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About Bass Rocks Asset Management
Bass Rocks Asset Management draws on more than three decades of experience in derivatives, portfolio construction, and active risk management dating back to 1992.
The firm manages capital through structurally defined, options-based strategies designed to generate distributable income, moderate volatility exposure, and compound capital across varying market regimes.
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Based in the San Francisco Bay Area and serving clients nationwide, Bass Rocks is a Registered Investment Advisor and asset manager overseeing options-integrated and multi-asset portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, corporations, foundations, nonprofits, and institutional investors.
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The firm’s approach centers on disciplined derivatives implementation, defined downside parameters, liquidity awareness, and continuous portfolio oversight. Capital allocation decisions are guided by volatility structure, macroeconomic conditions, and risk-adjusted return objectives rather than passive market participation.
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Bass Rocks partners with clients operating under diverse governance mandates and long-term capital requirements, delivering structured portfolio solutions aligned with institutional standards of oversight and execution.
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Team​
Matt Kelmon
Founder, and Chief Investment Officer​
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Matt Kelmon is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bass Rocks Asset Management. He brings more than three decades of experience designing, executing, and overseeing options-based portfolio strategies across multiple market cycles.
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Over the course of his career, Matt has advised and sub-advised strategies for advisors, individuals, foundations, nonprofits, insurance companies, and corporations. He previously co-founded and scaled a Palo Alto–based registered investment advisory firm that grew to over $1 billion in assets under management and was recognized among the fastest-growing companies in the Inc. 100.
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Matt has led institutional trading teams and managed capital for thousands of clients nationwide. As Portfolio Manager for three 1940 Act mutual funds, he executed more than one million options contracts across varying volatility regimes and macroeconomic environments, applying disciplined risk parameters at scale.
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He has appeared across major financial media including CNBC, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and the Associated Press, offering perspective on derivatives markets and portfolio risk management.
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Matt founded Bass Rocks Asset Management to provide institutional-grade options expertise and structured risk management to investors seeking income generation, volatility control, and long-term capital discipline.
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Licenses: Series 4, 7, 24, 55, 63, 65
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Nick Tognoli
Director of Asset Acquisition
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Nick Tognoli leads capital development and investor engagement for Bass Rocks Asset Management, working closely with advisors, family offices, and institutional partners to support the firm’s long-term growth.
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Prior to joining Bass Rocks, Nick served as an Investor Relations Specialist at Brookwood Investment Group, where he supported capital raising and investor communications for private investment vehicles. He has experience working with emerging investment platforms focused on disciplined growth and thoughtful capital deployment.
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Nick also serves as an advisor to 1Flourish Capital, a venture firm investing in early-stage companies led by mission-driven founders. He holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Business and Organizational Leadership from Arizona State University. Nick also volunteers as an assistant coach for Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada.
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License: Series 65
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Tom Tognoli
Advisor
tom.tognoli@bassrocksam.com
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Tom Tognoli serves as an advisor to Bass Rocks Asset Management, bringing decades of executive leadership and enterprise-building experience. A Silicon Valley native, Tom co-founded Intero in 2002, building it into one of the top real estate companies in the United States with over $12 billion in annual sales volume prior to its acquisition by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in 2014. He continued as CEO following the acquisition, further expanding the firm’s national presence until his departure in 2019.
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In addition to his work at Intero, Tom is a Partner at 1Flourish Capital, a venture firm investing in early-stage technology companies led by high-character founders.
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In his advisory role at Bass Rocks, Tom provides strategic counsel shaped by decades of leadership, organizational development, and capital markets experience. His perspective and long-standing relationships within the business and investment communities contribute to the firm’s continued development and long-term growth initiatives.
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Tom divides his time between Sunnyvale, California, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Lake Tahoe.
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Howard Hill
Advisor
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Howard Hill serves as an advisor to Bass Rocks Asset Management. He is a senior executive in the financial services sector with more than four decades of industry experience and also advises real estate sponsors, venture funds, early stage privately held companies, and capital formation platforms. Over the course of his career, Mr. Hill has worked across nearly every facet of the financial services industry, including insurance, registered investment advisors (RIAs), real estate, private equity, and venture capital. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Caliber Companies, a publicly traded real estate asset manager.
Howard brings significant experience in capital formation and mergers and acquisitions. His prior roles include Vice President at GE Capital and Genworth Financial, Vice President of Business Development at Nationwide Financial, Vice President of Business Development for Institutional Services at LPL Financial, and leadership positions at Folio Institutional, now part of Goldman Sachs. Earlier in his career, he also served as Chief Growth Officer for several multi-billion-dollar registered investment advisors. Mr. Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Texas Christian University.
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Howard has been very active in the alternative asset marketplace and a believer in the democratization of investing in real estate and private equity. Additionally, Mr. Hill is a strong follower and proponent of the Faith Driven Investor/Entrepreneur movement. Emphasizing the role as an evangelist of building the Kingdom of God.
He resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife, a 3rd grade teacher at Great Hearts Academy, and teenage daughter with whom he continues to work on a mutual improvement of their golf game!
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