The Derivative

So – what’s happening in the wide world of volatility? The market moved to new all time highs and the VIX actually went UP. The market then mini-crashed lower and VIX barely budged?  WTF indeed? Is it Robinhood traders?  It is market makers?  Is it sustainable?  To break it down we’re doing another of our WTF episodes, and are joined by two VOL pros, Matt Thompson – Managing Partner at Thompson Capital Management, and Pat Hennessy – Head Trader at IPS Strategic Capital to talk about volatility, VIX, and options trading inside the market dislocation.

Chapters:

00:00-01:36 = Intro

01:37-31:46 = The VIX in the past month

31:47-46:11 = The Elevating of the VIX & The reasons behind the curve

46:12-54:47 = Strategy Impacts

54:48-1:00:05 = Where do we go from here?

Follow along with Matt(@dynamicvol) and Pat(@pat_hennessy) on Twitter, and check out their websites for more info on their strategies at Thompson Capital Managementand IPS Strategic Capital.

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

In today’s episode we’re pushing the boundaries of traditional alternative investments and getting into oil trading, trend following, and taking risks (both in business & with your strategy) with Lead Portfolio Manager and CIO at Auspice Capital Advisors, Tim Pickering. From trading shell oil to striking out on his own – Tim’s expansive experience in the alts world is about as big as the Canadian Wilderness he hails from. Today we’re talking with Tim about Lewis and Clark, Tim’s background in oil, willingness to fail, commodity market benefits, Canadian oil production, what a product suite entails, providing alpha and diversification as a trend follower, Canadian beer, striking out on your own, discovering new (profitable) ventures, Calgary rodeos, oils negative àrally movements, strategy evolution, Chicago or Miami, and Lake Louise.

Chapters:

00:00-01:27 = Intro

01:28-25:47 = TD, Shell, Enron to Two Men & a Dog

25:49-53:36 = Trend Following, Commodity Volatility & Aspects of Momentum

53:37-1:18:49 = Focusing in on Auspice

1:18:50-1:23:02 = Favorites

Follow along with Tim on Twitter and LinkedIn and make sure to check out Auspice Capital Advisors.

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

With a Top Gun-like bio of working with billionaires and big hedge funds, Michael Green is one of the top prospects in the alternative investment game. BUT, all we hear him talking about these days is his passive thesis, to the point where he jokes – that may end up on his tombstone one day.  We’ve heard all that elsewhere, so wanted to get into more – like what he has going on at Logica, if he loves straddles as much as Wayne Himelsein, how he views the current volatility landscape, his killer SVXY trade, The Princess Bride, adding fragility into the market, the tail wagging the dog, Coit Tower, Twitter business partners, opportunity cost vs covering the bleed, Zoom due diligence, and Gamma scalping.

Chapters:

00:00-1:34 = Intro

01:35-38:01 = An Epic Beginning

38:02-58:54 = Talking Strategy

58:55-1:30:50 = Passive Investing, the Fed & What’s going on right now

1:30:51-1:35:54 = Favorites

Follow along with Michael on Twitter and LinkedIn

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

We’re leaving the fire of hedge funds and jumping headfirst into the frying pan of……performance mindset? Yep, from pro athletes to pro traders, everyone needs a performance mindset, and  today’s guest founded his firm to help get those who need to perform, ready to perform.

Russ Rausch (former Trading Technologies/Emil Van Essen exec) refocused his passion from the trading arena into training automatic thought and emotional patterns to improve; performance, resilience, and engagement to anyone from the Atlanta Falcons to Chicago prop firms. In today’s broadcast we’re digging in with Russ about Kansas life, how hedge funds influenced Vision Pursue, changing your thought pattern, working with big names from finance to the NFL, Balboa Island, highs and lows of the hedge fund business, expecting the expected, “coming across” neuroscience, background of Vision Pursue, controlling their controllable, the life experience test, paddle boarding, separate – embrace – evaluate, fish tanks, and how Vision Pursue can help you perform better.

Chapters:

00:00-1:20 = Intro

01:21-14:44 = Background

14:45-30:59 = Transitioning & the Development of Vision Pursue

31:00-49:06 = Clientele & The Three Pillars

49:06-1:03:30 = The Takeaways from VP Training

1:03:31-1:08:32 = Favorites

Follow along with Russ on LinkedIn and with Vision Pursue on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Or – book Russ for your next keynote speaker or town hall here.

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

It’s a job all in itself to be able to look at data – especially data that affects all of us on a daily basis – and be able to interpret that to make sense to yourself. Take that and have to turn it into something that makes sense to everyone else – well that’s a gift. And we’ve got the most gifted of them all joining us on The Derivative – CME Group’s Chief Economist Blu Putnam. We’re lucky enough to have Blu on today's episode breaking down all that’s going on in the craziness of what we’re living through in 2020.  We’re getting outside the charts and into the conversation surrounding sailing in the Chesapeake, the U.S. dollar trending, the future of technology and small businesses, inflation during and post-corona, fed funds rate to ZERO, effects of printing more money, “coordinated” monetary policy, the outlook on the remaining 2020 economy, gold rallies, the fed’s pandemic reaction, trading Bitcoin futures, signposts of inflation returning, and Blu’s favorite Chicago pizza – his wife’s.

