Asset Allocation: Unplugged

When you hear the name Phil Huber, your mind instinctually thinks of two words:

Top Trader

(I kid, I kid - a peek at my Robinhood account would give you all the ammo you need to know how terrible a trader I am.)

While I don't fancy myself a "top trader", I was honored when the popular podcast Top Traders Unplugged asked me to be the first guest in a new series they are doing focused on asset allocators. TTU host Niels Kaastrup-Larsen has interviewed a who's who of some of the world's best CTA's and Hedge Fund managers for his show - David Harding, Richard Dennis, and Jerry Parker, to name a few. Niels invited our mutual friend - Alan Dunne, CEO/Founder of Archive Capital - to be the guest-host of this new allocator-focused series.

(fun fact: my head is even more disproportionally larger than my body in real life.) 

The episode - appropriately titled 'Adapting to Market Cycles' - touched on:

  • Better education around capital allocation
  • Allocating capital throughout various market cycles
  • How to define an ‘alternative investment’
  • How actively we should manage a portfolio
  • Traditional versus alternative investments
  • The difficulties in the manager selection process
  • Being a great behavioral investor as an allocator
  • Difficult conversations with clients
  • Advice for aspiring capital allocators

You can listen to the full episode here.

Speaking of "unplugged", while I have you here I might as well mention a couple other upcoming discussions I'll be having on portfolio construction and asset allocation in a decade that is increasingly unlikely to look like the last.

First, I'll be presenting a webinar for Savant clients (and any friends of the firm who want to join) about alternative investing and some of the major takeaways from my new book, The Allocator's Edge: A Modern Guide to Alternative Investments and the Future of Diversification. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, February 23rd from 1-2 PM CST. You can register at this link:

The Allocator’s Edge Webinar (Savant Wealth Management)

In addition, I'll be partnering with the good folks at the CAIA Association for a fireside chat with their Managing Director, Aaron Filbeck, on Wednesday, March 2nd at 1 PM EST/Noon CST.

I have such great respect and admiration for the mission and values of the CAIA Association, especially now after having spent so much time and energy these last few years exploring the nooks and crannies of the vast universe of non-traditional investments. I promised myself after earning my CFP® and CFA® designations that I was done with credentials, but there's a big part of me that wants to challenge myself and sit for the CAIA exams sometime in he next few years. Knowing the time commitment involved to study for these things, I might need my wife's permission first :)

This webcast is open to all and free to register here:

The Allocator’s Edge: Creating the Advisor’s Portfolio for the Future (CAIA Association)

About the author

Phil Huber, CFA, CFP®

Phil is the Head of Portfolio Solutions for Cliffwater, a leading alternative investment adviser and fund manager. Prior to joining Cliffwater in 2024, Phil was the Chief Investment Officer for Savant Wealth Management, a multi-billion dollar wealth management firm. Phil has been involved in the financial services industry since 2007. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago. More about me here. Twitter: @bpsandpieces

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