Top Traders Unplugged With Niels Kaastrup-larsen | Engaging Conversations With The Top Traders & Investors

On today’s episode Niels Kaastrup-Larsen is joined by Jennifer Sunu, who is the director of compliance at the NFA, Arthur Bell, CPA and managing member of Bell Tower LLC, and JP Bruynes, who is a partner at the law firm Akin Gump.Listen in to today’s episode as we focus on how the managed futures industry is organized, how it has changed since the industry started, who the key players are and what role do they play, and how regulators keep an eye on all these players to ensure they play fairly.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:What got our guests into managed futuresThe basic structure of the managed futures industryWhat role each of the key players have in managed futuresHow the different regulatory bodies work together in the USThe different ways that hedge fund management has changed over the last twenty yearsHow the industry has evolved over the last forty yearsWhy our guests be

We’re changing things up on today’s episode of the podcast: we have with us Frank Conway from the Economic Rockstar Podcast interviewing Niels about trend following strategies, asset allocation, and more. Listen in to find out what changes need to be made in the trend following space, the importance and benefits of your asset allocation when it comes to your investments, and new publications that can take you farther in mastering trend following and managed futures.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why Niels has worked hard to keep his explanation of trend following as simple as possibleWhy at the end of the day, all investors are trend followersWhat really sets one trend follower apart from anotherHow trend following techniques have evolved over timeWhat traits Niels sees in the company he works with as most important in their 40+ year successThe challenges and diffi

Katy Kaminski and I continue our conversation with Harold de Boer, and discuss his philosophy behind pure trend and divergent trading, as well as why Harold believes Transtrend is unique in the managed future space. In this episode, we talk about the benefits of synthetic trading, Harold’s advice to a new rising star, and what he is looking forward to going forward.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Harold views pure trend and divergent trading within TranstrendWhat pure trend means today in comparison to what it used to meanWhat it means to Harold to serve his clients best through his tradingHow trading synthetic markets helps to profit from trendsWhat Harold thinks is unique about Transtrend’s trading modelThe research projects that inspire Harold right nowWhy Harold believes it’s unrealistic to expect returns without volatilityThe differences between the passive and active inv

Harold De Boer is a Managing Director, Member of Management Committee and Member of Board of Directors at Transtrend B.V. Growing up, Harold’s interest in statistics grew out of his work at his family’s dairy farm, and expanded into the world of trading and managed futures. Listen in to learn about Harold’s unique perspective on the industry, his marketing philosophy, and some of the most important lessons he’s learned during his successful career.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Harold got started with statistics at a young ageWhy Harold’s first job as a mathematician was intended to be only temporaryHow that first job transformed into Harold’s work at TranstrendWhen the Turtles project was discovered by Transtrend in its early yearsHow being bought by a larger organization did not affect Transtrend’s operationSome of Harold’s biggest lessons he has learnedHow his time on a da

Katy Kaminski and I continue our conversation with Nigol Koulajian, and discuss if his strategies of working with, around, and doing the opposite of what many investors are doing, has given him any advantages? In this episode, we talk about the risk of research and data affecting the market, why he distrusts in many institutional teachings of finance, and what he is looking forward to this year.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How savvy investors stay ahead of the curveWhy you need to isolate yourself from the hivemind of mainstream investorsWhy those using smart beta have not succeeded recentlyNigol’s opinion on VIX’s impact in and outside the managed futures industryHow Nigol adapts to the changing industryWhy Nigol calls filtering the “holy grail” and how he uses itThe state of institutional and scientific learning of investingHow research into the markets affects their behavior

Nigol Koulajian is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Quest Partners LLC, and has been designing and trading short-term and long-term technical systems for over 22 years. Coming from Columbia business school, many of Nigol’s general practices seem counter-intuitive but have consistently yielded results. This interview will help get you deeper into the trading and management philosophy that has made Quest Partners such a successful firm.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Nigol got started with trading systemsHow Quest Partners grew to where it is todayWhat Nigol has learned from his unique path into managed futuresWhy clearly defining your process is value added to your productWhy Nigol is okay with always being in a state of failureHow developing nuance in his intuitive process has become Nigol’s greatest assetWhat role meditation has played in Nigol’s careerWhat factors

