, promotions & departures for 1.28.20"
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Tommy Blackburn is Chairman of the Board of the Financial Planning Association of Central Virginia
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Tommy Blackburn is Quoted on MSN Money: "How to Find a Financial Advisor if You're Not Rich?"
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Tommy Blackburn Named Virginia Society of CPA’s “Top 5 Under 35” in 2018
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Tommy Blackburn is Named to InvestmentNews Top 40 Under 40 in 2018
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AICPA Announces Standing Ovation Honors in Personal Financial Planning, Including Tommy Blackburn in 2017
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Tommy Blackburn is a Guest on XYPN Radio: "Ep #296: Transitioning an Established Practice to Fee-Only: A Conversation with John Mason and Tommy Blackburn"
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Mason & Associates, LLC is an Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau
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Tommy Blackburn Co-Hosts Mason & Associates "Ask The Expert" Radio Show
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VSCPA Service Month Spotlight: Tommy Blackburn, CPA
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Tommy Blackburn is Quoted in the Richmond Times Dispatch: "Home-grown real estate business expands outside of the Richmond region into other states"
Contact Tommy Blackburn
Office Locations:
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11827 Canon Boulevard
Suite 204
Newport News, VA 23606
