Chris Vizzi, CFP®

Chris Vizzi, CFP® helps high-net-worth families make smarter, more purposeful financial decisions. As co-founding partner at South Coast Investment Advisors and a recognized leader at Independent Financial Group, where he has spent nearly two decades, Vizzi brings deep expertise and uncommon clarity to the complex needs of business owners, entrepreneurs, and multigenerational wealth holders. 
 

Named InvestmentNews Advisor of the Year for Alternative Investments in 2024 and one of the Top Advisors in the Country in 2025, Vizzi has built a reputation for delivering sophisticated, tax-advantaged strategies that align wealth with long-term purpose.  

 

At South Coast, he serves as a personal CFO for his clients by designing customized portfolios that blend public and private markets with a focus on estate planning, risk management, and philanthropic structuring. He is a featured speaker at the firm’s annual South Coast Summit, where he shares cutting-edge insights into private market trends and generational planning. 

 
Vizzi is widely respected for his work with 1031 exchanges, opportunity zones, charitable foundations, and donor-advised funds. But beyond credentials, his passion lies in using finance as a tool for impact. He is the founder and executive director of the LIFT Foundation, established in 2013 to support vulnerable children and their families through mentorship, education, and direct financial assistance.  

 

A proud Gaucho and graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Vizzi combines technical excellence with a heart for service, making him a trusted advisor to those who want more from their wealth. 

 

Chris Vizzi, CFP®
Displaying 5 results
Private credit isn’t breaking. It’s being tested.
EXPERT ADVICE MAR 31, 2026
Private credit isn’t breaking. It’s being tested.

In this article, Chris Vizzi explains why redemption queues, software exposure, and negative headlines reflect liquidity mechanics and sentiment more than broad solvency issues.

Uncertainty Is Not the Enemy. It Is the Entry Fee.
EXPERT ADVICE JAN 28, 2026
Uncertainty Is Not the Enemy. It Is the Entry Fee.

Most investors wait for markets to “feel safe” before putting money to work—and that’s exactly when opportunity has passed. Discover why uncertainty isn’t a threat to your wealth, but the price of long-term returns.

From Landlord to Legacy: How Institutional Thinking Is Transforming 1031 Strategies
EXPERT ADVICE NOV 19, 2025
From Landlord to Legacy: How Institutional Thinking Is Transforming 1031 Strategies

Chris Vizzi, CFP®, Co-Founding Partner at South Coast Investment Advisors, explores how 1031 exchanges are evolving from simple tax deferral tools into sophisticated vehicles for generational wealth. Vizzi explains why adopting institutional-level discipline and scrutiny is essential for affluent families seeking to preserve income, reduce risk, and build a lasting legacy through DSTs and 721 UpREITs.

The language of wealth: why advisors must understand alternatives to serve the affluent
EXPERT ADVICE OCT 17, 2025
The language of wealth: why advisors must understand alternatives to serve the affluent

Chris Vizzi, CFP®, Co-Founding Partner at South Coast Investment Advisors, explains why today’s affluent clients demand more than traditional portfolios. He reveals how mastering alternative investments and strategies like Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds is essential for advisors who want to help high-net-worth clients build lasting wealth, achieve tax efficiency, and create a legacy.

Passing on more than wealth: why purpose should be part of every estate plan
EXPERT ADVICE AUG 13, 2025
Passing on more than wealth: why purpose should be part of every estate plan

Chris Vizzi, Co-Founder & Partner of South Coast Investment Advisors, LLC, shares how 2025 estate tax changes—$13.99M per person—offer more than tax savings. Learn how to pass on purpose, values, and vision to unite generations and give wealth lasting meaning