Follow along with Blu on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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

Legend time. We’re hearing straight from the mouth of well-known Turtle Trader – Jerry Parker – on this episode to talk all things trend following. Becoming a leading voice in the alternatives investment and trend following space – Jerry has turned his Turtle Trader experience into a trend following career (perhaps at the expense of some other things in life, as he mentions…) Join us for this talk with Jerry about new remote CTAs, the hidden gem of Tampa, the famous Wall Street Journal ad, what’s enough risk to make it work, pet birds, trading components instead of an index of components, fed limits on trend, volatility targeting, portfolio construction, trend following impatience, the lack of power in diversification, and trend following as an inflationary hedge.

Chapters:

00:00-01:38 = Intro

01:46-12:12 = Background / Turtle Trading

12:18-23:34 = Diversification

23:41-40:16 = Risks of Trend Following

40:23-1:15:15 = Insight into Chesapeake / Trading Systems

1:15:22-1:22:15 = Favorites

Follow along with Jerry on Twitter and LinkedIn and check out the Chesapeake website to learn more.

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

We sat down with three different legs of the hedge fund stool who (feeling the currently hedge fund investment landscape is a bit broker) are partnering on bringing some disruption to the hedge fund space with a new platform/fund of funds approach to analyze and allocate to different strategies.  This three-way conversation touches on the perception that hedge funds suck in light of their stock market underperformance, and what investors can do about it. We’ve got Managing Member at Linnis, Max Nissman, Noviscient’s CIO, Scott Treloar, and Managing Director at AXIOMA, Olivier d’Assier. Are hedge funds outdated? Do they still provide the value that their known for? Are we being too hard and we shouldn’t “fix what isn’t broken”? Can AI help identify the poor performers. Take a listen.

Follow along with our guests:

Chapters:

00:00-01:50 = Intro

01:51-14:41 = Origins

14:48-29:21 = Hedge Fund Space

29:28-52:56 = Secret Sauce & A.I.

53:04-58:02 = Favorites

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

In a #ThrowbackThursday of sorts, we’re bringing you an episode recorded pre-pandemic where we hit the road and traveled to Utah to interview the brain behind Certeza Asset Management, Founder and CIO – Brett Nelson. Brett is another guest deserving of the moniker VIXpert – having been trading the VIX since it first entered the game, literally trading VIX back when there were a few dozen contracts a day changing hands. We’ll be covering everything VIX (along with non-VIX topics) including: skiing in Salt Lake, pure volatility futures, being a math nerd, the left and right tail, 19 y/o quant financing, the Spanish pronunciation of Certeza, trading the VIX since inception, term structure, gaming the VIX, proprietary algos, and the best resorts in Utah.

Follow along with Brett on LinkedIn and check out the Certeza website to learn more.

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.

Chapters:

00:00 - 1:37 = Intro

01:38 - 17:20 = Background

17:26 - 30:18 = Genesis of Certeza

30:26 - 44:42 = The Strategy

44:49 - 58:18 = Term Structure

58:25 - 1:08:36 = Research/Strategy

1:08:44 - 1:15:40 = Favorites

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

How do you get investors to stick with an asset allocation that’s good for them in the long term, but maybe doesn’t taste so good over shorter timer periods?  Today’s guest has designed a new mutual fund to attempt just that, giving investors the whole meal instead of letting them fumble around with the ingredients. Eric Crittenden, Co-Founder and CIO of Standpoint Funds joins us today to talk about Standpoint’s new $BLNDX fund. We’ll be getting into the weeds on this unique fund, as well as talking about Witchita State basketball, a zero sum game, 2,554 days of surfing, building Standpoint from the ground up, a “mystery asset class,” the new ETF dilemma, structural risk premia, losing money on purpose, open interest, a fundamental death of trend following, averaging correlations, moving in a mutual fund vs private funds, the antithesis of mutual funds, never playing golf, and Star Wars character Salacious B. Crumb.  and

Follow along with Eric on LinkedIn and check out the Standpoint Funds website.

And last but not least, don't forget to subscribe to The Derivative, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, 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

In today’s episode, we’re passing by all the players and calling in the head coach – the head coach of Ycharts that is. Sean Brown – CEO of Ycharts joins us to talk about how this FinTech SAAS focused company is helping investors and advisors make the complex easy, and the easy look good! Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about: Notre Dame vs Stanford, fundamental charts, a home chef’s best grilled cheese, Ycharts easy consumer interface, human support for a technical product, taking over Bloomberg, the Dave Portnoy Portfolio benchmark, adding COVID data streams, getting clean data (not from China), and what’s next for Ycharts.

*Special for The Derivatives listeners – contact Ycharts& mention The Derivative, and you’ll get 15%

Follow along with Sean on LinkedIn & Twitter, and follow Ycharts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and the Ycharts website.

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