OI19: The Trader Who Never Spoke...Until Now ft. David Druz
Top Traders Unplugged
Running a Small Firm and Avoiding Heavy Marketing
Dave explains choosing a small, investor-first firm model, avoiding large marketing spend and preserving investor alignment.
Dave Druz has never told his story... not like this, not anywhere. For over 40 years, he traded quietly, systematically, and on his own terms. No marketing, no headlines, no need to explain. Until now. In this unique conversation with Moritz Seibert, Dave - Ed Seykota’s first apprentice - shares how he built his approach, why he never identified as a trend follower, and what matters when your edge comes from standing opposite commercial hedgers. He explains why portfolio construction outranks entries, why volatility is the price of real risk, and why staying small was a choice, not a limitation. From medicine to markets, from apprenticeship to independence, this isn’t just how he traded - it’s why he stayed silent, and why he’s speaking now.
-----
50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
-----
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 info@toptradersunplugged.com
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.
Follow Moritz on Twitter.
Read more about David.
Episode TimeStamps:
02:11 - Introduction to Dave Druz
13:50 - Druz' time in the Commodities Corporation
19:14 - How did Druz discover trend following?
23:57 - The core philosophy behind Druz' trend following strategy
28:08 - Who wins and loses in the markets?
37:37 - Determining hedging flows in commodity markets
41:03 - Managing money in trend following
43:40 - How does Druz size a position and get out of it?
45:16 - Coping with a high level of volatility
50:23 - Mitigate drawdown or take the ride?
55:20 - Put your affection on portfolio selection
58:19 - Mastering systems
59:50 - Druz' approach to market selection
01:08:33 - Sizing signals optimally
01:12:43 - A new way of running an investing business
01:19:24 - Creating a personalized portfolio with an edge
01:28:36 - Why Tactical is no longer a business
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
The AI-powered Podcast Player
