Catalyst Funds
Catalyst Funds (Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC) is a private mutual fund sponsor offering 19 alternative, equity, and income-oriented funds to RIAs, broker-dealers, and institutional investors, distributing through Northern Lights and Foreside with approximately $13 billion in AUM as of 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Catalyst Funds does
Catalyst Funds (legally Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC, d/b/a Catalyst Mutual Funds) is a private, for-profit mutual fund company founded in 2006 and headquartered in Huntington, New York (with company website indicating New York City). The firm sponsors 19 mutual funds and one interval fund organized into three product families: Alternative/Hedged Strategies (7 funds), Equity-Oriented Strategies (5 funds), and Income-Oriented Strategies (7 funds). Core products include the Catalyst/Millburn Hedge Strategy Fund (MBXIX, a 100% systematic multi-strategy fund trading 125+ global markets that surpassed $10 billion AUM in June 2026), the Catalyst Buffered Shield Fund (options-based S&P 500 laddered hedge), the Catalyst Nasdaq-100 Hedged Equity Fund, the Catalyst Systematic Alpha Fund (built on the BNP Paribas Catalyst Systematic Alpha Index), and interval fund Catalyst/Perini Strategic Income Fund. Underlying technology is built around proprietary systematic and quantitative investment processes implemented by specialized boutique sub-advisors including Millburn Ridgefield, Aspect Capital, Equity Armor Investments, Welton Investment Partners, Cookson Peirce, SL Advisors, SMH Capital Advisors, Managed Asset Portfolios, CIFC Investment Management, Wynkoop, Exceed Advisory, and Perini Capital. The firm does not directly develop the investment IP itself; rather, it curates and packages sub-advisor strategies under the Catalyst brand.
Catalyst Funds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catalyst Funds
- Legal name
- Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC
- Website
- https://catalystmf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Catalyst Funds (Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC) is a private mutual fund sponsor offering 19 alternative, equity, and income-oriented funds to RIAs, broker-dealers, and institutional investors, distributing through Northern Lights and Foreside with approximately $13 billion in AUM as of 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catalyst Funds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Mutual Fund Management
- NAICS
- Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (525990), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Target-Risk / Risk-Managed Allocation Funds (FSAAAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Multi-Strategy — Multi-Asset Tactical / Opportunistic Trading (FSAHAFAJ), Multi-Strategy — Single-Manager, Multi-PM (FSAHAFAB), Multi-Asset Income Funds (Diversified Income) (FSAAAJAG)
Keywords
Where Catalyst Funds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catalyst Funds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Mutual Fund Management Fees: The company operates 19 mutual funds across alternative/hedged, equity-oriented, and income-oriented strategies. Revenue is generated through management fees calculated as a percentage of assets under management, with different fee structures across fund share classes (Class A, Class C, Class I). Prospectus net expense ratios range from 0.75% to 2.99% depending on fund and share class.
- Fund Distribution Revenue: Funds are distributed through registered broker-dealers including Northern Lights Distributors, LLC and Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Class A shares carry maximum 5.75% or 4.75% sales charges, generating distribution revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Class I Shares - Lowest cost institutional share class |
| Subscription | Annual | Class A Shares - Mid-tier with front-end sales load |
| Subscription | Annual | Class C Shares - Higher cost with deferred sales charge |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Catalyst Funds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catalyst Funds operates a family of 19 mutual funds and one interval fund spanning alternative/hedged, equity-oriented, and income-oriented investment strategies. The firm acts as the fund sponsor and overlay manager, partnering with specialized boutique sub-advisors (Millburn Ridgefield, Aspect Capital, Equity Armor Investments, Welton, SMH, MAP, CIFC, Perini, and others) to deliver distinct systematic, options-based, managed futures, and insider-driven strategies for financial advisors and their clients.