In our continued conversation with Robert Sinnott, Katy Kaminski and I dive into why AlphaSimplex has been so successful, why Robert values transparency in his firm so highly, and what he advises for new and rising-star investors. He goes deep into what he is excited about and afraid of with managed futures, and what he’s looking forward to accomplishing with AlphaSimplex in the future.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why AlphaSimplex maintains a pure trend programWhat problems in the trend following space Robert hopes to solveThe challenges that AlphaSimplex deals with on a regular basisWhat factors have given AlphaSimplex its successWhy Robert holds transparency in such high regardHow the models Robert uses employ smart long-term and short-term assessment and whyWhen your size as a firm hurts your performanceWhat about managed futures makes Robert the most excitedThe things about

From the very beginning, Robert Sinnott has studied the movement of the markets and how to anticipate their changes. Robert earned both an A.B. and an A.M. in Statistics from Harvard University, where he focused on statistical machine learning, capital markets, and time series analysis.In our conversation, my co-host Katy Kaminski and I talk with Robert about how he has used these skills to redesign AlphaSimplex’s performance analytics infrastructure and develop smarter machine learning processes, and how Robert employs this data with such success.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:The history behind AlphaSimplex and how it beganHow Robert got involved with AlphaSimplexHow the surrounding technology industry affects Robert’s workWhat lessons Robert has learned from his time at AlphaSimplexHow Robert spends his time outside of his workHow adaptive markets shape the way Robert worksWhy

Katy Kaminski and I continue our conversation with Marty Bergin, and discuss his philosophy behind DUNN Capital’s success, and why many investors don’t understand trend following strategies. In this episode, we will discuss what investors and trend followers should be focusing on, and what risks excessive regulation may lead to for the industry.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How DUNN views it’s expansion into more marketsWhy their NO management fee policy has helped DUNN throughout the yearsHow DUNN will adapt to the ever changing market environmentWhat investors have a hard time understanding about trend followersMarty’s goal over the next ten yearsWhat Marty fears most in his work at DUNNThe most important question investors should be asking themselves right nowWhy Marty believes trend following strategies should be more widely availableMarty’s advice to young investors and asp

Our guest today is the President and Owner of DUNN Capital. Having a deep background in finance and business management, Marty oversees all mission-critical operations of the firm, including the firm’s research and development efforts as well as the construction and management of the firm’s managed futures portfolios.In our conversation, my co-host Katy Kaminski and I discuss with Marty DUNN Capital’s client-first business model, why he believes that their Adaptive Risk Profile has been a game-changer since its introduction in 2013, and how DUNN Capital has evolved since he joined more than 20 years ago.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Bill Dunn started DUNN CapitalHow Marty minimizes risk down to the base levelWhat lessons Marty has learned from his time at DUNN CapitalWhy Marty believes being client-centric is key to DUNN Capital’s successHow research plays a larger role with

On this special episode, my guests are the founders of AHL: Michael Adam who later co-founded Aspect Capital, David Harding also known as founder and CEO of Winton Capital and Marty Lueck also one of the co-founders of Aspect Capital.We sat down in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London to talk about how they developed their investing strategies, some of the most surprising decisions they ever made, and what kind of legacy they would like to leave behind.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:What Mike, David & Marty had to un-learn in order to improve their strategiesWhy David believes education can crush creativityHow some “new” optimization methods hurts investorsWhat David and Marty least like about their current strategiesWhat they plan on doing when they no longer run their firmsHow David approaches succession planningThe most important investment principles the guests wo

On this special episode, I continue my conversation with the founders of AHL: Michael Adam who later co-founded Aspect Capital, David Harding also known as founder and CEO of Winton Capital and Marty Lueck also one of the co-founders of Aspect Capital.We sat down in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London to talk about what AHL’s founders did after they created the company, what they’ve learned along the way about business and life, and how they view the current market climates.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:The future of a science-driven trading approachWhat David’s vision was when he started Winton CapitalThe beginnings of Aspect CapitalWhy Winton moved away from traditional trend followingThe challenges that equities and managed futures present for investorsWhy David chose to lower volatility of his strategyMichael’s experience with deep value investingWhen it’s time

