The Derivative

Bridgewater, Botany & Breaking the 2&20 mold with Unlimited ETFs' Bob Elliott

Sep 18, 2025
Bob Elliott, co-founder and CEO of Unlimited Funds, shares his remarkable journey from working in botany to becoming a key player at Bridgewater Associates. He dives into how he systematizes hedge fund strategies into accessible ETFs, critiquing the traditional 2&20 fee structure. Bob discusses his macro views on the economy and the Fed’s dynamics, emphasizing the balance between systematic and discretionary insights. He also explores unique topics like live cattle markets and risk diversification, making complex investment strategies relatable to everyday investors.
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ANECDOTE

From Botany To Macro Markets

  • Bob Elliott moved from studying botany and public health into macro finance after college and joined Bridgewater to learn economics on the job.
  • He fell in love with markets and spent 20+ years building macro expertise starting from an analyst seat near the mailroom.
ANECDOTE

Rising Through Bridgewater's Ranks

  • Bob Elliott started one seat from the mailroom at Bridgewater and rose quickly to work with Ray Dalio directly after about a year.
  • He became a key analyst during the 2006–2007 housing analysis that flagged systemic risk early.
INSIGHT

Systemizing Macro With Diversification

  • Ray Dalio systematized macro by diversifying many small-probability bets across 100+ markets instead of large concentrated discretionary bets.
  • That insight made systematic global macro a differentiated, durable way to run money.
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