Product overview
Catalyst Funds is a mutual fund family offering 19 distinct funds across three strategic categories: Alternative/Hedged Strategies (7 funds), Equity-Oriented Strategies (5 funds), and Income-Oriented Strategies (7 funds including one interval fund). The funds are sub-advised by various boutique investment management partners including Millburn Ridgefield Corporation, Aspect Capital, Equity Armor Investments, Welton Investment Partners, Managed Asset Portfolios, SMH Capital Advisors, CIFC Investment Management, Perini Capital, and others. The product lineup includes multi-strategy hedge funds, managed futures strategies, tactical allocation funds, energy infrastructure funds, high yield bond funds, floating rate income funds, and insider-driven strategies. The funds are distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) and Foreside Fund Services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Catalyst Group Fund Family: The overall fund family brand encompassing all Catalyst mutual funds.
Products and services
- Catalyst Buffered Shield Fund An alternative/hedged mutual fund that seeks to limit losses to 12.5% when the S&P 500 Index declines while participating on the upside up to approximately 15%, using a rolling laddered portfolio of put and call options on S&P 500-tracking ETFs. For financial advisors and their clients seeking structured downside protection.
- Catalyst Nasdaq-100 Hedged Equity Fund An alternative/hedged mutual fund that complements NASDAQ-100 Index securities with a distinct volatility hedge overlay using Equity Armor Investments' VOL 365 Strategy methodology. For financial advisors seeking hedged Nasdaq-100 exposure for client portfolios.
- Catalyst Systematic Alpha Fund An alternative/hedged mutual fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation with low correlation to U.S. equity markets through a multi-risk premia strategy accessing the BNP Paribas Catalyst Systematic Alpha Index across equity, fixed-income, commodity, and currency markets. For advisors seeking absolute return-oriented alternatives.
- Catalyst/Aspect Enhanced Multi-Asset Fund An alternative/hedged mutual fund that combines a long-only U.S. traditional 60/40 portfolio with a managed futures-based trend following overlay trading over 140 markets (sub-advised by Aspect Capital) to deliver enhanced risk-adjusted returns. For advisors building multi-asset alternatives.
- Catalyst/Millburn Hedge Strategy Fund (MBXIX) An alternative/hedged mutual fund utilizing complementary active long/short futures and strategic equity exposure strategies, trading over 125 global markets with the goal of outperforming typical long-only equity investments (sub-advised by Millburn Ridgefield Corporation). For advisors seeking global multi-strategy alternatives.
- Catalyst Systematic High Income Fund An alternative/hedged mutual fund that seeks to generate compelling return and yield through various options strategies with excess collateral invested into income-focused securities. For advisors seeking options-based yield with risk management.
- Catalyst/Welton Advantage Multi-Strategy Fund An alternative/hedged mutual fund that utilizes multiple asset classes and active investment strategies (sub-advised by Welton Investment Partners) offering return advantage, downside advantage, and risk advantage over passive equity investing. For advisors seeking a multi-asset alternative to traditional 60/40 portfolios.
- Catalyst Dynamic Alpha Fund An equity-oriented mutual fund that offers an opportunistic, alpha-seeking investment approach using quantitative methodology based on time-tested investing factors including relative strength and momentum (sub-advised by Cookson, Peirce & Co.). For advisors seeking factor-driven equity alpha.
- Catalyst Insider Buying Fund An equity-oriented mutual fund that invests in equities of companies whose corporate insiders are purchasing their own company's stock, based on the belief that insiders understand their firm better than outsiders. For advisors building insider-sentiment-driven equity strategies.
- Catalyst Energy Infrastructure Fund An equity-oriented mutual fund that invests in publicly-listed equity securities of U.S. and Canadian companies that generate majority of cash flow from midstream energy infrastructure activities (sub-advised by SL Advisors, LLC). For advisors seeking energy infrastructure sector exposure.
- Catalyst Tactical Allocation Fund An equity-oriented mutual fund that uses a proprietary stock selection model to seek high-performing companies at good prices and employs a risk management model to shift between equity and defensive positions. For advisors seeking tactically managed equity exposure.
- Catalyst/MAP Global Equity Fund An equity-oriented mutual fund that offers an alpha-driven, disciplined, value-oriented approach to equity investing through a bottom-up process unconstrained by geography or market capitalization (sub-advised by Managed Asset Portfolios, LLC). For advisors building global value equity allocations.
- Catalyst Enhanced Income Strategy Fund An income-oriented mutual fund that seeks to generate current income via investments in non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and other fixed income asset-backed securities (sub-advised by Wynkoop, LLC). For advisors seeking short-duration, asset-backed income.
