Top Traders Unplugged

By Niels Kaastrup-LarsenBusiness News Investing Business News

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Typical duration
67 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Top Traders Unplugged episodes

June 25, 2017RT09: Why & How CalSTERS mitigate Risk ft. Ryan Abrams, Ela Karahasanoglu & Carrie Lo – 1of2
On this episode my very special guests are Ryan Abrams, Portfolio Manager at Wisconsin Alumni Research Association, Ela Karahasanoglu, VP at Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and Carrie Lo, Director of Hedge Strategies at CalSTRS, for a fun and insightful conversation about how to mitigate the Risk in a Portfolio using Managed Futures.
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50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Carrie diligently prepared her new Risk Mitigation Strategies (RMS)
How much CalSTRS will initially allocate to the RMS part for their $200bn+ portolio
How Ryan uses risk mitigation strategies in his organization
How Ela is slowly restructuring her alternative portfolio
The risks of risk parity strategies
Is trend-following really an opportunity cost question?
How Carrie has worked with the CalSTRS board on implementing this strategy
Why Ela has focused more on tail-risk strategies
Carrie’s manager selection process

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
Send your questions to [email protected]
And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
Learn more about Ryan Abrams and Wisconsin Alumni Research Association
Learn more about Ela Karahasanoglu and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Learn more about Carrie Lo and CalSTRS
Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
----
PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
3. Other Resources that can help you
And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
41 min
May 09, 2017 08 Top Traders Round Table with Richard Dennis, Brian Proctor, and Jerry Parker – 2of2
“During the Turtles program, it was very easy to do what you were supposed to do.” - Brian Proctor (Tweet)
Top Traders is bringing you Top Traders Round Table, a series of conversations with industry leaders on the subject of Managed Futures. On this episode my guests are Richard Dennis, creator of the Turtle program, Brian Proctor, managing director of EMC Capital Advices, and Jerry Parker, founder and president of Chesapeake Capital.

Subscribe on:

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The good and bad of targeting volatility
How Jerry and Brian used the rules they learned through the Turtle experience
Why the Turtle program was just “another piece of risk” Rich took on his book
Jerry’s experience during and after the program
Brian’s two biggest takeaways from the Turtle program
If proper trading can be a real business?
What Rich would do differently in 2017
The state of trend following today
If being a good trader is enough to run a successful business?
About other passions of the Turtles outside of trend following and trading
Rich’s secret “career” in baseball
If Rich has found any counter-trend strategies that work
Jerry’s views on changing and adapting too much
What academia thought of trend following 40 years ago

This episode was sponsored by CME Group:

Connect with our guests:

Learn more about Richard Dennis and the Turtle program

Learn more about Brian Proctor and EMC Capital Advices

Learn more about Jerry Parker and Chesapeake Capital
“The trend is your friend, but the rules are your guardian angel.” - Richard Dennis - (Tweet)
37 min
May 09, 2017RT08: Two Turtles & their Mentor ft. Richard Dennis, Brian Proctor & Jerry Parker – 2of2
On this episode my guests are Richard Dennis, creator of the Turtle program, Brian Proctor, managing director of EMC Capital Advices, and Jerry Parker, founder and president of Chesapeake Capital, for a rare conversation about the inner workings of the Turtle program, told for the first time by Richard himself.
-----
50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The good and bad of targeting volatility
How Jerry and Brian used the rules they learned through the Turtle experience
Why the Turtle program was just “another piece of risk” Rich took on his book
Jerry’s experience during and after the program
Brian’s two biggest takeaways from the Turtle program
If proper trading can be a real business?
What Rich would do differently in 2017
The state of trend following today
If being a good trader is enough to run a successful business?
About other passions of the Turtles outside of trend following and trading
Rich’s secret “career” in baseball
If Rich has found any counter-trend strategies that work
Jerry’s views on changing and adapting too much
What academia thought of trend following 40 years ago

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
Send your questions to [email protected]
And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
Learn more about Richard Dennis and the Turtle program
Learn more about Brian Proctor and EMC Capital Advisors
Follow Jerry on Twitter.
Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
----
PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
3. Other Resources that can help you
And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
37 min
April 17, 2017 07 Top Traders Round Table with Richard Dennis, Brian Proctor, and Jerry Parker – 1of2
“Nobody told me it was a good idea, but nobody wanted to tell me it was stupid, so we did it.” - Richard Dennis (Tweet)
Top Traders is bringing you Top Traders Round Table, a series of conversations with industry leaders on the subject of Managed Futures. On this episode my guests are Richard Dennis, creator of the Turtle program, Brian Proctor, managing director of EMC Capital Advices, and Jerry Parker, founder and president of Chesapeake Capital.

