Mark Masliah 

Mark Masliah 
Class of 2021 BEQ Pride LGBTQ Leader Under 40
(He, Him) is 37

The year 2020 feels like a worldwide wake-up call in so many ways. As a leader, I realize the most important thing I have learned and will take forward is…

We all have our challenges. Regardless of how different our peers might appear on the surface our job is to love, support and allow room for what we might not understand, without judgment. Diversity makes for intricate beauty. A true leader internalizes and celebrates this.

Mark Masliah a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual in West Hollywood, CA. He focuses his practice on helping young professionals, families and businesses plan for and achieve their financial goals. Masliah offers a broad portfolio of individual insurance protection, asset accumulation strategies and financial products and services for high net worth families, businesses and institutions. In addition, Masliah co-founded and leads the district-level LGBTQ+ and Ally Council to encourage an inclusive workplace and provide resources for financial advisors to better serve their LGBTQ+ clients. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and resides in West Hollywood. Masliah recently married Nicholas Pasqua.

 Masliah has always been vocal with his friends and family about saving and investing early. With his friends in the LGBTQ+ community, he was especially vocal, given that those in the LGBTQ+ community are some of the wealthiest pre-retirement groups, but one of the poorest in retirement. Masliah believes with proper planning, the retirement years can be financially sound

At Northwestern Mutual, he helped to establish the district-level LGBTQ+ and Ally Council as a means to create an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace. The council also helps fellow financial advisors better serve clients in the LGBTQ+ community.

Under Masliah’s leadership, council members provide company leaders and the ally community with valuable educational opportunities and resources from which to learn about, volunteer with or host fundraisers for LGBTQ+ community organizations or events. 

While still young, the council has grown to over 65 members across 5 local offices and 180+ employees, attracting members representing all segments of the LGBTQ+ community. On a corporate level, they have taken great strides in growing an out and proud network across the organization’s 15,000+ employees, pushing for cultural awareness, understanding, education and support that has grown exponentially when compared to only a couple of years ago.

This council is the first of its kind at the company and serves as a partner with company headquarters to provide insight and feedback from the field. Through this council, Masliah is making an impact on the company in Southern California, Nevada and beyond. 

When it comes to his hopes for the future, it’s simple: Masliah wants the community to feel strong, accepted, seen, valued and safe — something which financial planning helps to provide.