Our Team

Principals Who've Been in Your Seat

Our team brings together decades of experience across capital markets, alternative investments, and institutional distribution. We've raised capital, structured funds, and built investor relationships — which means we understand exactly what it takes to succeed.

Brandon Hughes

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Brandon is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BackStory Capital, where he leads the development and execution of growth-focused capital strategies and serves as the primary liaison to the investor community. With over 19 years of experience in capital markets, Brandon specializes in alternative investments and raising capital for both public and private funds. Prior to founding BackStory Capital, Brandon spent six years at Peachtree Group, where he played a key role in expanding distribution and growing assets under management to over $4 billion. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Parker School of Business at Georgia Southern University and FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

Brian Leaf

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Brian is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BackStory Capital, where he oversees the development, growth, and management of relationships with financial advisors. With over 12 years of capital markets experience, Brian specializes in raising capital for private funds through alternative investments and tax-advantaged strategies. Previously, Brian served as Vice President of Peachtree Group Investors and Head of Internal Wholesalers, where he played a pivotal role in facilitating and raising over $2 billion in capital throughout his career. He is a graduate of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

Capital Markets Team

Nicole Davis

Director of Operations

Nicole is Director of Operations at BackStory Capital, overseeing the firm's day-to-day operations and ensuring seamless execution across all client engagements. With over 20 years of experience, she brings deep expertise in strategic operations, process optimization and business development to keep the team running at peak efficiency. Nicole graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, is a licensed Realtor and Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist.

Devon Gasparovic

VP, Capital Markets

Devon is Vice President of Capital Markets at Backstory Capital, focused on capital raising initiatives and expanding the firm's distribution network across institutional and high-net-worth channels. Before joining BackStory, Devon was with Kensington Investment Distributors, where he excelled in wholesaling fixed income and equity mutual funds while building lasting relationships with advisors and upholding a commitment to exceptional customer service. Devon is a FINRA-licensed professional, holding Series 7 and Series 63 certifications.

Kip Denison

AVP, Capital Markets

Kip is an Associate Vice President of Capital Markets at BackStory Capital, supporting the firm's capital raising and investor outreach efforts across real estate, private equity, and alternative investment strategies. Before joining BackStory, Kip was with Fidelity National Financial, where he excelled in serving clients with top data solutions and revenue growth counsel. Kip carries a finance degree from the University of Kentucky and an MBA in finance from The Citadel Military College. He is a FINRA-licensed professional, holding Series 7 and Series 63 certifications.

Zack Hayward

AVP, Capital Markets

Zack Hayward is an Associate Vice President of Capital Markets at BackStory Capital, working closely with fund managers and investors to facilitate capital introductions and support the firm's distribution strategy. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Zack graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and played collegiate golf where he honed his discipline and teamwork skills while forging valuable professional connections and enduring relationships.

Join Our Network

We work with a select network of advisors, placement agents, and distribution partners.

Work With Our Team

We take on a select number of engagements at a time to ensure every manager receives our full attention and expertise.

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