Subscribe on:

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

Rich’s first introduction to trend following
Jerry’s early days in the Turtle program
How Brian ended up as a Turtle
The TRUTH about where the Turtle name came from
The surprising way Rich came up with the idea for the Turtle group...NOT what you expect!
Why Jerry did not answer the first call from Rich when applying for the program
The preferred qualities of the Turtle recruits
Why it was hard to predict which of the Turtles would succeed
Why persistence is important in trend following
The relevance of the Turtle group in the past and today
If diversification among markets is always the best practice?
The right balance of financial futures markets and commodity futures markets
Why more investors haven’t embraced trend following...yet?

This episode was sponsored by CME Group:

Connect with our guests:

Learn more about Richard Dennis and the Turtle program

Learn more about Brian Proctor and EMC Capital Advices

Learn more about Jerry Parker and Chesapeake Capital
“We got sufficient training, more than enough; our training could not have been better.” - Jerry Parker - (Tweet)
38 min
April 17, 2017RT07: The Turtle Reunion ft. Richard Dennis, Brian Proctor & Jerry Parker – 1of2
Today I'm joined by Richard Dennis, creator of the Turtle program, Brian Proctor, managing director of EMC Capital Advices, and Jerry Parker, founder and president of Chesapeake Capital, for a rare conversation about the inner workings of the Turtle program, told for the first time by Richard himself.
-----
50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Rich’s first introduction to trend following
Jerry’s early days in the Turtle program
How Brian ended up as a Turtle
The TRUTH about where the Turtle name came from
The surprising way Rich came up with the idea for the Turtle group…NOT what you expect!
Why Jerry did not answer the first call from Rich when applying for the program
The preferred qualities of the Turtle recruits
Why it was hard to predict which of the Turtles would succeed
Why persistence is important in trend following
The relevance of the Turtle group in the past and today
If diversification among markets is always the best practice?
The right balance of financial futures markets and commodity futures markets
Why more investors haven’t embraced trend following…yet?

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
Send your questions to [email protected]
And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
Learn more about Richard Dennis and the Turtle program
Learn more about Brian Proctor and EMC Capital Advisors
Follow Jerry on Twitter.
Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
----
PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
3. Other Resources that can help you
And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
38 min
March 23, 2017 06 Top Traders Round Table with Chris Solarz, Adam Duncan, Freeman Wood – 2of2
“I think people lose sight of the fact that hedge funds have done a very good job over the last 15 years.” - Adam Duncan (Tweet)

We are back with another great episode of Top Traders Round Table, a series of conversations with industry leaders on the subject of Managed Futures. On this episode my guests are Chris Solarz, Managing Director, Global Macro Hedge Fund Strategies at Cliffwater, Adam Duncan, Managing Director at Cambridge Associates as well as Freeman Wood, who is a Partner and Head of North America, at Mercer.

Subscribe on:

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

If there are there enough assets to go around
What made 2015 such a weak year for hedge funds
Why 2016 was such a strong year for hedge funds
The future of hedge fund investing
What Chris thinks hedge fund managers have done poorly
How Adam looks at fees as a coin toss
Why Freeman thinks that fees must add value to both parties
The guest’s biggest takeaways from 2016
How the rise of the voter is providing opportunities to hedge fund managers
The coming possibility of an equity correction, and it’s effects
The question everyone should be asking right now
Why a client needs a goal and a timeline for their assets

The views expressed in this program are solely those of the host and speakers in their individual capacity and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the program’s sponsors or the entities with which any of the participants are affiliated. The contents of this program are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute and should not be considered legal, tax, investment advice or a solicitation of the sale or purchase of any futures, options or swaps contracts.

This episode was sponsored by CME Group:

Connect with our guests:

Learn more about Chris Solarz and Cliffwater

Learn more about Adam Duncan and Cambridge Associates

Learn more about Freeman Wood and Mercer
“I think some of the high performance culture is contributing to a lack or unwillingness to take risk.” - Adam Duncan - (Tweet)
39 min
March 23, 2017RT06: The future of hedge funds ft. Chris Solarz, Adam Duncan & Freeman Wood – 2of2
We are back with another great conversation where my guests are Chris Solarz, Managing Director, Global Macro Hedge Fund Strategies at Cliffwater, Adam Duncan, Managing Director at Cambridge Associates as well as Freeman Wood, who is a Partner and Head of North America, at Mercer, for a deep dive into the world of Consultants in Alternative Investments.
-----
50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
If there are there enough assets to go around
What made 2015 such a weak year for hedge funds
Why 2016 was such a strong year for hedge funds
The future of hedge fund investing
What Chris thinks hedge fund managers have done poorly
How Adam looks at fees as a coin toss
Why Freeman thinks that fees must add value to both parties
The guest’s biggest takeaways from 2016
How the rise of the voter is providing opportunities to hedge fund managers
The coming possibility of an equity correction, and it’s effects
The question everyone should be asking right now
Why a client needs a goal and a timeline for their assets