- Catalyst Insider Income Fund An income-oriented mutual fund offering investment in short-term U.S. corporate bonds issued by corporations whose executives are purchasing shares of the company's common stock, seeking high current income with low interest rate sensitivity. For advisors seeking corporate bond income with insider-sentiment overlay.
- Catalyst/CIFC Senior Secured Income Fund An income-oriented mutual fund offering high current income from adjustable rate securities, investing primarily in senior floating rate bank loans which pay variable rates adjusting with short-term interest rate changes (sub-advised by CIFC Investment Management LLC). For advisors seeking floating-rate senior loan income.
- Catalyst/MAP Global Balanced Fund An income-oriented mutual fund that offers an alpha-driven, value-oriented approach to total return through equity and fixed income investing unconstrained by geography or credit quality (sub-advised by Managed Asset Portfolios, LLC). For advisors building global balanced mandates.
- Catalyst/SMH High Income Fund An income-oriented mutual fund that seeks high current income driven by a disciplined, bottom-up approach with investments in non-investment grade corporate bonds, convertible securities, and asset-backed securities (sub-advised by SMH Capital Advisors, LLC). For advisors seeking high yield bond exposure.
- Catalyst/SMH Total Return Income Fund An income-oriented mutual fund that offers current income and growth from total return through a diversified portfolio of income producing securities including high dividend stocks, REITs, BDCs, MLPs and covered call writing (sub-advised by SMH Capital Advisors, LLC). For advisors building diversified multi-asset income portfolios.
- Catalyst/Perini Strategic Income Fund (CSIOX) A closed-end interval fund (sub-advised by Perini Capital) seeking total return by investing primarily in domestic asset-backed fixed income securities using fundamental credit and prepayment analysis. For advisors seeking interval-fund structure access to asset-backed fixed income.
Quantifiable outcome
- MBXIX has delivered positive returns in all structural bear markets since fund inception
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Catalyst Funds
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Catalyst Funds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Catalyst Funds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Cukierman & Co. Investment HousemajorCo-organizer of GoforIsrael Investment Conference bringing Israeli technology startups and global investors together; first U.S. edition held March 16, 2026 in Miami
- Millburn Ridgefield CorporationcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/Millburn Hedge Strategy Fund (MBXIX), providing systematic multi-strategy investment process trading over 125 global markets since the fund's inception
- Aspect CapitalcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/Aspect Enhanced Multi-Asset Fund, providing managed futures trend following strategy trading over 140 markets
- Equity Armor Investments, LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst Nasdaq-100 Hedged Equity Fund, providing VOL 365 volatility hedge overlay strategy
- Exceed Advisory, LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst Buffered Shield Fund, providing options-based hedging strategies
- BNP ParibascorePartnership with BNP Paribas QIS Team to create the BNP Paribas Catalyst Systematic Alpha Index providing exposure to multi-risk premia strategies
- Cookson, Peirce & Co., Inc.coreSub-advisor for Catalyst Dynamic Alpha Fund, providing quantitative methodology based on time-tested investing factors
- SL Advisors, LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst Energy Infrastructure Fund, focusing on midstream energy infrastructure investments
- Managed Asset Portfolios, LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/MAP Global Equity Fund and Catalyst/MAP Global Balanced Fund, providing value-oriented bottom-up investment approach
- Welton Investment Partners LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/Welton Advantage Multi-Strategy Fund, providing multi-strategy investment approach combining equity and futures portfolios
- CIFC Investment Management LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/CIFC Senior Secured Income Fund, providing senior floating rate bank loan investment expertise
- SMH Capital Advisors, LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/SMH High Income Fund and Catalyst/SMH Total Return Income Fund, providing high yield and diversified income strategies
- Wynkoop, LLCcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst Enhanced Income Strategy Fund, focusing on non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities
- Perini CapitalcoreSub-advisor for Catalyst/Perini Strategic Income Fund (interval fund), providing asset-backed fixed income investment expertise
- Northern Lights Distributors, LLCcoreMutual fund distributor, member FINRA/SIPC, distributing open-end fund products
- Foreside Fund Services, LLCmajorFund services and distributor for Catalyst Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Catalyst Funds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Calamos Asset Management: Publicly-traded asset manager specializing in alternative and hedged mutual funds (Calamos Hedged Equity, Market Neutral Income), serving RIAs and broker-dealers with comparable alternative strategies and similar AUM scale.
