Tag: Alternative Investments

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Innovation, Discipline, and the Future of Private Markets with Christopher Zook (Ep. 7)

Innovation, Discipline, and the Future of Private Markets with Christopher Zook (Ep. 7)

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How do discipline, innovation, and access to opportunity shape the future of wealth?

In this episode of the G360 Wealth Podcast, Sam Diarbakerly sits down with Christopher Zook, Founder and Chairman of CAZ Investments. They discuss health as a foundation for leadership, democratizing access to private investments, and why innovation is critical for advisors and families today. 

Christopher also shares his approach to evaluating thousands of opportunities each year and the role of GP stakes in building resilient portfolios.

Christopher discusses:

  • Why personal discipline in health and routines strengthens decision-making in business and investing
  • The “20 billion in 20 years” goal at CAZ and how it aligns the firm and investors toward meaningful impact
  • The democratization of private investments and why access matters for more families today
  • The importance of innovation in alternatives, GP stakes, and thematic investing strategies
  • How families can teach the next generation about wealth through philanthropy, structured conversations, and real-life investment examples
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Sam Diarbakerly: 

Connect with Christopher Zook:

About Our Guest:

Christopher Zook is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Investment Officer of CAZ Investments. He has more than 30 years of experience investing in both traditional and alternative asset classes. Christopher recently co-authored “The Holy Grail of Investing,” with Tony Robbins, which became a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Christopher was honored with the Texas Alternative Investments Association’s (TAIA) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution and sustained support of the industry in Texas. He is a regular contributor to major media outlets, including CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg. Prior to starting CAZ Investments in 2001, Christopher served in senior leadership positions with Oppenheimer, Prudential Securities, Lehman Brothers, and Paine Webber.

Christopher is actively involved in public policy and frequently serves as a resource to state and local officials. In 2019, Christopher was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State of Texas Pension Review Board, where he chairs the Investment Committee. He also served two terms as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Committee and is a past President of the “C” Club of Houston.

Christopher is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni. A lifelong Houstonian, he is a former Vice-Chairman of the Deacons and served for more than a decade on the Finance Committee at Second Baptist Church. He has held leadership positions on a variety of charitable boards, including his current role on the board of Elizabeth Ruth’s Home, an organization serving adults with autism. Christopher previously served as President of the Board of Trustees of Avondale House and President of The Children’s Fund. He is a proud father to Christopher, Jr. (and daughter-in-law, Cecelia Zook, grandson “Tripp” and granddaughter Madelyn) and husband to his high school sweetheart, Lisa.

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Unlocking Private Markets with Phil Huber of Cliffwater (Ep. 3)

Unlocking Private Markets with Phil Huber of Cliffwater (Ep. 3)

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Everyone has a private markets fund, what goes into selecting the best managers??

Phil Huber, Head of Portfolio Solutions at Cliffwater, joins the G360 Wealth Podcast to break down how private equity and credit can become practical investments for more than just the ultra-wealthy. 

He explains how interval funds are changing access, structure, and expectations for investors. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the next evolution of portfolio building.

Key Points:

  • How interval funds reduce the barriers to entry for investors with lower net worth by using accredited investor standards instead of qualified purchaser thresholds [00:02:40]
  • The size, structure, and risk profile of the $1.7 trillion direct lending market, and how it offers floating-rate, senior-secured loans with low interest rate exposure [00:08:11]
  • Why private equity-backed firms prefer direct lending—valuing speed, flexibility, and privacy over traditional bank lending—and how this justifies a yield premium [00:13:00]
  • How Cliffwater’s Direct Lending Index has shown consistent historical returns around 9.5%, with a 300–400 basis point premium over high-yield bonds [00:15:07]
  • The operational simplicity, lower minimums, daily NAV updates, and 1099 tax reporting advantages of interval funds over traditional private equity funds [00:25:12]
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rex Berger: 

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.

Phil has been featured in a number of notable media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, InvestmentNews, CityWire RIA Magazine, and Bloomberg TV. From 2018-2020, he was named one of Investopedia’s Top Financial Advisors. Phil was also named CIO of the Year by RIA Intel in 2023.

Phil and his wife Christie live in the north suburbs of Chicago where they enjoy staying active and spending time with their two young children, Hannah and Owen. He is also a lifelong, die-hard professional wrestling fan.

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