Tony Parish, Chief Investment Officer at AlphaStar Capital Management, helped grow the firm from $400 million to $2.2 billion in assets — but his story isn’t just about scale.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Tony and host Austin Jia unpack what it really means to think like a CIO in today’s markets: staying calm through volatility, balancing art and analytics, and leading with curiosity in a world obsessed with speed.
They cover everything from:
Navigating market cycles and volatility
The real job of a CIO (and why it’s often misunderstood)
Building AlphaStar’s culture of clarity and growth
Alternative assets, portfolio construction, and where alpha still hides
The AI bubble — hype or structural change?
Plus, Tony shares how he manages his time, what he reads, and why music remains a quiet teacher for investing.
If you care about investing, leadership, or just better decision-making — this episode hits all three.
Chapters
00:00 Navigating Market Volatility
02:44 Understanding the Role of a Chief Investment Officer
05:43 The Journey to Becoming a CIO
08:47 Curiosity as a Driving Force
11:49 Growth Story of AlphaStar Capital Management
14:47 Techniques for Achieving Alpha
17:36 Optimizing Portfolio Construction
20:38 The Role of Alternative Assets
23:36 The Yale Model and Its Applicability
26:33 The AI Bubble: Parallels with Past Market Crashes
31:01 Understanding the AI Bubble
34:41 Identifying Major Economic Risks
38:11 Building a Successful Business
40:23 Cultural Considerations for Business Success
42:58 Balancing Profit and Purpose
45:29 Time Management and Prioritization
47:49 Advice for Junior Analysts
48:37 Recommended Reading for Investors
50:48 The Role of a CIO
52:10 Musical Passions and Personal Insights