- ALPS Advisors: ETF and closed-end fund sponsor offering alternative and actively managed products (ALPS Alternative Mutual Funds family) targeted at the same RIA and broker-dealer audience with similar sub-advisor-driven strategies.
- Cohen & Steers: Specialist asset manager offering alternative income and real-asset-focused mutual funds (preferred securities, real assets, multi-strategy alternatives) with overlapping RIA-focused distribution and similar fee structures to Catalyst's income-oriented funds.
- Rational MF: Sister brand under the Catalyst Group Advisors umbrella, operating as an alternative-focused mutual fund family with overlapping distribution through the same Catalyst wholesale network and similar target RIA/broker-dealer audience.
- StrategyShares ETFs: Catalyst Group-owned ETF brand pursuing alternative and actively managed ETF strategies, directly competing for the same RIA and advisor allocation dollars with a wrapper (ETF) that benefits from broader industry tailwinds versus mutual funds.
Broad incumbents
- Virtus Investment Partners: Multi-boutique mutual fund platform offering alternative and multi-asset strategies (Virtus Westchester, Duff & Phelps, AlphaSimplex affiliated) distributed through the same RIA and broker-dealer channels that Catalyst targets.
- Natixis Investment Managers: Large global multi-affiliate asset manager operating a multi-boutique alternative mutual fund complex (Loomis Sayles, Gateway, AlphaSimplex, etc.) that directly competes with Catalyst's sub-advisor-powered alt platform in the same advisor channels.
- MainStay Funds (New York Life Investments): Large mutual fund complex with a meaningful alternative sub-advised lineup (MainStay CBRE, MacKay Shields) that competes for the same RIA allocation budgets with similar multi-manager alternative strategies.
- PIMCO: Global asset manager with a broad alternatives and multi-asset mutual fund offering (PIMCO Income, Alternative Strategies, All Asset) that competes in advisor-sold alt mutual fund allocations where Catalyst also competes, though at significantly larger AUM scale.
- John Hancock Investment Management: Multi-boutique mutual fund platform (John Hancock Alternative Asset Allocation, Multimanager Lifestyle) offering alternative mutual fund options through advisor and broker-dealer channels, with broader product breadth than Catalyst.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Catalyst Funds social profiles
Digital presenceCatalyst Funds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catalyst Funds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Catalyst Funds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catalyst Funds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst Funds
What does Catalyst Funds do?
Catalyst Funds operates a family of 19 mutual funds and one interval fund spanning alternative/hedged, equity-oriented, and income-oriented investment strategies. The firm acts as the fund sponsor and overlay manager, partnering with specialized boutique sub-advisors (Millburn Ridgefield, Aspect Capital, Equity Armor Investments, Welton, SMH, MAP, CIFC, Perini, and others) to deliver distinct systematic, options-based, managed futures, and insider-driven strategies for financial advisors and their clients.
Is Catalyst Funds a public or private company?
Catalyst Funds is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Catalyst Funds founded?
Catalyst Funds was founded in 2006. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Catalyst Funds based?
Catalyst Funds is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Catalyst Funds make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Mutual Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are fund Distribution Revenue.
Who are Catalyst Funds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Calamos Asset Management, ALPS Advisors, Cohen & Steers, Rational MF and StrategyShares ETFs. Broad incumbents are Virtus Investment Partners, Natixis Investment Managers, MainStay Funds (New York Life Investments), PIMCO and John Hancock Investment Management.
Does Catalyst Funds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catalyst Funds.
What industry is Catalyst Funds in?
Catalyst Funds's product category is Alternative Mutual Fund Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAAEAG, Target-Risk / Risk-Managed Allocation Funds, with a secondary code of FSAHAFAJ, Multi-Strategy — Multi-Asset Tactical / Opportunistic Trading. Its NAICS code is 525910 and its SIC code is 6282.