Evoke Advisors Co-CIO Offers Diversification Tips for Fragile Market

Alex Shahidi advises investors to maintain long-term view and reduce exposure to correlated assets.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:21pm

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An extreme close-up of heavy, industrial banking machinery and mechanisms, conveying the complex financial systems that underpin investment portfolios.Evoke Advisors' co-CIO advocates for a more holistic, diversified approach to investing beyond just U.S. stocks.Los Angeles Today

Alex Shahidi, the co-chief investment officer of Los Angeles-based Evoke Advisors, says many investors struggle with a narrow mindset when it comes to building a diversified portfolio, often relying too heavily on U.S. equities. In an interview on Barron's Advisor's The Way Forward podcast, Shahidi recommends that investors take a long-term view and reduce exposure to assets that are highly correlated during times of market uncertainty.

Why it matters

Shahidi's perspective provides timely guidance for investors navigating the current fragile market environment, where diversification and a long-term outlook are crucial to weathering volatility and protecting portfolio returns.

The details

Shahidi notes that many investors have a tendency to view U.S. equities as the primary driver of returns, while treating other asset classes as mere diversifiers that lower overall returns. He advises investors to instead adopt a more balanced approach, reducing exposure to correlated assets that may all decline together during market downturns.

  • The interview with Shahidi was published on April 7, 2026.

The players

Alex Shahidi

The co-chief investment officer of Los Angeles-based Evoke Advisors, who provided investment advice in an interview.

Evoke Advisors

A Los Angeles-based investment advisory firm where Shahidi serves as co-chief investment officer.

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What they’re saying

“One of the hurdles that people have to overcome, and part of it is mind-set, is there's a general sense that you get returns from equities, particularly U.S. equities, and everything else is diversifying, but lowers returns.”

— Alex Shahidi, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Evoke Advisors

The takeaway

Shahidi's advice highlights the importance of maintaining a truly diversified portfolio, even if it means accepting lower returns from some asset classes, in order to better withstand the volatility and uncertainty of the current market environment.