I was thrilled to be joined by the founders of AHL, to celebrate their 30 year anniversay of founding AHL: Michael Adam who later co-founded Aspect Capital, David Harding also known as founder and CEO of Winton Capital and Marty Lueck also one of the co-founders of Aspect Capital.We sat down in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London to talk about AHL’s beginnings, the revolutionary discoveries that AHL made, how MAN Group became the owner of AHL, as well as all the great things that Michael, David and Marty went on to create.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How AHL got it’s startWhy Michael’s father was instrumental in the beginning of AHLWhat struck David when testing their early algorithmsWhy their “empiricist” outlook gave them an early advantageHow technology’s limits pushed their ideasThe breakthroughs of AHL’s early research and how it still applies todayWhy being a con

On this episode I continue my conversation 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.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:When do you stop adding more managers?Ela’s magic range of managersCarrie’s approach to choosing managersHow management fees should be structuredWhat advice Carrie would give to other pensions planning to start allocating to risk mitigation strategiesWhy Ela recommends a thorough preparation and vision for risk mitigation strategiesRyan’s thoughts on trends during dislocation periodsWhat challenges the guests had to overcome as part of their implementation processWhy CalPERS are leaving hedge funds when CalSTRS are adding them, even when some of the board members are the same

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.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn 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+ portolioHow Ryan uses risk mitigation strategies in his organizationHow Ela is slowly restructuring her alternative portfolioThe risks of risk parity strategiesIs trend-following really an opportunity cost question?How Carrie has worked with the CalSTRS board on implementing this strategyWhy Ela has focused more on tail-risk strategiesCarrie’

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.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:The good and bad of targeting volatilityHow Jerry and Brian used the rules they learned through the Turtle experienceWhy the Turtle program was just “another piece of risk” Rich took on his bookJerry’s experience during and after the programBrian’s two biggest takeaways from the Turtle programIf proper trading can be a real business?What Rich would do differently in 2017The state of trend following todayIf being a good trader is enough to run a successful business?About other passions of the Turtles outside of trend following and tradingRich’s

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.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:Rich’s first introduction to trend followingJerry’s early days in the Turtle programHow Brian ended up as a TurtleThe TRUTH about where the Turtle name came fromThe 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 programThe preferred qualities of the Turtle recruitsWhy it was hard to predict which of the Turtles would succeedWhy persistence is important in trend followingThe relevance of the Turtle group in the past and todayIf diversification amon

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.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:If there are there enough assets to go aroundWhat made 2015 such a weak year for hedge fundsWhy 2016 was such a strong year for hedge fundsThe future of hedge fund investingWhat Chris thinks hedge fund managers have done poorlyHow Adam looks at fees as a coin tossWhy Freeman thinks that fees must add value to both partiesThe guest’s biggest takeaways from 2016How the rise of the voter is providing opportunities to hedge fund managersThe coming possibility of an equity correction, and it’s effectsThe q

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.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How our guests got to where they are todayWhat challenges Adam sees institutional investors facingThe extra information Chris gives his clientsHow the role of the consultant has changedTwo issues that frustrate consultants, and how our guests solve themFreeman’s view of the role of the financial decision makersHow to bridge the gap between the managers and the investorsWhat your theoretical models can’t account forWhy past hedge fund managers were able to pursue a more “pure” strategyThe practical implicatio

On this episode I continue my conversation with 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, where we cover all things trend following and some of the differences to short-term trading.-----EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE: Find Out How to Build a Safer & Better Performing Portfolio using this FREE NEW Portfolio Builder ToolIn This Episode, You’ll Learn:How to use your management and incentive fees to competeGrants’s competitive strategy for his flat-fee productWhy a robust risk management system is extremely importantWho is winning the battle between the low-cost products and the traditional trend following offeringsIf the increased number of investors using trend following is impacting returns?How rising interest rates will affect long- and short-term trend followersThe guest’s biggest takeaways from 2016If mach