The Cabana Team

Chadd Mason J.D., LL.M., CWM

Chief Executive Officer

Certifications: American Academy of Financial Management Chartered Wealth Manager, Series 65, Life and Health Insurance Licensed

Chadd is the CEO and co-founder of The Cabana Group, a financial services firm that provides risk-based wealth management, legal counsel, retirement solutions and financial planning tools to individual investors and financial advisors across the country.  

He has spent more than 25 years as an attorney and 15 years as a portfolio manager in the state of Arkansas. After more than a decade practicing law, he found his passion for investing and helping clients discover a better, simpler, more transparent way to manage risk and plan. In the early 2000s he started a hedge fund, and with the help of a small team, developed a proprietary algorithm designed to help shelter investors from risk by allocating assets based on the current economic cycle. In 2007, he founded Cabana LLC (dba Cabana Asset Management), which is now a registered investment adviser within The Cabana Group. Cabana LLC was ranked in Financial Advisor magazine’s 2018 and 2019 Top 50 Fastest-Growing Firms at #1 and #2, respectively.* 

Today, The Cabana Group is the parent company of Cabana LLC and Cabana Financial and shares common ownership with Cabana Law Group (dba Prevost, Shaff Mason and Carns, PLLC in the state of Texas). When forming The Cabana Group, Chadd’s primary goal was to combine specialized knowledge in several professions to better serve individual investors, businesses and financial advisors. 

Chadd graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in Psychology and went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver. In 2013, he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Laws degree in Financial Services and Wealth Management from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. 

Awards and recognition disclaimers can be found here: https://thecabanagroup.com/disclaimers/.  

Louis Shaff J.D., LL.M.

Chief Financial Officer

Certifications: FINRA Series 65, Life and Health insurance licensed

Louis Shaff began his professional career as an attorney in 1995. In 1999 he formed the law firm of Prevost and Shaff, which is now Prevost, Shaff, Mason & Carns (PSMC), a member of Cabana Law Group, and a full-service firm in Plano, Texas that has represented over 3,000 clients in a variety of financial and legal matters. Today, Cabana Law Group specializes in estate planning, corporate law and litigation, and asset protection planning. 

Lou is the co-founder of The Cabana Group, which he started with partner Chadd Mason in 2007. At Cabana, he combines his experience in tax law with his passion for protecting clients as a financial adviser and the company’s CFO. Lou helps lead the firm’s long-term growth strategy, which includes mergers, partnerships, and business plan implementation.  

Lou earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from George Washington University in 1989. He studied law at the University of Denver earning a Juris Doctor degree in 1993 and a Masters of Laws (LLM) in Taxation in 1994. Mr. Shaff is originally from Roseland, New Jersey, however, he has resided in Plano, Texas for the past 25 years with his wife Jennifer and two sons. 

Stephen Pokorny

Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Corporate Development

Steve joined The Cabana Group in 2020 as the company’s Chief Revenue Officer. He is responsible for analyzing mergers, acquisition and growth opportunities that support Cabana’s long-term growth plans. 

Steve started his 20+ year financial career in 1993 at Janney, Montgomery, Scott in Philadelphia. He learned the business by working several years on the institutional trading desk before moving to institutional equity sales in 1998. He went on to become Janney’s #1 producing salesperson in 2001, 2002 and 2003.  Steve was also the youngest recipient of Janney’s prestigious “Man of the Year” award in 2003.  

From there, Steve lead the institutional equity sales team at Southwest Securities and eventually Sterne Agee. There, he grew his division’s revenue from $8.7 million to nearly $80 million in three years and grew the sales team from six to more than 50 in 12 offices around the country.   

After leaving Sterne Agee, Steve co-founded a 501(c)(3) youth sports non-profit organization, as well as a water recycling company. 

Steve graduated from Wittenberg University, and currently resides in Plano, TX with his wife and two sons. 

Chris Carns J.D.

Chief Operating Officer

Certifications: Series 65, Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law (TBLS)

Chris has served as COO of The Cabana Group, LLC since February 2018.  In addition, he has served as a partner at the Cabana Law Group since 2016, where he focuses his practice on corporate and real estate transactions, estate and gift tax planning, and probate. Clients ranging from individuals to entire multi-generational families turn to him for counsel in structuring their business/investment ventures, as well as their estates, in order to ensure that their assets will be properly protected, and ultimately transferred to future generations in the most tax-efficient manner. 

Chris graduated cum laude from the SMU Dedman School of Law, where he was a member of the Dean’s honor roll and Chief Counsel of the Child Advocacy Clinic.  

