About Us
Custom Wealth is an independent firm that aims to create long lasting relationships with clients to help navigate through the complexities of this financial world. Damian and his support staff have the tools and knowledge to assist with your needs.
Meet the Team
Managing Director, Wealth Manager
Damian Dering, ChFC®
Damian has been in the wealth management financial services industry for over 20 years. He began his career at American Express Financial Advisors. His civil engineering degree gave him the knowledge and tools to analyze complex issues for his clients. To this day Damian needs to understand the entire financial situation of a client and educates investors on strategies before he can provide recommendations
Damian holds a California insurance license, as well as Series 7 (Gereral Securities representative), 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State law) & 66 (Uniform Combined State Law) securities registration. Damian earned his Charter Financial Consultant from the American College of Financial Service. While at AEFA he received the Quality of Advice award. Damian has been the recipient of the Outstanding Financial Professional Award with Concorde Investment Services from 2016 through 2022. He has been married to his wife Elizabeth for 20 years and they have 3 children. Damian's hobbies include golf, Pilates, and pickle ball.
Licenses: Series 7, 63 & 66 | CA Insurance 0C00427
Sara Dering
Executive Assistant/Operations
Sara joined Damian’s team in 2021 as Damian’s Executive Assistant. She has since added Operations Specialist. Sara enjoys assisting advisors and clients alike by providing stellar customer service and back-office support.
Sara graduated from University of Portland double majoring in Communications and English. She lives in Seattle, where she enjoys traveling, live music, Broadway musicals and golf.
Jay Mitsch
Director of Development and Planning
Jay originally teamed up with Damian Dering in 2018 looking to apply his customer service experience to financial services. He stepped away to build an education company that he is continually developing. He rejoined Damian and Custom Wealth in spring of 2023 as a Client Services Specialist. He is presently working towards becoming a full-service financial advisor. Jay has spent the last 25 years in education as a math and science teacher, mentor, coach, and entrepreneur. His education and career background gives Jay a unique perspective that he brings to financial services.
He really enjoys getting to know the client, their needs and helping them feel secure about their financial decisions. He is focused on stellar customer service, building individual financial plans, educating families about insurance needs, and managing 401k plans. Jay currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son where he surfs, runs and coaches soccer.
Elizabeth Dering
Client Relations
Before joining the Custom Wealth team, Elizabeth Dering attained her BBA in Finance at Loyola Marymount University. In 2000 while still in school, she started as an intern becoming full time with American Express Financial Advisors. She managed a practice of over 500 clients, training and overseeing staff. She also specialized in financial plans along with training first year advisors with the program.
Upon marrying Damian, Elizabeth decided to take a step down, focusing on raising their three children, Isabella, Max, and Sofia. She continued working part time with a financial practice managing marketing events and assisting with client service. Her goal is for clients to feel appreciated and know they and their families are taken care of. Elizabeth was born in Glendale, CA, she lived six years in Mexico and now resides with her family in El Segundo, CA. She enjoys spending time with her family, with friends, traveling, outdoor activities specially playing tennis, reading romantic novels and loves dining out with her husband.
Contact us to find
your way to a happier financial future
360 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 2000
El Segundo, CA 90245
310.417.4113