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 States 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.
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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Education
Boston College Caroll School of Management, BS in Finance & Accounting
Licensing
SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
Series 7 – General Securities Representative
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law
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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.
ANALYST
Jeniffer Figueroa
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O: (301) 691-5009
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Education
Georgetown University, B.S. Accounting and Finance
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Jeniffer Figueroa is an Analyst at LGA Capital focused on underwriting, market research, and supporting the firm’s debt and equity commercial real estate transactions. In her role, she contributes to financial modeling, deal execution, and the preparation of due diligence materials across a wide range of commercial real estate transactions.
Before joining LGA Capital, Jeniffer worked at Morgan Stanley in Internal Audit, where she rotated across multiple business lines. In this role, she gained experience performing risk assessments, control testing, and compliance reviews on trading desks and investment products. She also collaborated with senior leadership to design process improvements and ensure alignment with regulatory standards. Her exposure to complex financial products and institutional decision-making gave her a strong analytical foundation and sharpened her ability to evaluate risk, structure transactions, and communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Jeniffer also has direct investment experience having managed value-add properties, which deepened her understanding of underwriting, capital structuring, and asset management.
Jeniffer currently resides in Gaithersburg, MD. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring local restaurants and traveling. She is passionate about personal development and the intersection of finance and real estate, and she is eager to continue building her expertise in capital markets.
COMPLIANCE ADVISOR
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
Luis Goberna
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Education
University of Miami - BBA, Economics
Examinations
Series 7 - General Securities Representative
Series 14 - Compliance Officer
Series 24 - General Securities Principal
Series 63 - Uniform Securities Agent State Law
Series 79 - Investment Banking Representative
Series 99 - Operations Professional
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Luis Goberna is the Chief Compliance Officer at LGA Capital, where he oversees the firm's compliance program and serves as its principal advisor on regulatory matters.
Mr. Goberna served as Chief Compliance Officer of Pederson&Co LLC and Vice President of its holding company, where he led the firm's compliance framework and managed FINRA and SEC examinations while preserving its clean public record. He was previously a compliance officer at Ashland Securities, LLC, reporting to the President and Chief Compliance Officer. Mr. Goberna has also worked in domestic and international government and on major political campaigns.
A native of Florida, Mr. Goberna received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from the University of Miami. He holds FINRA Series 7, 14, 24, 63, 79 and 99 licenses.
FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS PRINCIPAL
marlon Bevaun
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Education
Brooklyn College, BS in Accounting
Brooklyn College, MS in Accounting
Licensing
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Examinations
Series 27 - Financial and Operations Principal
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Marlon possesses over 19 years of experience in audit, tax, and accounting, primarily serving the financial services sector with a focus on broker-dealers' financial and regulatory reporting. He offers comprehensive Financial and Operations Principal and CFO services to clients within the securities industry. A significant aspect of Marlon's role is acting as the firm's FINOP, where he ensures adherence to the financial reporting and regulatory standards set forth by FINRA and the SEC. His extensive knowledge and proficiency in this domain enable him to adeptly maneuver through the intricate landscape of financial regulations.
Marlon currently resides in Georgia and enjoys the outdoors especially hiking and camping.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, OFFICE MANAGER
Erika Gonzalez
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O: (301) 691-5009
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Education
Florida International University, BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Florida International University, Certificate of Environmental Studies
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Erika serves as Executive Assistant and Office Manager at LGA Capital, where she manages the firm's daily operations and strategic endeavors and provides integral support for financial operations and compliance to the firm’s principals.
Possessing a robust foundation, including over 9 years of experience in organizational and relationship management, coupled with strong interest in finance, Erika is actively applying her skills in financial and operations analysis.
Previously, Erika gained project management and research acumen at World Wildlife Fund and Costa Farms Headquarters in Miami, FL. She managed data-driven projects involving the analysis of global hotel portfolios and strategic initiative development, leveraging subject matter expertise and financial analysis to support multinational corporations' supply chain optimization strategies.
Now residing in Rockville, MD, Erika enjoys roller skating, hiking, beach trips, practicing music, and gardening. She is passionate about nutrition, impact, and community development and stays involved in local community and conservation initiatives.
