Winding Bay Captial
Our Story & Vision
Winding Bay Capital emerged from a shared vision between Eric Holtz and Jim Smith after years of collaborative experience in wealth management. Recognizing a unique opportunity, Eric and Jim established an investment firm that embodies their commitment to excellence, integrity and client-focused investment strategies in real estate and alternative assets.
We specialize exclusively in real estate and alternative investments, allowing us to stay closely aligned with both macroeconomic trends and on-the-ground market dynamics. This focus gives us the agility to identify and act on emerging opportunities across evolving sectors.
We believe true wealth preservation and growth requires access to strategies beyond traditional markets. Our mission is to deliver institutional-quality investment opportunities—once reserved for endowments and family offices—to sophisticated investors seeking long-term advantage.
Committed To Our Values
Integrity | Prudence | Excellence
Integrity
Taking accountability by following through on our promises to earn your trust, exceed your expectations, and put you first.
Prudence
Performing in-depth research to make sound investment decisions tailored to your specific financial circumstances.
Service
Maintaining consistent and ongoing contact with you—all while being responsive to your every need.
Communication
Creating clarity around our investment process to ensure you are well-informed of—and kept up-to-date with—our actions.
Honesty
Providing you with sheer transparency regarding account performance, investment decisions, and fee structure.
Excellence
Training best-in-class employees who understand the importance of delivering an exceptional experience to you.
Our Team
Serving You Proudly
Founder and CEO
Eric Holtz
Eric Holtz is the Founder and CEO of Winding Bay Capital, where he focuses on sourcing and structuring private placement and 1031 exchange investment opportunities for accredited investors.
With over a decade of experience in the alternative investment space at a predecessor firm, Eric is well known and highly regarded within the 1031 exchange and private placement community. He is recognized for his ability to identify institutional-quality opportunities and guide clients through complex investment and tax-efficient strategies.
Eric attended St. Lawrence University before graduating from Canisius College with a degree in Finance. Prior to founding Winding Bay Capital, he held two distinct roles at leading financial institutions. He served as a Commercial Product Manager at a top-tier national bank, where he was responsible for investment sweep products, zero balance account structures, and government deposit solutions for commercial clients. He also worked within a large national wirehouse as part of a portfolio management team supporting a team of financial advisors in managing fixed income allocations. These experiences provided him with a strong foundation in capital markets, credit, and portfolio construction.
He currently serves on the Foundation Board for the Park School of Buffalo and sits on the Advisory Board for Realta Wealth. He is actively involved in his local community and maintains strong relationships across the industry.
Eric resides in Amherst, New York with his wife, Caylen, and their daughter, Theodora (“Teddy”). Outside of work, he enjoys golf, fly fishing, sporting clays, and travel.
Co-Founder and Senior Vice President
Dr. James Smith
Dr. James Smith is the Co-Founder and Senior Vice President at Winding Bay Capital, where he focuses on advising clients and supporting the firm’s real estate and alternative investment strategies. He brings a unique perspective to the firm, combining decades of disciplined decision-making from his medical career with a long-standing interest in investing and wealth preservation.
Prior to entering the financial services industry, Jim had a distinguished career as an orthopedic surgeon. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University in 1970 and his MD from SUNY Buffalo in 1974, ultimately retiring from medicine in 2011 after a long and successful practice. His medical background instilled a strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and a steady, process-driven approach to complex decision-making.
Following his retirement from medicine, Jim remained actively engaged as an investor before joining a predecessor firm in 2018, where he began working closely with Eric Holtz. That partnership evolved over time and ultimately led to the formation of Winding Bay Capital, built on a shared vision for delivering institutional-quality investment opportunities to clients. Today, he plays a key role in client relationships and investment strategy, with a particular emphasis on real estate opportunities and long-term, tax-efficient wealth planning.
Dr. Smith resides in Juno Beach, Florida during the winter and East Aurora, New York during the summer with his wife, Beverly. Outside of work he is an accomplished amateur golfer, and enjoys travel, wine, and spending time with friends.
Vice President
Sam Steffan
Sam Steffan is the Vice President at Winding Bay Capital and newest member of the team. He focuses on business development and supporting the firm’s growth within the alternative investment space, and brings a diverse background spanning finance, biotech, and technology, with a strong interest in applying data-driven thinking to investment and client solutions.
Sam earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He began his career in finance at AXA, where he worked as an Internal Wholesaler managing a $100M territory in Southern California, gaining early experience in advisor relationships and investment product distribution.
He later transitioned into the biotech industry, where he led Sales and Business Development teams at two startups focused on genomic data analytics software. In these roles, he developed a strong foundation in high-growth environments, complex technical products, and strategic client engagement. He now brings that blend of financial services and technology experience to Winding Bay Capital, supporting the firm’s work in alternative investments.
Sam splits his time between Buffalo, New York and Denver, Colorado. Outside of work he spends his time skiing, playing and coaching squash, hiking, and reading.
Wealth Advisor & Operations
Kristi Scott
Kristi Scott is the Operations Manager at Winding Bay and brings over 10 years of experience working as a dedicated processor supporting registered representatives, having developed extensive expertise in the investment real estate industry. She specializes in managing client paperwork and facilitating smooth, accurate transactions, with a strong focus on 1031 exchanges, including Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) and other alternative investment solutions.
Based in West Sacramento, California, she takes pride in providing detailed, dependable support to both representatives and their clients throughout the investment process. Her background has given her a deep understanding of the importance of organization, compliance, and efficiency when handling time-sensitive real estate and investment documentation.
Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, wine tasting and staying active in the community through her involvement with the Moose Lodge organization. Above all, she is a proud mother to her son, Austin, who is 20 years old.
Ready to build a smarter financial strategy?
Take the next step toward maximizing your investments and minimizing unnecessary tax exposure. Our team is ready to help you develop a customized strategy aligned with your long-term financial goals.