In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with Peter Polanskyj, Head of Structured Credit at Obra Capital, to delve into the firm's unique approach to investing across the insurance and credit markets. Obra Capital is a $4 billion asset manager with a specialized focus on opportunities at the intersection of insurance and credit. Peter shares insights …

In this episode, we explore the world of options trading with Martin Vestergaard and Michael Cameron from Carmika Partners. The conversation begins with an in-depth analysis of the volatility spike that occurred in early August, as Vestergaard and Cameron share their insights on the market dynamics and the impact on their trading strategies. The di…

In this episode of the Derivative podcast, our host JeffMalec sits down with Tim McGregor and Tom Hession from Riverbend Capital Advisors to dive deep into the world of municipal bonds. The discussion covers the unique inefficiencies and complexities of the $4 trillion muni bond market, which features over 75,000 different issuers across the countr…

In todays episode, Jeff Malec sits down with Bill Gebhardt, the founder of 10 Dynamics, to discuss his interesting career journey and the development of his unique systematic trading approach. Bill shares his background, from working on the floor of the CBOE in the early 90s to earning a PhD in finance and transitioning into the energy trading spac…

Today’s episode on The Derivative, Jeff Malec sitsdown with James Maund, a veteran of the financial industry with experience spanning Goldman Sachs, the NYSE floor, and his current role at KraneShares. Maund provides a unique insider's perspective on the rapid growth and innovation within the ETF space while outlining KraneShares main investment pi…

Today's episode features an in-depth discussion with discretionary global macro trader Asim Ghaffar, founder and CIO of AG Capital. Ghaffar shares his insights on the recent market volatility, including his views on the potential triggers behind the sell-off and the chances we have for a recession. Was it just a blip on the radar, algos deleveragin…

In this episode of The Derivative, host Jeff Malec sits down with DeWayne Louis and Nishant Gurnanifrom Versor Investments, a quantitative investment firm celebrating its 10th anniversary. The discussion delves into the personal backgrounds and journeys that led to Versor’s founding, from their work providing efficient exposure to traditional hedge…

In this episode of the Derivative we chat with Gary Selz, co-founder of Zero Delta Funds. Gary shares his background growing up in Chicago and studying electrical engineering at Northwestern University. He discovered options trading through a financial engineering course and was introduced to a Chicago prop trading firm. Gary discusses his experien…

We’re back! Today’s podcast features The Derivative show stoppers Rodrigo Gordillo and Adam Butler of Resolve Asset Management discussing the carry trade and itsapplications in investment strategies. They begin by explaining what the carry trade is and discussing common misconceptions around it. They then dive into different types of carry that can…

Joe Kelly, partner at Campbell & Co., joins us this week for a new episode of The Derivative. Jeff starts talking skiing, as he’s apt to do, but this time is a bit different, with Joe sharing an update on his recent recovery from a nasty ski accident that nearly left him paralyzed (or worse). Wethen move right into Joe discussing his career journey…

This episode of The Derivative discusses the current state of Volatility – and how to use those measurements in diversifying investment strategies with Jeremie Holdom and Colin Suvak of LongTail Alpha, an investment firm focused on tail risk hedging. The guests share insights into their work, analyzing volatility across asset classes and constructi…

In this in-depth conversation, Jeff Malec picks the brain of veteran quant Doug Greenig about pursuing trends on a truly global scale. Greenig takes listeners on his fascinating career journey, from cutting-edge fixed income modeling at Goldman Sachs to managing risk at MAN AHL's pioneering CTA firm. He explains how thisexperience led him to establ…

This episode is a fascinating deep dive into the complexworld of logistics. Our guest is Chris Jamroz, CEO of Roadrunner, a serial logistics entrepreneur who has indeed seen and done it all over his career. Chris provides colorful anecdotes about his past 100+acquisitions and turnarounds, including the challenges and lessons learned along the way. …

Brent Belote, founder and CIO of Cayler Capital, joins the podcast to discuss the growth of his now 5 year systematic oil trading strategy. He provides insights into analyzing supply and demand fundamentals and using quantitative models to capitalize on events in the physical oil market. Brent also shares lessons from starting his own fund and mana…

Join us for the second half of our panel discussions during this year's Hedge Fund week in Miami as we explore increasing accessibility of alternative investments through new ETF products and strategies. We’ve got Rodrigo Gordillo taking reigns from the quantitative perspective, Jerry Parker talking trend following, Bob Elliot on replication and Ja…

From NASA to Star Trek, Brad Barrie and David Johnson ofDynamic Wealth Group discuss how their shared interests inspired the development of their diversified mutual fund, which blends equity exposure with discretionary global macro allocations. They explain how this approach seeks to provide smoother returns through non-correlated exposures. Brad a…

This packed panel discussion featuring Tim Pickering (Auspice), Brent Belote (Cayler Capital), Gerardo Tarricone (Arion) and Derek Stroke (Equanimity Advisors) focused on commodities as diversifiers and opportunities in commodity trading and investing. Our panelists discussed topics like the reliability of commodities in portfolios, ESG factors, th…

Welcome to the start of a new year and another exciting season of The Derivative Podcast. We're beginning with a bang, featuring DBi’s hedge fund guru, Andrew Beer. Picture the ideal blend of Wall Street expertise and accessible insights - that's what we're delivering in this episode! We’re talking with Andrew about replicating strategies in this e…

Thanksgiving is just a week away in the US, marking the end of an excellent year for The Derivative and we're inviting you to join us at the podcast table for a bountiful episode delving into the unique flavors of managed futures and fundamental expertise. As we carve into the Thanksgiving spirit, The Derivative is serving up a feast of insights wi…

Get ready to savor an episode of The Derivative that's anything but run-of-the-(corn) mill, featuring a guest who's serving up some fresh and unconventional perspectives. That's right, we're delving into the heart of the snack world where the notion of sturdy, thick chips and delicate, thin chips is more than meets the eye. Prepare to have the simp…

In the constantly changing and often unpredictable industrythat is wealth management, is it possible to systematize an asset allocation approach? Might you even apply trend following to the problem? On this episode of The Derivative, Jon Robinson, the CEO and co-founder of Blueprint Investment Partners, draws upon his unique experience on both side…

In commodity trading, where volatility reigns supreme, finding an edge can be daunting. In this episode of The Derivative, we switch up our normal Commodity Trading talk with our non-trend following guest, Jae-Min Hyun of NWOne. With extensive experience in commodities trading and a quant background that spans Wall Street firms, hedge funds, and a …

Philadelphia is renowned for various iconic symbols, including the Liberty Bell, Rocky Balboa, the famous Philly cheesesteak, and, most recently, RCM's Live Panel Discussion "Is 60/40 Dead? Can Alternatives Fill the Void?" This engaging panel discussion features industry leaders Tim Pickering, Corey Hoffstein, and Brian Meloon, with the insightful …

In the ever-evolving world of finance, change is the only constant. Like the shifting tides of the market, options trading has transformed from monthly expirations to weekly and even daily strikes. It's like going from a leisurely stroll to a thrilling daily marathon in the world of trading. Alongside these shifts, hedging strategies have also had …

From front-running commodity index rolls to trading spreads, we're taking you on a bit of a historic journey with Emil Van Essen and Bryan Kiernan of Katonah Eve. Join us as we explore the evolution of their strategies and firm, while talking the world of commodities. In this episode, we'll uncover the evolution of Katonah Eve, from pulling data ah…

Is electricity a commodity? If not, why not? If so, how do you get exposure with the demand for electricity set to possibly outstrip the world's forthcoming technological advancements. Join us on a high energy episode of The Derivative by RCM Alternatives for an in-depth exploration of "Electrifying America" with Timothy Kramer, a seasoned energy a…

Why Systematic? Why CTA? Why Now? These are common questions on the minds of many professionals in the Managed Futures field. On this episode of the Derivative podcast, host Jeff Malec takes on a unique role as a featured guest on a panel recently hosted by RCM Alternatives in Chicago alongside Cohen & Company and Mercer. While Jeff is usually the …

What do you do when you’ve already done everything there is to do in trend. Managed billion of dollars: check. One of first to run a trend following mutual fund: check. Trend following on individual equities:check. You push the envelope again, and convince the folks that create ETFs that you actually can pack your fully diversified equities plus fu…

Jason Buck is back in this follow-up, Part II episode rehashing all the goings on at Global EQD '23, and he's continuing the conversation on equity market hedging, not to mention interest rate, currency, and more hedging – plus volatility markets and investment strategies with host Jeff Malec. Jason and Jeff discuss what was discussed, including th…

We're doubling down on the knowledge and taking you through the high-stakes world of Volatility with a special "Derivative Podcast" straight from the world's entertainment capital, Las Vegas. Join host Jeff Malec and our panel industry heavyweights Cem Karsan, Luke Rahbari, and Zed Francis as they delve into the intriguing market dynamics and risk …

If a replicant in the 1980s sci-fi classic Blade Runner was a genetically engineered, bio-enhanced person with para-physical capabilities, "composed entirely of organic substance," created for slave labor – what does that make Corey Hoffstein and his takes on replicating? On this episode of The Derivative, we're joined by the model flirting, possib…

Didn’t get the chance to head to Vegas for the Global EQD conference. No worries. We’ve got you covered. We're teaming up with the one and only Jason Buck of Mutiny Funds, he of many volatility-focused podcasts and manager of a long vol fund of funds. Together, Jeff and Jason walk through their notes from attending the annual equity derivatives-foc…

We’re back! Hitting first up with the question of where the current state of Commercial Real Estate is at since COVID. Is the market coming back? Were the hits too hard with everyone out of the office? We’re looking at all the aftermath with Matt Lasky of Equity Velocity Funds, where the pain points are, who kept afloat, and how the market has chan…

