Dedicated team with diverse experience across the finance & real estate industries
MANAGING PRINCIPAL, FOUNDER
Jason Gerstein
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Education
Valley Forge Military College AS 1993
Franklin and Marshall College BA in Psychology and Biology 1996
University of Dayton School of Law Juris Doctor 1999
American University Kogod School of Business Administration MBA in Finance 2001
Georgetown University Law Center Master of Law (LLM) Taxation 2006
Licensing
Maryland Court of Appeals 2000–present
United States District Court for the District of Maryland 2014–present
United State Tax Court 2012–present
Supreme Court of the United States of America 2017–present
Examinations
Series 7 – General Securities Representative
Series – 24 General Securities Principal
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law
Series 63 – Uniform Agent State Law
Series 79 – Investment Banking Representative
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Jason Gerstein is the founding principal of LGA Capital. Jason actively leads the company’s business development, underwriting, and investment strategy.
For nearly 25 years and prior to the founding of LGA Capital in 2010, Jason worked extensively in multifamily development for a number of regional developers. His responsibilities included directing those firms’ capital markets efforts as well as underwriting and entitlement. He also worked as Transaction Director for MMA Financial’s tax credit platform raising equity for multifamily affordable housing development projects throughout the country.
Jason lives in Potomac, MD with his wife and four children.
Jason is an avid cyclist. He recently completed the 110 mile 2024 Bike to the Beach from Washington DC to Dewey Beach Delaware, raising more than $5,000 for Autism research. With a 14.5mph pace, Jason is looking to participate next year and hopefully improve on his time.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Michael Raphael
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Education
University of Miami, BS Economics & Political Science
Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, MBA Finance & Entrepreneurship
Examinations
SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
Series 7 – General Securities Representative
Series 63 – Uniform Securities State Law
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Examination
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Michael Raphael joined LGA Capital in 2017 and serves as a Senior Vice President. In his role, he is responsible for originating and overseeing the underwriting, placement of debt and equity, and execution of all commercial real estate transactions.
Prior to LGA Capital, Michael served as Vice President at Tejas Securities, a broker-dealer based in New York City. In this role, he worked closely with institutional investors to identify, analyze, and execute investment opportunities in the high-yield and distressed debt markets and co-founded a bankruptcy claims trading desk.
Michael sits on the Index Committee of WilderShares ECO Index Fund which tracks the performance of the clean energy sector. In addition, he is a member of The Associated's Real Estate Committee and sits on the Board of Directors of CHAI.
Michael resides in Pikesville, MD with his wife and three children. In his free time, he enjoys running, cooking, listening to music, and cheering for the hopeless New York Jets.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Michael Bensimon
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Education
University of Maryland, College Park BS
Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, MS Real Estate & Infrastructure
Examinations
SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
Series 7 – General Securities Representative
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Examination
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Michael Bensimon is a Senior Vice President at LGA Capital responsible for originations and overseeing the firm’s underwriting and capital raising efforts on behalf of its investor and developer clients. Michael brings with him more than 10 years of private and institutional real estate investment experience in both a principal and agency capacity.
Previously, Michael served as Director of Capital Markets for an institutional real estate investment manager. In this role, he was responsible for capital strategy and formation across the firm’s opportunistic, value-add, and core-plus investment vehicles. As a member of the Leadership Team, Michael was a key contributor to the firm’s investment strategy and portfolio construction, and was a regular advisor to the firm’s Investment Committee.
Michael resides in Annapolis, MD with his wife, son, and golden retriever, Zeus.
FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS PRINCIPAL
Erin Baskett
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Education
Masters in Accounting from Lindenwood University
B.S. in Business with a minor in International Finance from the University of Missouri
Licensing
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
Certified Human Resource Specialist (CHRS)
Examinations
Series 4 - Registered Options Principal
Series 7 - General Securities Representative
Series 14 - Compliance Officer
Series 24 - General Securities Principal
Series 27 - Financial and Operations Principal
Series 57 - Securities Trader Representative
Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law
Series 99 - Operations Professional
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Erin is LGA Capital’s Financial and Operations Principal (FinOp). She brings with her more than 20 years of hands-on experience in accounting, auditing, business consulting, capital markets and financial services. Erin has been a FINRA District and Regional Committee Member for 8+ years, member of the Small Firm Advisory Committee and Retail Advisory Committee.
In addition to acting as LGA Capital’s FinOp, Erin is also the CEO of Sine Qua Non Global (SQN-Global.com), through which she and her team serve as an executive officer for other broker dealers. Erin also owns her own broker dealer offering private placement investment opportunities.
Her professional experience spans retail and institutional focused businesses, M&A, investment banking, private placement, crypto, online fintech brokerage, robo-advisors, traditional retail BD/RIAs, research firms, self-clearing, etc across multiple regulators, domestic and abroad.
Erin lives in Delray Beach, FL with her husband, three children and her dogs. Erin also has a step-daughter who is married and living with her husband. Erin loves being outdoors, staying active and classic cars (her dog is even named after one)!
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Erik Dolan
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Education
B.S. – Business Administration – University of Maryland
MBA – Finance, Asset Management - American University Kogod School of Business
Licensing
Virginia Real Estate Individual License
Examinations
Series 7 - General Securities Representative
Series 24 - General Securities Principal
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Erik is Chief Compliance Officer. He is an experienced compliance and risk management professional with over 25 years in financial services. He has an extensive background in regulatory matters including serving with three major regulatory bodies, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Market Regulation, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Enforcement Division and the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Department of Enforcement.
In addition to his experience as a regulator, he has served as a firm compliance professional acting as Chief Compliance Officer, Deputy CCO, and consultant for a range of firms including institutional with large fund and research complexes, private placements, municipal advisors, private equity, investment banking and research firms, as well as in a retail capacity with both broker dealers and registered investment advisers.
Erik also spent 7 years as a regulatory liaison on FINRA’s Series 6, 7, 9/10 and 24 examination committees. He served as a voting member on the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education and was responsible for the development and upkeep of MSRB’s Series 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 examinations.
Erik lives in northern Virginia with his wife and two children.
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT
James Richter
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Education
Virginia Tech, BS Finance
Licensing
Series 7 – General Securities Representative
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law
SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
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James Richter is an Associate VP responsible for various aspects of the firm’s underwriting and capital raising efforts.
Before joining LGA, James was an Industrials & Utilities Sector Analyst for BASIS Investment Group where he helped manage a fixed income portfolio for The Virginia Tech Foundation.
He currently resides in Arlington, VA. When he isn’t working, you can find him mountain biking, golfing, or exploring the outdoors.
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Patrick Jaeger
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O: (301) 691-5009 x409
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Education
Boston College Caroll School of Management, BS in Finance & Accounting
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Patrick Jaeger is a Senior Associate focused on investment screening, due diligence, underwriting, and ensuring the timely execution of all commercial real estate transactions. Prior to joining LGA Capital, Patrick was a Summer Analyst at Brown Advisory where he prepared financial models to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative merits of commercial real estate investments. Additionally, Patrick interned at Yankee Capital Partners where he prepared property valuation and cash flow models in support of the firm’s value-add multifamily investment strategy.
Patrick lives in Arlington, VA where he enjoys running along the Georgetown waterfront.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Sophia Sizdahkhani
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O: (301) 691-5009 x408
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Education
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, BS in Biochemistry 2020
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Sophia Sizdahkhani is the Chief of Staff at LGA Capital. Sophia manages the day-to-day operations of the office as well as providing integral support for financial operations and compliance to the firm’s principals.
Sophia is a dedicated Swiftie, likes to sew and only orders fun drinks.