Prior to law school, Chris received his B.B.A. in Management and Operations, with a minor in Finance, from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas in Austin, where he was a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society, the Brass Ring Honors Consulting Program, and an intern for the Texas House of Representatives 78th Legislature.    

In addition, Chris has authored the following published articles: 

Christopher Carns, Melissa Reinhard, & Adam Seidel, Lizcano v. State: Appealing to the Public, Dallas Bar Association, Sept. 11, 2009 

Christopher Carns, Avoiding the Now Ubiquitous Will or Trust Contest, Headnotes, Dallas Bar Association, December 2015 

Christopher Carns, Navigating the Challenges of Estate Planning for Blended Families, Accessible Law, UNT Dallas College of Law, Jan. 1, 2020 

Chris is from Tyler, Texas, and he currently resides in Prosper, Texas with his wife, Jessica, and three children, Hudson, Campbell, and Crosby. 

Neal Prevost J.D.

Shareholder and Investment Advisor Representative

Certifications: FINRA Series 65

Neal’s career started in the insurance, investments and commercial real estate business after graduating from Baylor University in 1982 with a B.B.A. in Entrepreneurial Studies. He received his Law degree from Louisiana State University in 1993, where he was near the top of his class and a published member of the Louisiana Law Review.

In 1999 Neal formed the firm of Prevost and Shaff in Dallas Texas, with his law partner Louis Shaff. Prevost and Shaff has since evolved into Prevost, Shaff, Mason & Carns, a member of the Cabana Law Group.

Neal has extensive consumer law and family law experience. In that capacity, he has been giving financial advice as an integral part of his practice for twenty years. Recognizing the detrimental impacts of divorce, he has served on the board of directors of ANTHEM Strong Families, a federally funded non-profit that seeks to enhance family stability in underserved communities in North Texas.

Neal has been married to his wife Lea Anne for 32 years. They live in McKinney, Texas where they raised two sons. Neal is a private pilot, is involved in his local church, and has served on the City of McKinney Bond Issue Advisory Council.

Albert Moore J.D.

Chief Compliance Officer (Outsourced)

Certifications: FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63

Mr. Moore provides compliance consulting services to Cabana Asset Management, including serving as an outsourced CCO as well as providing guidance on Federal Securities Laws, developing compliance programs, conducting annual 206(4)-7 reviews, SEC mock exams, and risk assessments. Prior to joining ACA Group, Mr. Moore served as the Boston, Massachusetts based Chief Compliance Officer & Vice President of AGF Investments America Inc. and AGF Investments LLC (formerly FFCM LLC), each a SEC registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of AGF Investment Management Limited, a global asset management company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  In addition, Mr. Moore served as Supervising Principal for AGF Investments, Inc. (via an outsourced broker-dealer relationship with Foreside). 

Prior to joining AGF in 2009, Mr. Moore worked at various multinational financial services firms as Vice President & Compliance Manager, all based in Boston.  He has previously held roles in investment management compliance and risk oversight, with progressively expanding duties at State Street, Bank of America (Columbia Management) and Mellon Private Wealth Management.  Mr. Moore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Politics from Lake Forest College and a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law.  Mr. Moore holds FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63 registrations. 

Georgia Searcy

Chief Marketing Officer

Georgia joined Cabana in 2016 to oversee marketing and business development strategy. She is passionate about finding key messages within a brand story that resonate with clients, partners, media and industry experts. Georgia led the rebrand of Cabana’s model investment portfolios in 2018 to better communicate their value and inherent design to advisors and investors across the country. She is currently responsible for all marketing and advertising initiatives that support the company’s short- and long-term institutional growth plans. Since joining the firm, Cabana, LLC has grown from $16 million in assets under management (AUM) to $1.1 billion.  

Prior to joining Cabana, she managed national retail and restaurant brand accounts at a top public relations agency in Dallas. Her areas of expertise include brand marketing, strategic partnerships, content development, media and influencer relations, event planning and execution, press release and media advisory writing and interview preparation.  

Georgia graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Journalism and Strategic Communication in 2013. She grew up in Fayetteville, but currently lives in Dallas and offices in our Plano location. 

Christopher Magann

Director of Operations and Trading

Certifications: Series 66, Series 63, Life, Health, and Disability Insurance Licensed

Christopher Magann joined Cabana in late 2018 to assist with operations, trading and institutional sales. Prior to Cabana, he served as the president of a state-registered RIA for three years. Chris has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, which includes time as an investment adviser representative, investment specialist, compliance officer and business development manager for firms managing up to $1.5 billion in assets under management.

