John Russon, CPA, started his career at Arthur Andersen after finishing his accounting degree at California State University, Northridge. As a young professional with a growing family, John moved to a local firm where he began developing specialized expertise in auditing retirement plans. John started his own practice in 2005 and building on a handful of clients merged his practice with a local CPA firm in 2006. Starting Pension Assurance LLP in 2014, John has positioned himself over the years as a leader in the employee benefit plan audit industry.
John is a visionary who is always looking around the next corner. He is constantly working to realize those visions, striving to develop the team in order to provide the highest level of service and expertise to clients. At work, he derives the greatest satisfaction from the relationships he has with his colleagues, both as a partner and advisor to clients and a mentor to team members. He lives in Agoura Hills with his wife and four children. He loves the ocean and can often be found on early mornings or late nights surfing or diving for lobsters.
Nathan Johnston, CPA, entered the accounting world in an unconventional fashion. After attending film school at the University of Southern California, Nathan began working in accounting and going back to school for a second education in accounting. He started in public accounting as a staff auditor at a local firm where he performed audits of small to mid-sized corporations, non-profits, and employee benefit plans. In 2007, he joined John Russon’s employee benefit plan audit practice. In 2012, he was named the Practice Leader of the employee benefit plan audit practice. In 2014, Nathan became a partner at Pension Assurance LLP.
Nathan has a penchant for all things technical and intellectual. He loves the logical process of simplifying complex problems and creating novel solutions for both clients and team members. He is a glutton for knowledge, constantly attending conferences and reading independently to stay up-to-date, but he also loves sharing it. He heads up the firm’s training and education programs and takes great joy in educating clients or team members on challenging or unique retirement plan issues during his interactions with them. Nathan lives in San Gabriel with his wife and three boys, who he named after some of his favorite filmmakers.
Eric Kuo, CPA, was named Partner at Pension Assurance LLP in 2018. Eric has over a decade of public accounting experience. Joining the team in 2010, Eric has become a respected leader within the team as well as a worthy representative of the firm to both clients and industry partners. Eric is a pillar of the practice, bringing considerable expertise in difficult areas like multiple employer plans (MEPs) and overseeing several of the firm’s largest, most complex, and challenging retirement plan audits.
Eric is one of the hardest workers around, diligently and tenaciously seeing projects through to completion. Eric takes the greatest pride in being able to provide valued services to our clients. Eric received his undergraduate degree in Business Economics (Accounting Emphasis) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Eric lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his current foster dogs. His pastimes include playing golf and watching sports.
Philip Bae, CPA, was named Partner at Pension Assurance LLP in 2020. Philip has a singular focus on retirement plan audits, managing dozens of retirement plan audit engagements for the firm. Philip has a great working relationship with his team and his clients are his top priority. He is known for his integrity and reliability and is an essential component of the Pension Assurance team. Philip graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a bachelor’s degree in business economics. He began his career at a local public accounting firm in Los Angeles and joined the team in 2012. Philip enjoys working closely with clients in order to understand their needs and to strive for the best solutions for them. He lives in Tarzana with his wife and three children and enjoys cooking, spending time with his family, and the movies.
Alex Sanchez, CPA, was named Partner at Pension Assurance LLP in 2022. He began his public accounting career as a staff auditor for a public accounting firm in Irvine, CA where he performed audits of mid-market privately held companies, non-profits, and employee benefit plans. Over the years he became a practice leader managing a wide array of client engagements including 40 employee benefit plan audits a year. He has become a respected leader in the industry and in the local community. He has a true passion to serve others and does it with a smile.
Alex graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting Emphasis). He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and serves as a board member for several local not-for-profit organizations. He lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife and values his faith, family, and friends. He also loves to travel, enjoys great food, and is an avid sports fan.
Dalila Dehbashi, CPA, was named Partner at Pension Assurance LLP in 2023. She has over eight years of public accounting experience. Upon graduation from California State University, Northridge, with a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Dalila joined Moss Adams LLP where she specialized in assurance services for retirement plans, manufacturing and distribution, food and beverage, and health care industries. She joined Pension Assurance LLP in March 2020, where she manages over 50 benefit plan audits.
Dalila is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Dalila currently lives in the San Fernando Valley where she enjoys spending time with her rescue pets when she’s not off traveling.