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
Send your questions to [email protected]
And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
Learn more about Chris Solarz and Cliffwater
Learn more about Adam Duncan and Cambridge Associates
Learn more about Freeman Wood and Mercer
Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
----
PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
3. Other Resources that can help you
And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
39 min
March 07, 2017 05 Top Traders Round Table with Chris Solarz, Adam Duncan, Freeman Wood – 1of2
“I think the key to any business is having a repeatable process.” - Chris Solarz (Tweet)

Welcome to another edition of Top Traders Round Table, a series of conversations with industry leaders on the subject of Managed Futures. On this episode my guests are Chris Solarz, Managing Director, Global Macro Hedge Fund Strategies at Cliffwater, Adam Duncan, Managing Director at Cambridge Associates as well as Freeman Wood, who is a Partner and Head of North America, at Mercer.

Subscribe on:

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

How our guests got to where they are today
What challenges Adam sees institutional investors facing
The extra information Chris gives his clients
How the role of the consultant has changed
Two issues that frustrate consultants, and how our guests solve them
Freeman’s view of the role of the financial decision makers
How to bridge the gap between the managers and the investors
What your theoretical models can’t account for
Why past hedge fund managers were able to pursue a more “pure” strategy
The practical implications of having a larger fund
The pros and cons of smaller and larger managers
How Chris developed his key business strategies
What red flags new startups can avoid

The views expressed in this program are solely those of the host and speakers in their individual capacity and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the program’s sponsors or the entities with which any of the participants are affiliated. The contents of this program are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute and should not be considered legal, tax, investment advice or a solicitation of the sale or purchase of any futures, options or swaps contracts.

This episode was sponsored by CME Group:

Connect with our guests:

Learn more about Chris Solarz and Cliffwater

Learn more about Adam Duncan and Cambridge Associates

Learn more about Freeman Wood and Mercer
“I think understanding managers and what’s important to them is as important as understanding your clients as well.” - Freeman Wood - (Tweet)
41 min
March 07, 2017RT05: What Consultants look for in a manager ft. Chris Solarz, Adam Duncan & Freeman Wood – 1of2
My guests today are Chris Solarz, Managing Director, Global Macro Hedge Fund Strategies at Cliffwater, Adam Duncan, Managing Director at Cambridge Associates as well as Freeman Wood, who is a Partner and Head of North America, at Mercer, for a fun and insightful conversation into the world of Consultants and their role in Alternative Investments.
-----
50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How our guests got to where they are today
What challenges Adam sees institutional investors facing
The extra information Chris gives his clients
How the role of the consultant has changed
Two issues that frustrate consultants, and how our guests solve them
Freeman’s view of the role of the financial decision makers
How to bridge the gap between the managers and the investors
What your theoretical models can’t account for
Why past hedge fund managers were able to pursue a more “pure” strategy
The practical implications of having a larger fund
The pros and cons of smaller and larger managers
How Chris developed his key business strategies
What red flags new startups can avoid

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
Send your questions to [email protected]
And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
Learn more about Chris Solarz and Cliffwater
Learn more about Adam Duncan and Cambridge Associates
Learn more about Freeman Wood and Mercer
Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
----
PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
3. Other Resources that can help you
And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
41 min
February 19, 2017 04 Top Traders Round Table with Marty Bergin, Grant Jaffarian, and Mike Boss – 2of2
"The idea that a person has to be a qualified investor to get access to this type of investment is just ludicrous to me." (Tweet)
Top Traders is bringing you Top Traders Round Table, a series of conversations with industry leaders on the subject of Managed Futures. On this episode my guests are Marty Bergin, the owner and President of DUNN Capital Management, Grant Jaffarian, Portfolio Manager of the Advanced Trend program at Crabel Capital Management, and Mike Boss, who is a Director within the Capital Introductions Team at Societe General.

Subscribe on:

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

How to use your management and incentive fees to compete
Grants’s competitive strategy for his flat-fee product
Why a robust risk management system is extremely important
Who is winning the battle between the low-cost products and the traditional trend following offerings
If the increased number of investors using trend following is impacting returns?
How rising interest rates will affect long- and short-term trend followers
The guest’s biggest takeaways from 2016
If machine learning is already being used by trend following firms?

This episode was sponsored by CME Group:

Connect with our guests:

Learn more about Marty Bergin, owner and President of DUNN Capital Management

Learn more about Grant Jaffarian, Portfolio Manager of the Advanced Trend program at Crabel Capital Management

Learn more about Mike Boss, a Director within the Capital Introductions Team at Societe General
"Trend following is an absolute return strategy, but it’s never been known as a strong risk-adjustment strategy." - (Tweet)
32 min