Michelle Alsobrook

Vice President of Client Services

Certifications: Series 66, Life and Health Insurance Licensed

Michelle spent most of her career at Merrill Lynch, beginning as a client associate in 1992. She later moved to operations, and in 2003 played an integral role in combining two Merrill Lynch offices. In 2004, she received Employee of the Year for the Arkansas Complex as well as for the Texas Mid-South Region.  

In early 2016, Michelle brought her nearly 25 years of experience to Cabana where she plays an integral role in operations and client service. 

Michelle is originally from Michigan, where she earned her B. A. degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Sports Medicine, from Saginaw Valley State University in 1991. During her time there, she was the softball team trainer and helped bring them to a NAIA National Championship.  

Michelle resides in Lowell, with her husband Tom and son Tommy. 

Sonya Clements

Vice President of Client Services

Sonya began her career in the legal field as a paralegal and administrative assistant in 1996. She has been with Cabana Law Group and “PSMC” partners Neal Prevost and Louis Shaff since 2000. She joined the Cabana team in 2015 with expertise in family, civil and personal injury law. In 2018, Sonya joined Cabana’s operations team to handle all client onboarding and servicing in our Plano office.   

Outside of the office, Sonya is a member of the Dallas Area Paralegal Association, is on the board of the National Hemophilia Association and is pursuing a degree in Business Management at the University of North Texas. 

Slate Ballard

Director of Digital Marketing

Slate joined Cabana in 2018 to support the company’s digital marketing and product development efforts. He has deep experience across a variety of digital channels and disciplines including web development, digital advertising, integrations, sales engineering, software design and development. 

Prior to joining Cabana, he held positions such as Head of Product at a national 311 software company as well as Director of Marketing and Technology at an international non-profit. Over the last 10 years Slate has been involved as a founding partner in several entrepreneurial endeavors including an award-winning coworking space and a multi-purpose performance venue.   

Slate holds a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State University with a focus on management, organizational communications and psychology. He was named Small Business Person of the Year in 2010 by New Haven Business Magazine. He is a 2019 NAS Creative Communities Fellow and actively involved in the arts and innovation ecosystem in New Haven, CT. Slate grew up in Fayetteville, AR and has lived in the New Haven, CT area for over 15 years with his partner and three kids.  

Taylor Woodard

Institutional Account Servicing Representative

Certifications: Series 65, Life, Health & Annuity Insurance License

Taylor joined The Cabana Group’s Little Rock office in 2019 as a retail client services representative. His excellent communication and relationship skills have since then expanded his role to Cabana’s institutional business. Today, Taylor serves as Cabana’s primary institutional account servicing representative and a liaison between the firm and our key advisor partners across the country.  

 Prior to joining Cabana, Taylor spent nearly 10 years in insurance and real estate sales. Not to mention, he has owned and operated several businesses of his own over the years – including a virtual staffing company, which is still in business today.  

 Taylor is passionate about helping others and making people laugh – both at work and at home. He recently moved from Little Rock to our headquarters in Fayetteville, AR.

Ian Scobie

Investment Advisor Representative

Certifications: Series 65 and Life Insurance Licensed

A graduate of Colorado College with a B.A. in Economics and a focus in Spanish, Ian combines his strategic aptitude and forward thinking to provide his clients with robust financial plans.  Ian meets with individuals and families to guide them through their financial plans and sticks with them every step of the journey to reaching their goals and overcoming their challenges. He helps his clients make choices that will make them feel secure in the short term, hopeful for the long term, and ready for whatever might come their way next.

Ian joined The Cabana Group in 2019 as an investment advisor representative, and is located in Cabana’s Denver, CO office.

A Denver native, Ian is an avid skier (and sometimes unicyclist). When he’s not helping his clients toward a better financial future, he can be found on the slopes or planning his next skiing vacation in Alaska, South America, or Japan.

Tim Ridge

CPA

Certifications: CPA, FINRA Series 63, FINRA Series 66, Life and Health Insurance Licensed

Tim Ridge started his career in the audit department at KPMG more than 20 years ago. Since then he has worked for several CPA and financial services firms in the Little Rock, AR area. He has served as president and managing partner of Scruggs Ridge & Company CPAs and Financial Services, Inc. since 2003. Cabana partnered with Scruggs Ridge & Co. in late 2018. Tim works closely with small businesses and individuals on retirement and investment planning, tax planning and preparation, as well as financial statement and contractors licensing. He offers his wide range of services and expertise to Cabana’s asset management, legal and financial planning clients and businesses. He resides in Little Rock with his wife and five children.