The Algorithmic Advantage 044 — Nick Radge: Want Big Fish? You'll Need a Bigger Rod
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Oct 28, 2025 In this enlightening discussion, Nick Radge, an experienced Australian systematic trader and founder of The Chartist, shares his insights on trading psychology and strategy. He highlights the importance of robust, momentum-driven systems and discusses the pro versus amateur mindset in trading. Nick delves into his shift from futures to equities, his nine long-only strategies, and the crucial concept of sequence risk, especially as one approaches retirement. He emphasizes patience and the need to stick to one’s process to capture outliers and long-term gains.
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How Nick Fell Into Trading
- Nick Radge walked into a broking desk in 1985, saw simple moving averages on chart paper, and decided to trade futures himself.
- He began plotting OHLCs and moving averages manually before opening a futures account and learning on the job.
Floor Experience Led To Systematic Trading
- Nick moved from back-office work to the trading floor after the 1987 crash and later worked in London and Singapore running an Aussie desk.
- Exposure to systematic CTAs in the US inspired him to buy a computer and code trend systems in the early 1990s.
Match Instruments To Business Goals
- Do adapt your vehicle to the investor base if you need to scale assets; equities allowed Nick to raise far more capital than leveraged futures.
- Choose the instruments that fit both your strategy and fundraising goals rather than forcing one onto the other.