With bonds at the zero bound and commodities possibly setup to provide an inflation hedge, is now the time for Alternative Investments? Investors have been asking that question despite stocks going up, up, and away for the better part of the last 5 years. Well today’s guest is on the “yes” side of the fence, believing that this environment is quite a bit different than what we’ve been dealing with of late. With over 30 years of experience, Rob Astor, CEO at Astor Investment Management joins us to talk about why his optimistic about the future of alternative investments, and how his firm’s Astor Macro Alternative Fund (GBLMX) seeks to solve the diversification/asset allocation/alternatives puzzle.

On top of that, our conversation with Rob also includes: correlation’s role in strategy construction, forming Astor Financial, Inc., Rob’s history of infamous co-workers, product-focused firms, Astor Economic Index, celebrity portfolio managers, Michigan football, inflation in stock prices, Rob’s books: Greenspan’s Briefcase and Finding the Bull Inside the Bear, analysis behind going short or staying long, Pat’s Pizza vs Barnabys, Astor’s podcast & blog, and what makes now the time for alternatives.

Chapters:

00:00-02:22 = Intro

02:23-13:14 = A true Chicagoan & Author

13:15-39:05 = Founding Astor & Philosophy of the Firm (The Economic Cycle)

39:06-01:05:17 = Alternative Strategies, Basis Risks & Diving into a Global Macro Strategy

01:05:18-01:11:29 = Favorites

Buy Rob’s books here: Greenspan’s Briefcase and Finding the Bull Inside the Bear.

Check out Astor Investment Management’s podcast, website, and the Astor Economic Index.

Here’s the 5 Star rated Astor Macro Alternative Fund (GBLMX) on Morningstar

And last but not least, don't forget to subscribe to The Derivative, and follow us on Twitter, or LinkedIn, and Facebook, and sign-up for our blog digest.

Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, or tax advice. All opinions expressed by podcast participants are solely their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of RCM Alternatives, their affiliates, or companies featured. Due to industry regulations, participants on this podcast are instructed not to make specific trade recommendations, nor reference past or potential profits. And listeners are reminded that managed futures, commodity trading, and other alternative investments are complex and carry a risk of substantial losses. As such, they are not suitable for all investors. For more information, visit www.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer