Stephen Nesbitt is the CEO and CIO of Cliffwater, an investment consultant and asset management firm specializing in alternative that oversees a combined $110 billion, including $30 billion in private market interval funds that begin just five years ago. Steve founded Cliffwater in 2004 to serve the burgeoning institutional market for alternative investments and bet the farm with a pivot to managing private credit assets for RIAs in 2019. That shift has been one of the most successful initiatives in the industry in the last five years and catapulted Cliffwater to one of the market leaders and brands serving the RIA community.

Our conversation covers Steve’s journey as a consultant, formation of Cliffwater, and focus on alternatives. We then discuss his strategic shift to managing assets for RIAs, including the development of a private debt index fund, innovation in fund structures, management of liquidity, distribution in the RIA channel, and new initiatives on the come.