About Us

About Us

Three Decades of Alignment
with our Investors

Crystal Capital Partners' founders have been investing in alternatives since 1994, building institutional solutions for independent financial advisors, establishing early relationships with many of today's most recognized managers, and investing their own capital in the same funds available to advisors and their clients.

Our Story

From Fund of Funds Pioneer to Modern Wealth-Tech Platform

Crystal was built on a straightforward conviction: independent financial advisors deserve the same quality of alternative investment access as the largest institutions in the world, without the complexity and prohibitive minimums that traditionally kept them out.

In the early years, Crystal established itself as an active investor in the private fund ecosystem, building deep relationships with institutional managers across hedge funds and private equity. The firm's core competency as a multi-strategy fund of funds gave it decades of direct experience in sourcing, vetting, and monitoring alternative managers.

Over time, the business evolved. Crystal transformed from a traditional fund of funds into a technology-enabled platform, building proprietary tools for portfolio construction, quantitative analytics, digital investment proposals, and end-to-end subscription automation.

Alternative Investment Experience

30+ Years

Technology Professionals on the Team

50%

Today, technology professionals represent half of Crystal's team, reflecting the firm's commitment to making alternatives simpler and more accessible without sacrificing institutional rigor.

Our Team

Meet the Team

Crystal's team blends deep alternative investment experience with technology and operational expertise. Hover to learn more about each member.

Steven Brod

Steven Brod

Senior Partner, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer

Steven Brod

Senior Partner, CEO, CIO

25+ Years

Steven joined Crystal in 2000, launching several U.S.-based multi-strategy fund of funds. Recognizing that one size does not fit all, he identified that advisors needed more customizable options to avoid manager and strategy overlap in client portfolios, and initiated the Customized Portfolio Program, giving financial advisors a platform to build customized hedge fund and private equity portfolios for their clients. Steven is primarily responsible for the firm's strategic direction as well as overseeing manager selection and investment support services. He earned his M.B.A. with a specialization in investments from the University of Miami and his B.S. from Bentley College.

Michael Hoyer

Michael Hoyer, CFA

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer

Michael Hoyer, CFA

CFO, CCO

20+ Years

Michael joined Crystal in 2006. He is responsible for all of the firm's operational functions, including the calculation of net asset valuations (NAVs), manager allocations, audits, and tax reporting for each of the funds. Prior to joining Crystal, he worked as a senior treasury analyst for LNR Partners, a diversified real estate and finance company, and as a senior fund analyst at Franklin Templeton Investments. He earned his B.S. in Finance from Florida Atlantic University and holds the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

Salomon Gorin

Salomon Gorin

Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Security Officer

Salomon Gorin

CTO, CISO

25+ Years

Salomon joined Crystal in 2000. He oversees all facets of the firm's information technology, including the architecture and development of proprietary technology, secure operation of IT networks, systems, and cloud infrastructure, and IT support to staff. He is a full-stack technology professional with deep expertise in software development, IT security, IT infrastructure, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Salomon holds an Executive Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an M.B.A. with specializations in investments and applied statistics from the University of Miami, and a B.S. in Computer Science from Florida International University. His certifications include Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (Azure Solutions Architect, Web Applications), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (Cloud Platform and Infrastructure), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Alan Strauss

Alan Strauss

Senior Partner, Director of Investor Relations

Alan Strauss

Senior Partner, Director of IR

15+ Years

Alan joined Crystal in 2009. He is focused on investor relations, client engagement, sales, and marketing initiatives, and works closely with advisors and investors as they navigate an increasingly complex alternative investment landscape.

Alan is a frequent contributor to financial media, appearing on Schwab Network and as a guest on industry podcasts including The Advisor Summit Podcast, Smart Money Circle Show, Other People's Money, ATLalts, and Alt Funds Network. His insights have also been featured in publications such as Financial Advisor Magazine, InvestmentNews, Family Wealth Report, Funds Society, and Hedge Fund Alpha. He earned his M.S.Ed. in Sport Administration and his B.S. in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish from the University of Miami.

