For most of my career, I chased growth. Like many entrepreneurs, I started in fast-moving sectors—e-commerce, tech-enabled services, and digital operations—where speed often came before structure. But over time, I realized something critical: real, sustainable wealth isn’t built by chasing what’s hot. It’s built through systems, frameworks, and capital structures that reward patience, not urgency.
That realization led me to make a significant shift in how I think about investing. I moved away from the volatility of public markets and toward structured capital and alternative investments, with a particular focus on private credit. Today, these principles form the core of how I build, protect, and grow wealth—both for myself and those I advise.
Why Structured Capital Became My Focus
Structured capital refers to customized financial instruments—often in the form of private lending or hybrid deals—that are designed to fit specific investment objectives. What drew me to this space is that it allows for a level of control and intentionality that public investments rarely offer.
Rather than reacting to daily price swings or investor sentiment, structured capital gives me the ability to negotiate terms, define risk thresholds, and manage expectations. It’s not passive—it’s deliberate.
When I first started exploring this space, I was surprised by how few individual investors had access to it. Most of the strategies were being used by institutions, family offices, or ultra-high-net-worth individuals. But with the right approach and education, I saw no reason why disciplined retail investors couldn’t benefit as well.
Private Credit: The Cornerstone of My Strategy
At the center of my structured capital approach is private credit—direct lending to private companies, often backed by collateral, cash flow, or contractual terms. What I appreciate about private credit is its predictability. Unlike stocks or even traditional bonds, private credit can generate consistent, secured income over a defined time horizon.
I go into more depth about this in a separate article, What Is Private Credit and Why It’s Gaining Ground, where I outline how it works and why I believe it’s one of the most underutilized tools in the modern portfolio.
Private credit isn’t about outsized returns. It’s about reliability, control, and building a foundation that allows the rest of your portfolio to take calculated risks.
Why I Stepped Back from Traditional Models
There was a time when I fully bought into the classic “60/40” portfolio model—stocks for growth, bonds for safety. But after years of navigating both bull and bear markets, I saw how fragile that model can be. Bonds don’t yield like they used to. Stocks are increasingly unpredictable. And most passive strategies assume conditions that no longer reflect market realities.
That’s when I began asking different questions:
- What do I actually want my capital to do?
- How can I protect downside without giving up opportunity?
- Can I build wealth that lasts—even in uncertain times?
The answers led me to structured capital, where I could define the rules of engagement instead of reacting to someone else’s.
Building a Strategy That Matches My Values
I’ve always believed that where and how you operate shapes your perspective. Living and working in Montana, far from the financial noise of Wall Street or Silicon Valley, has given me space to focus. I’m not interested in hype. I’m interested in process, principle, and performance over time.
I’ve made it a point to design my investment philosophy around:
- Clarity – understanding every moving part in the structure
- Alignment – making sure incentives are shared
- Resilience – building for both growth and protection
Whether I’m investing my own capital or advising others, I return to these principles again and again.
Who Can Benefit from This Approach
Structured capital isn’t just for institutions. If you’re an entrepreneur with retained earnings, a professional approaching retirement, or someone looking to reduce exposure to public market volatility, this approach might be right for you.
It does require a shift in thinking. You can’t access everything at the click of a button. You have to do the work: ask questions, review terms, and stay engaged. But in return, you get stability, customization, and the opportunity to build long-term, intentional wealth.
Final Thoughts
The more experience I gain, the more convinced I am that wealth is not just a numbers game. It’s a mindset game. And the mindset that works—at least for me—isn’t based on speed, speculation, or even access. It’s based on structure.
Structured capital has given me the tools to build a financial strategy that I trust, even when markets shake. It’s helped me align my capital with my goals, and allowed me to invest with confidence—on my own terms.
If you want to explore more of my thinking on this topic, I invite you to browse the Investments blog section or reach out via my About page. This journey is one I believe more investors should consider, and I’m committed to making it more accessible, transparent, and strategic for those who are ready.
Stuart Simonsen
Stuart Simonsen
