Our team
Senior professionals with backgrounds in institutional real estate investment, capital markets and family-office asset management.
Principal-led, institutionally trained
Our team operates with the hallmarks of leading investment banking practices — precision, deep analytical rigor, and hands-on collaboration. We partner with sponsors, developers and capital allocators, maintaining sharp alignment with client objectives and a relentless focus on long-term value creation.
Emile
Schachter
In the press
Q&A: Building in the Middle of the Capital Stack — CityBiz, March 2026Building in the Middle of the Capital Stack — Multifamily Press, March 2026Inside Miami's New Capital Advisory Platform for Real Estate Finance — CityBiz, January 2026WD Capital y la Nueva Ingeniería Financiera del Mercado Inmobiliario en Florida — El Sureste, March 2026Mr. Schachter is a Managing Principal of WD Capital Group. He leads the firm's capital markets origination and execution across debt, preferred equity, and structured finance transactions. His focus includes construction and bridge financing, mezzanine structures, recapitalizations, and complex multi-lender capital stacks for institutional and private sponsors.
Prior to founding WD Capital Group, Mr. Schachter held roles at Rialto Capital and Bridge Investment Group, two vertically integrated real estate investment managers with combined assets under management exceeding $10 billion. His experience at these firms spans acquisitions, asset management, CMBS, and B-piece underwriting across multiple asset classes.
Mr. Schachter holds a Master's in Finance and Real Estate from Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management, with a concentration in Investments. He received his Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology as a Fulbright Scholar.
Eduardo
Pelaez
Mr. Pelaez is a Managing Principal of WD Capital Group with more than two decades of experience in global finance, real estate investment, and family-office asset management. As CEO of Wellmeaning Holdings, he oversees diversified investments across real estate, hospitality, and aviation.
Under his leadership, Wellmeaning Investments has executed more than $300 million in real estate transactions and assembled a portfolio exceeding 400,000 square feet of leasable space in South Florida. A signature accomplishment is the acquisition and early positioning of Cynergi Wynwood, establishing the firm as one of the earliest institutional investors in one of Miami's most transformative submarkets.
Mr. Pelaez's background in New York finance provides a foundation of institutional discipline, capital markets fluency, and strategic foresight that he applies to large-scale development, value-add repositioning, and multigenerational investment planning.
Alvaro
Cardenas
Mr. Cardenas is a Managing Principal of WD Capital Group with more than 25 years of experience in global strategy, finance, brand development, and real estate investment. His background includes leadership roles within family offices, cross-border investment partnerships, and joint ventures with prominent developers in South Florida and Latin America.
Mr. Cardenas has co-developed and co-invested in real estate initiatives alongside multinational partners, including ventures connected to Sambil—Venezuela's largest development group—contributing to projects such as Sambil Valencia Shopping Center. His corporate experience includes guiding brand expansion into over 80 countries and advising on large-scale development initiatives.
His early career in finance with BBVA in Madrid provides a strong foundation in capital markets, credit evaluation, and cross-border financial structuring.
Execution and operations
Based in Miami. Underwriting, execution, communications and finance.
Mr. Ketchum is an Associate at WD Capital Group with over five years of experience in credit risk management and restructuring. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Ketchum co-managed more than $300 million in distressed debt at Citizens Bank across commercial real estate and corporate portfolios, contributing to over $50 million in reduced provisions. He previously served as a Senior Associate at Grant Thornton's Restructuring & Turnaround practice. Mr. Ketchum holds a Bachelor of Business from Bryant University with concentrations in Finance and Applied Analytics.
Mr. Curry is an Analyst at WD Capital Group focused on underwriting, financial modeling, and transaction execution across debt and equity capital structures. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Curry held roles at Lee & Associates, where he underwrote over $330 million in multifamily and student housing assets; Cushman & Wakefield Global Portfolio Solutions, supporting corporate real estate advisory for multinational clients; and Havenly Ventures, contributing to asset management and acquisition strategy. Mr. Curry is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Finance and Investment at Miami University, Farmer School of Business.
Work with the principals
Every engagement is staffed by a Managing Principal from first call to closing.