Tag: Private Markets

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How Cliffwater Is Democratizing Private Market Access with Phil Huber (Ep. 84)

How Cliffwater Is Democratizing Private Market Access with Phil Huber (Ep. 84)

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Is private equity still worth it, and can everyday investors finally get access without the complexity?

Robert Curtiss, CFP,® welcomes back Phil Huber, Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Solutions at Cliffwater, to unpack the rise of evergreen private equity funds, an innovation reshaping the private investing landscape.

Phil explains how Cliffwater’s newly launched Evergreen Private Equity Index is giving advisors better visibility into performance, while opening doors for accredited and even unaccredited investors to tap into long-term private market strategies.

Expect an honest look at tradeoffs, manager due diligence, and the evolution of access, with a side of market context as the AI boom and public market concentration unfold.

What to expect:

  • Why private equity has outperformed public markets over time
  • How evergreen structures are simplifying access for investors
  • What Cliffwater’s new index reveals about fund performance and dispersion
  • Key factors that determine success or failure in private equity portfolios
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

Connect with Phil Huber:

About Our Guest:

Phil is a Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Solutions for Cliffwater, based in their Chicago office. In this role, Phil leverages his prior experience as a wealth management CIO to produce and curate investment research, advise on product strategy and positioning for the firm’s growing platform, and help establish and strengthen relationships with the nation’s leading wealth management firms.

Prior to joining Cliffwater, Phil was the Chief Investment Officer for Savant Wealth Management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, has attained his Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, and is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S., which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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Why Infrastructure May Be the Most Underrated Asset Class of 2025 (Ep. 82)

Why Infrastructure May Be the Most Underrated Asset Class of 2025 (Ep. 82)

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When electricity demand in the U.S. hit a record-breaking high on July 28th, 2025, it wasn’t a blip; it was a signal. 

In this powerful follow-up to Episodes 69 and 78, Robert Curtiss welcomes back Michael Underhill, founder and CIO of Capital Innovations, to unpack the megatrends shaping the future of investing.

From surging AI-driven capital expenditures to the multi-trillion-dollar rebuild of America’s power grid, Michael outlines why infrastructure is no longer a “nice to have” but an essential portfolio diversifier. He explores how interest rate cycles, inflation, and the evolving definition of risk are impacting investor behavior and how private infrastructure may offer consistent returns, lower volatility, and true non-correlation in today’s concentrated markets.

What to expect:

  • Why is electricity demand rising faster than forecasted?
  • The three infrastructure megatrends to watch through 2050
  • How to think like an institutional investor with alternatives
  • The real reason private infrastructure may outperform in downturns
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

Connect with Michael Underhill:

About Our Guest:

Michael Underhill is the Chief Investment Officer of Capital Innovations, a firm focused on infrastructure, energy, and ESG-aligned strategies. With decades of investment experience, Michael brings a deep understanding of macro trends and emerging opportunities in private and public markets. His team manages infrastructure-focused portfolios designed to align long-term capital with long-term value creation.

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Why Private Markets Are Reshaping Investment Strategy in 2025 with Tony Davidow (Ep. 81)

Why Private Markets Are Reshaping Investment Strategy in 2025 with Tony Davidow (Ep. 81)

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What happens when public markets no longer provide the diversification they once promised? In this episode, Robert Curtiss, CFP®, is joined by Tony Davidow, Senior Alternatives Investment Strategist at the Franklin Templeton Institute, to explore the tectonic shifts transforming private markets.

Tony shares insights from decades of experience working with institutional capital, family offices, and advisors. He breaks down the evolution of private equity, real estate debt, and evergreen structures and why today’s investors may be missing out on an illiquidity premium worth 3–5% per year. 

From secondaries to real estate, digital infrastructure to target-date funds, this conversation offers a masterclass in building smarter portfolios in an uncertain world.

What to expect in this episode:

  • Why diversification is broken and what’s replacing it
  • The rise of evergreen investment structures for individuals
  • How institutions use illiquidity to their advantage
  • What 401(k) plans and retirement models could look like soon
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

Connect with Tony Davidow:

About Our Guest:

Tony Davidow is responsible for developing and delivering the Franklin Templeton Institute’s insights on the role and use of alternative investments through independent research, participating in industry conferences, webinars and engaging directly with key partners and clients. He also serves as the host of the Alternative Allocations podcast series. The Franklin Templeton Institute harnesses the depth and breadth of the firm’s global investment expertise and extensive in-house research capabilities to deliver unique investment insights to our clients.

Prior to his current role, Davidow was retained by Franklin Templeton to develop a comprehensive Alternative Investment educational program for financial advisors. He previously held senior leadership roles with Morgan Stanley, Guggenheim, and Schwab, among other firms. Davidow began his career working for a New York-based family office and has worked directly with many institutions and ultra-high-net-worth families over the years. He is a frequent writer and speaker with deep expertise in the use of alternative investments, asset allocation, and portfolio construction, as well as goals-based investing.

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What You Need to Know About Private Credit with Mark Gatto (Ep. 76)

What You Need to Know About Private Credit with Mark Gatto (Ep. 76)

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With public markets still shaky despite recent rebounds, many investors are looking for more stability, without sacrificing returns. 

In this timely episode, Robert Curtiss sits down with Mark Gatto, co-founder and co-CEO of CION Investments, to unpack how private credit and infrastructure investing can offer stable, reliable alternatives for individual investors.

They discuss the growing accessibility of alternative investments, the yield potential of private credit, and why “boring” may be the new smart in today’s market. Mark also shares how CION’s platform was designed specifically for individual investors, unlike most institutions that only cater to the ultra-wealthy.

What to expect from this episode:

  • Why the majority of high-performing companies are still private—and how to access them
  • How regulatory changes post-2008 created opportunity in private credit
  • The appeal of yield-focused alternatives in a volatile equity environment
  • What to look for when choosing private market managers
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mark Gatto:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Mark Gatto is Co-Founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Co-President of CION Investment Group, CION Investment Corporation (CIC), and CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund.

He is also a Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund (CADC). Mr. Gatto serves on the investment committee of CIC and the investment allocation committee of CADC.

Mr. Gatto joined CION in 1999. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Acquisitions Officer from May 2007 through January 2008. He served as Executive Vice President of Business Development from May 2006 through May 2007 and Vice President of Marketing from August 2005 through February 2006. He was also Associate General Counsel from November 1999 until October 2000.

Previously, Mr. Gatto was an executive for a leading international product development and marketing company from 2000 through 2003. Later, he co-founded a specialty business-consulting firm in New York City, where he served as its managing partner before re-joining CION in 2005. He was also an attorney in private practice prior to joining the firm.

Mr. Gatto received an M.B.A. from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, and a B.S. from Montclair State University.

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