We’re back in the trend space this week, diving into the pros and cons of classic trend following, as well as exploring new methods of trend, including building new “markets” with calendar spread data and trying to reduce the infamous trend open trade give backs with some option trades. Not to mention some talk on how investors have gone soft in th…

How fast is the fast moving world of AI moving after the launch of Chat GPT and crazy pace of new apps and tools. It turns out…. Really Fast! There’s AI tools that can write blog posts, create images, act like a hedge fund lawyer, review a disclosure document, and more. All of it brings up many questions. Are we living in a world where these AI mac…

How do you get a job at a top quant shop? With a little love from grandma?! How do you navigate a systematic strategy in the fast-moving world of digital assets? On this episode of The Derivative, Sarah Schroeder of Coinbase Asset Management (formerly One River Digital) covers a range of topics relatedto crypt/digital assets, including the formatio…

Have you ever wondered how successful traders make their fortunes in the markets? In this episode of The Derivative Podcast, we explore the world of trend following with a master in the field, Andrew Strasman. Here first-hand about his journey as a trend follower, from his early days in the trading pit to his experience in the real estate market an…

Today’s episode we are passengers on Bryce Emo’s rig, as we ride along and chat about how his company Sidecar Financial assists in providing private company shareholders the knowledge and network to find what can be life-changing liquidity. Bryce explains why stock option-based employees at big tech companies need the “lending hand”, and covers all…

What was the short-lived SVB baking crisis all about? Has it forced the Fed’s hand? Are we done tightening? Lots of Macro questions so who better to dig into it with than the appropriately nicknamed Macro Alf. In this episode of The Derivative, we sit down with Alfonso Peccatiello, founder of The Macro Compass and owner of the wonderful Twitter han…

As investors and traders, we all strive for success in the markets. But what sets the best apart from the rest? According to Kapil Rastogi, the President and co-founder of PlusPlus Capital Management, it's all about having the right culture. Ranking among the best in the industry in RCM’s semi-annual rankings report for best risk control certainly …

When it comes to investing, there are countless strategies to choose from, each with its own set of pros and cons. One strategy that has stood the test of time is trend following, a technique that involves analyzing market trends and making trades based on those trends. Despite its proven track record, some investors remain skeptical about trend fo…

WTF is “Gammageddon”? What do 0DTE options have to do with it? Should I be fearful? Should I be greedy? We’re getting into all of it in this episode where we dig into just what zero days to expiry (0DTE) options are, who’s trading these things, who’s on the other side, and why (and why not) any of it could matter to investors… to option traders…..t…

Grab your favorite trucker hat/baseball cap, and settle in for this episode where Jeff picks Meb Faber’s brain on everything from skiing to picking an investment advisor because they can get you on at Riviera Country Club. We’ve got Meb Faber back on the show to nominally talk about trend following – but as often happens with Meb – we get into a bu…

We’re back this week bringing you the second half of our Miami event - sharing the open discussion and panel portion that focused on volatility as an asset class. The panel was quite the collective of talent, with Luke Rahbari, CEO of Equity Armor Investments, Zed Francis, CIO and co-founder of Convexitas, Rodrigo Gordillo, president of Resolve Ass…

We're back with a new episode of The Derivative, and this time we're talking all things trend-following, Miami, and volatility with Kevin Davitt from Nasdaq. This episode starts by clarifying some questions about trend-following strategies and sharing some quick thoughts on volatility in 2022. It was a unique year for trend following, with differen…

Despite the market being down substantially this year, bouncing around inside of bear market territory, it's been a bit of a challenging year for long-vol traders. Simply put, the Vol spikes we’ve become accustomed to getting with a down market haven’t materialized as much. While the retracement of vol on bounces higher in stocks has remained. it's…

This week on the Derivative we're doing it a little differently sharing our platforms with RCM's Agriculture podcast, The Hedged Edge. The Hedged Edge is back online with a guest who could be it's podcast's most important guest of all time. At a time when inflation is running rampant through the world economy, drought conditions are drying up our r…

Jeff loves it when he sits across from someone who, like him, has been in the niche-managed futures part of the investment world for their entire career. There’s not all that many of them, and today's guest, Michael Harris(@mikeharris410) fits the bill. Michael's unique backstory began within the Sales and Product Development group at Morgan Stanle…

How do all these smart people end up in the crypto space? Versus the hedge fund world or traditional finance, or doctor/lawyer, etc. And how do investors separate the signal from the noise amongst all the meme stock pumps, Web 3 scams, and crypto deep dives? And is Winter coming, to borrow the Game of Thrones line… We're sitting down with GenZ'er a…

Cover the kid’s ears… because we’re going back to our WTF format to ask what the actual Fingazi is going over in the UK with the bank of England raising rates, then buying a bunch of Gilts to save their pensions. The headlines say it’s some new-fangled LDI concept which led these pensions into trouble. But our guest this week, Zed Francis of Convex…