Golan Lewkowicz

Golan Lewkowicz

Senior Managing Director, Investor Relations

Golan Lewkowicz

Senior Managing Director, IR

10+ Years

Golan joined Crystal in 2013, bringing Wall Street relationships dating back to 1997. He is focused on developing and supporting relationships with RIAs, institutions, and their clients, and regularly represents Crystal at client conferences and RIA partnership events nationwide. Prior to joining the firm, he served in sales leadership at GSM Systems, as Managing Partner and Registered Investment Advisor with Chicago Investment Group, and as Senior Vice President of Private Client Services for Ladenburg Thalmann & Company in New York and London. He earned his BSBA in Finance and Business Administration from West Virginia University.

Vladi Yurovsky

Vladi Yurovsky

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

Vladi Yurovsky

SVP, Investor Relations

Vladi joined Crystal in 2023, bringing 16 years of wealth management and business development expertise. He is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with RIA channel financial advisors. Previously, Vladi served as Executive Director for Israel Bonds, Vice President for J.P. Morgan's Private Bank, and Senior Portfolio Advisor for Merrill Lynch. He earned his B.A. from the University of Florida and his M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University. Outside of work, he is deeply involved in community efforts focused on children in challenging circumstances internationally and sits on the Executive Board of the Its4TheKids Foundation.

Natalie Brod

Natalie Brod

Senior Partner, Chief Marketing Officer

Natalie Brod

Senior Partner, CMO

15+ Years

Natalie joined Crystal in 2009. She is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and execution of Crystal's marketing initiatives, serving as the liaison between the marketing and technology teams to coordinate all systems to work cohesively. She also helps shape the look, feel, and usability of Crystal's website and works closely with intermediaries on their custom private label websites and reporting facilities. She earned her M.S. in Non-Profit Management from The New School for Management and Urban Policy and her B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Karishma Chopra

Karishma Chopra, CFA

Chief Operating Officer

Karishma Chopra, CFA

COO

10+ Years

Karishma joined Crystal in 2015. She works closely with the partners to execute their vision and maintain strong operations for the firm, and is responsible for implementing new initiatives and coordinating different departments to operate more efficiently. Prior to joining Crystal, Karishma spent over ten years at Morgan Stanley in its London and New York offices, with a strong background in fund structuring and origination focused on hedge funds, and built the Morgan Stanley liquid alternatives platform in 2009. She earned her M.S. in Economics and Finance from Warwick Business School, UK, and holds the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

Tyler Amodio

Tyler Amodio

Business Development

Tyler Amodio

Business Development

5+ Years

Tyler joined Crystal in 2022. He is responsible for developing new business development initiatives, working closely with the research, marketing, and technology departments. Previously, he was an Investment Analyst for Prince Street Capital, a global emerging markets and thematic-focused equity hedge fund based in New York. He earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.S. in Finance from the McCombs School of Business.

Core Philosophy

The Principles That Guide Us

Alignment Over
Everything

Our principals invest their own capital in the same funds we make available to advisors and their clients. We accept no compensation from the managers on our platform. Our economics are transparent, and our interests are aligned with advisors and the investors they serve.

Relationships,
Not Transactions

We know our advisors by name, and they know us. Every partnership starts with understanding your practice and your clients, because cookie-cutter solutions don't work in alternatives.

Portfolio Construction
Focus

We start with the client's portfolio, not with a fund menu. The whole platform is designed around building diversified alternative allocations that complement traditional holdings, strategy-first, not product-first. This is what separates us from a marketplace.

Let’s Build Your Alternative Practice Together

We'd love to learn about your practice. Schedule a conversation with our team.

Crystal's sole compensation is a management fee for its services; Crystal is not compensated by the managers on the platform (no placement fees or distribution economics). In addition to Crystal's management fee, investors bear the funds' third-party operating expenses (administration, custody, audit, and tax), the underlying funds' fees and expenses (including the underlying managers' management and performance-based fees), and the advisor's own advisory fee. See the applicable Offering Memorandum for complete fee and expense details.