Our story
Experience You Can Invest In
Columbia Private Markets was founded by a team of investors, operators, and advisors who share a belief that the private markets should be built on trust, discipline, and partnership.
Why we exist
Our Mission
At Columbia Private Markets our mission is simple: to make private markets accessible, compliant, and efficient for investors, advisors, and issuers.
We believe this meaningful investing happens when access meets integrity. That's why CPM combines deal diligence, trusted partnerships, and a streamlined investment experience, so our clients can participate confidently in private markets built for long-term growth.
We combine decades of experience across private equity, real estate, and financial services to help investors engage in private markets with confidence and clarity.
The team
Our Leadership
Steve Larsen
Chief Executive Officer
Steve has over 20 years of experience in investment management and financial planning. He oversees $400m+ in real estate and credit fund assets and is the founder of CAP Northwest and The Hartley Funds. At CPM, he leads strategy, sponsor relationships, and platform growth.
Paul Felsch
Chief Compliance Officer
Paul oversees compliance and regulatory strategy for CPM, ensuring all offerings meet FINRA and SEC standards. With over two decades of experience leading compliance programs at major investment firms, he brings a practical, forward-thinking approach to governance and risk management.
Kim Smith
Financial Operations Principal
Kim manages financial operations and regulatory filings for CPM. With a background in accounting and over 16 years of experience in finance and operations, she ensures accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across the firm's systems and reporting.
Ron Dixon
Director of Sales
Ron has over 30 years of experience in financial planning, sales, and the insurance industry. With a strong background in relationship-driven sales, he focuses on delivering clear, practical strategies that align with regulatory standards and support long-term financial goals at CPM.
Aspen Carroll
Chief of Staff
Aspen oversees operations and internal strategy at CPM, supporting leadership to ensure consistent execution across systems, processes, and service. With a focus on organization, coordination, and follow-through, she helps maintain a compliant, efficient, and high-quality experience at CPM.
What drives us
Our Values
Integrity
We lead with transparency and accountability in every relationship.
Rigor
Each offering we present is vetted through a disciplined diligence process designed to achieve institutional rigor.
Alignment
We believe investors, sponsors, and our platform succeed best when incentives are shared and clearly defined.
Accessibility
Our goal is to open doors to private credit, real estate, and equity opportunities through a business-aligned platform.
Stewardship
We view every investment as a responsibility, not a transaction, and act as long-term partners to our investors and issuers alike.
Compliance & Regulatory
Reg BI Compliant
We operate under SEC Regulation Best Interest — your clients' interests come first, always.
Form CRS
Our Customer Relationship Summary is available to all clients and prospective clients on request.