The Team

Darren C. PollockDarren C. Pollock

Darren C. Pollock, a member of Cheviot since 1998, provides investment analysis and portfolio management for the firm. Referring to Darren as “a manifestly bright fellow” and a “seasoned, risk-conscious portfolio manager,” famed journalist Alan Abelson of Barron’s says: “Mr. Pollock obviously knows his way around a financial statement and has a seasoned investment eye.” In addition to Barron’s, Darren’s views on the financial markets are regularly sought after in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Financial Times, CNBC, Money Magazine, Yahoo!Finance, FoxBusiness and others. He has served on Cheviot’s investment management team as a portfolio manager since 2000. Darren is the chief architect of Cheviot’s safety-first style of growth investing and is recognized for helping clients navigate the extreme bear markets of 2000-2002, 2008, and 2022.

Read About Darren’s 25th Anniversary at Cheviot

David A. Horvitz, CFP<sup>®</sup>David A. Horvitz, CFP®

David A. Horvitz, CFP® joined Cheviot in 2006. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, David has been practicing comprehensive financial planning since 2002. He is skilled in the areas of taxation mitigation, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance and personal risk management. David holds a BSBA degree in Management from Washington University in St. Louis, an MA in Education degree from Pepperdine University, an MBA from California Lutheran University, and a professional designation in Personal Financial Planning from UCLA Extension where he also serves on the faculty teaching the Introduction to Personal Money Management course, the Practical Investing course, and the Mutual Funds and ETFs Investing course.

David’s community service includes teaching financial literacy to high school-aged foster children at UCLA Guardians and Operation Hope, and he provides pro bono financial planning services to the faculty at his alma mater, Harvard-Westlake School, and at Campbell Hall School where he served as a teacher from 1999-2006. David also sits on the Board of the Jewish Free Loan Association, a charitable organization that provides interest-free loans to people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds.

David has been featured in Fortune Magazine and interviewed by InvestmentNews TV for his work on inter-generational financial planning. He has been named a Five-Star Wealth Manager, a distinction attributed to less than 2% of all wealth advisors by Los Angeles magazine magazine every year since 2012.

 

Susan J. Weiss, CFP<sup>®</sup>Susan J. Weiss, CFP®

Susan J. Weiss, CFP® joined Cheviot in 2018. Susan has over 30 years of experience in the High Net Worth Private Client marketplace and has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional since 1997. She is skilled in the areas of retirement planning, estate planning, divorce, education planning, charitable giving, insurance, and taxation. Her strengths include the ability to communicate and implement investment and financial planning concepts to clients in various financial situations. Susan previously held positions as a Managing Director at First Republic Wealth Advisors, Senior Vice President at Bailard, Inc., and owner of her own independent consulting practice. Susan holds her AB in History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Since 2014, Susan has held numerous positions on the board of University Synagogue in Los Angeles. She is currently serving her third year as a member of the Executive Committee in the position of Treasurer and will become the Vice President, Development in the next fiscal year.

 

James M. Whiting, CFP<sup>®</sup>James M. Whiting, CFP®

James M. Whiting joined Cheviot in February of 2018 as a Financial Advisor. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, he brings to the team a unique background of experience in small business ownership, real estate investing, education, administration, fundraising, and music. In his more recent roles, James has served as chair of Faculty Evaluation and Compensation from 2015-2017 at Campbell Hall, where he has also taught music and held various administrative positions between 2000 and 2021. In 2007 and 2016, he also founded two start-up companies in consumer communications and robotics. James uses his experience in education and business to help clients develop a confident understanding of their financial position and guide them toward their long-term goals. James holds a certificate in financial planning from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, as well as a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in music from Manhattan School of Music.

Martin R. Irani

Martin R. Irani joined Cheviot in 2023. After over thirty-five years in financial roles in private equity, investment banking and commercial banking and compliance, Martin is now focused on providing financial planning for clients. Martin holds a BA degree in Economics and an MBA degree in Finance from the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, Martin has obtained a Certificate in Financial Planning from Pepperdine University and has completed the CFP and Series 65 exams. Martin is currently a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Westminster School in Connecticut, has previously served USC on the boards of USC Dornsife College and the USC Alumni Association, and is a Trustee Emeritus of the Buckley School.

John F. FeldstedJohn F. Feldsted

John F. Feldsted has over 30 years of experience as a tax and corporate attorney and is a legal and tax advice resource to Cheviot’s clients. John has been involved in all phases of business analysis, real estate development, financing and syndication transactions throughout the course of his professional practice.

John holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Cornell University and a Masters of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1981 and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1983.

 

Zena L. ShlahZena L. Shlah

Zena L. Shlah joined Cheviot Value Management in 2007 and currently serves as Director of Client Services. Zena has accumulated more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Her duties include managing client service relationships, handling all administrative inquiries and processes related to client investment accounts, and overseeing office operations. Prior to joining Cheviot, Zena worked in Client Services at CIBC Wood Gundy in Calgary, Canada.

 

Scott Krisiloff, CFAScott Krisiloff, CFA

Scott Krisiloff, CFA serves as a member of Cheviot’s advisory board. He advises Cheviot on economic, technology and industry trends.

Scott is the founder of Avondale Asset Management which was acquired by Cheviot in 2018. At Avondale, Scott managed investment portfolios including a publicly traded mutual fund. In addition to advising Cheviot, Scott advises ultra-high net worth individuals and national political leaders on economic policy. He also serves as an advisor to venture-backed startups in a variety of industries including oil and gas, media and artificial intelligence.

Scott attended the University of Southern California where he received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics. One of Scott’s pastimes is studying economic and stock market history. He has read every TIME magazine from 1923-2000.

 

Frederic G. Marks
1933 – 2020
Frederic G. Marks

Frederic G. Marks is the founder and former Chief Investment Officer at Cheviot where he served on the Advisory Board through 2020. Fred lectured on Investments, Security Analysis, and Financial Planning at UCLA Extension (1988-1997). He was formerly a lawyer in private practice (business law) in Los Angeles (1965-1989), a member of the Executive Committee, Taxation Section, of the State Bar of California (1984-1987), and author of West’s California Code Forms: Corporations (1978). Fred received his B.A., M.A., and Ll.B. degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Read our tribute to Fred »