There is a specific kind of “knot in the stomach” that many investors feel today when they look at their quarterly statements. On one hand, you have the “safety” of traditional fixed income or high-yield savings accounts, which often feel like they are barely keeping pace with real-world inflation. On the other hand, you have the equity markets—a landscape of extreme volatility where a single geopolitical event or a shift in interest rate sentiment can erase months of gains in a single afternoon.
For the accredited investor, this creates a frustrating dilemma: Do you accept meager yields to keep your principal safe, or do you gamble on growth and lose sleep over market swings?
I view my role at Fidelis Private Fund not as a salesperson, but as a steward of your hard-earned capital. My goal is to help you bridge this gap. To do that, we must look beyond the traditional markets and into the world of private credit—specifically, the space where institutional-grade discipline meets the agility of private lending.
The Mechanics of the “Premium”
In the public markets, everything is built for liquidity. You can buy or sell a stock or a bond in seconds. While that sounds like a benefit, that liquidity comes at a high price: lower yields and higher susceptibility to emotional market “noise.”
Private credit operates differently. Because these loans are not traded on a public exchange, we are able to capture two distinct advantages for our investors:
- The Illiquidity Premium: Because you are committing capital for a set duration, the market rewards you with a higher yield. You are, in essence, being paid for your patience.
- The Complexity Premium: Traditional banks have become increasingly rigid, governed by “checkbox” underwriting. When a high-quality borrower has a complex situation—perhaps a fast-moving real estate acquisition or a bridge loan requirement—the big banks often say “no” simply because the deal doesn’t fit a standard template. We have the expertise to do the deep-dive analysis that banks won’t, allowing us to secure higher returns on high-quality assets.
A Note on Performance: While Fidelis does not guarantee an exact percentage yield to our investors, our disciplined approach has consistently delivered results. We are currently yielding over 9% and have maintained that level for the last year and a half. In fact, since the inception of the fund, our yield has never fallen below 8%.
Stewardship and Capital Preservation
At Fidelis, our philosophy is anchored in Capital Preservation. We are protectors of wealth first, and generators of yield second. We achieve these competitive returns not by taking “long-shot” risks, but by focusing on the fundamentals of asset-based lending.
Our process is rigorous and intentional. Fidelis originates and underwrites every loan in our portfolio. This means my team and I are the ones looking the borrower in the eye, inspecting the property, and scrutinizing the exit strategy. We don’t outsource the decision-making; we take full responsibility for the quality of the credit we bring into the fund.
However, to ensure the highest level of professional oversight and transparency, we utilize a trusted third-party loan servicer to handle the day-to-day administrative functions of the loans. This separation of duties provides an extra layer of protection for our investors, ensuring that while we make the investment decisions, the “paperwork” and payment processing are handled by a dedicated specialist firm.
We typically focus on short-term, first-trust deed positions with conservative loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. And when we do fund a 2nd trust deed position loan, we underwrite it like a first-trust deed. By keeping our combined LTVs low, we create a significant “cushion” of equity. Even if the market softens, the underlying real estate value protects the principal investment. It is a relationship-driven model where we prioritize the quality of the borrower and the collateral over sheer volume.
Navigating the Future Together
The world of finance often feels intentionally opaque, designed to keep investors at arm’s length. I’ve never believed in that approach. When you invest with Fidelis, you aren’t just a line on a spreadsheet; you are a partner.
We believe that in a low-yield world, you shouldn’t have to choose between security and performance. By focusing on private credit—driven by disciplined underwriting and a commitment to stewardship—we can provide the consistent, attractive yields that help you meet your financial goals without the “stomach knot” of market volatility.
If you’re tired of the volatility and looking for a more grounded way to grow your wealth, let’s talk. The best way to start is just to reach out—I answer my own phone, and I’d love to hear your story and discuss how we can protect and grow your capital together. Contact John Lloyd directly:Phone: 760-258-4486 Email: jlloyd@fidelispf.com
See Our Latest Performance Report
Fidelis Private Fund annualized yield paid to Limited Partners for the 4th Quarter 2025. Click here for a summary of Fidelis’s annualized yield since inception.
Fidelis 2028 Vivid Vision – Where are we going and how are we going to get there!
The Fidelis 2028 Vivid Vision document provides a comprehensive blueprint of the company’s strategic direction, core values, and operational principles, highlighting its commitment to capital preservation, growth, innovation, and client-centric services. Click to read the Fidelis vision.