Asset ManagerRIA · CRD 289261SEC-RegisteredPrivate Fund Adviser

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Variant Investments

Variant Investments is an SEC-registered investment adviser in Portland, OR, registered since 2018. The firm manages approximately $2.8 billion in regulatory...

Variant Investments

Variant Investments is an SEC-registered investment adviser in Portland, OR, registered since 2018. The firm manages approximately $2.8 billion in regulatory assets. It has 33 employees and 29 investment advisers.

General information

Firm type

RIA

Year founded

2018

AUM

$2.6B (per firm website, 2025)

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Portland

Corporate office

Portland, OR, United States

Additional offices

New York · Amsterdam · Belgrade · Stockholm

Principals

Bob Elsasser

Principal and Co-Founder

Curt Fintel, CFA

Principal and Co-Founder

J.B. Hayes, CFA

Principal and Co-Founder

Kristi Combs

Chief Operating Officer

Brian Park

General Counsel

Sector focus

Private CreditAlternative IncomeEmerging MarketsSustainable FinanceClimateTechFinTech

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Variant Investments?

Investment decisions are overseen by three co-founders — Bob Elsasser, Curt Fintel (CFA), and J.B. Hayes (CFA) — all of whom previously worked together at CTC | myCFO. Kristi Combs serves as COO. The investment team includes senior members like Karina Convers, who leads a portion of the firm's emerging markets holdings (per firm website, 2025).

Does Variant invest in traditional bonds or publicly traded equities?

No. Variant explicitly avoids conventional fixed income and public equities. Its focus is on 'unconventional income' — specialty finance, private credit, and alternative debt assets that are not accessible through public markets. The firm says it seeks income from 'private markets, uncorrelated alternatives and niche public markets.'

What is the Variant Impact Fund, and how does it integrate sustainability?

The Variant Impact Fund (IMPCX) is an interval fund that targets alternative credit exposures aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It invests in assets such as affordable housing loans, renewable energy finance, and community development credit, aiming to generate both financial returns and measurable social outcomes.

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