
The Derivative
Welcome to The Derivative by RCM Alternatives, where we dive into what makes alternative investments go, analyze the strategies of unique hedge fund managers, and chat with interesting guests from across the investment world. Hosted by RCM Managing Partner, Jeff Malec, join us to take a ride through the world of alternative investments.
Latest episodes

Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 2min
Pivotal Perspectives: Decoding the Modern Hedge Fund Landscape with Jon Caplis
Jon Caplis, CEO of Pivotal Path, shares his expertise in the hedge fund industry, having tracked over 3,000 funds worth $3 trillion. He discusses surprising performance trends in strategies like equities and global macro, while addressing the challenges of data collection in hedge fund research. Caplis reveals how sophisticated investors are navigating this evolving landscape, touching on the significance of transparency in data and the complexities of multi-strategy funds. His insights on talent, capacity, and investor interest offer a captivating look into hedge fund dynamics.

12 snips
May 29, 2025 • 1h 23min
Is Trend Following Dead? (Again…) A Deep Dive with Crabel’s Grant Jaffarian
Grant Jaffarian, a seasoned Portfolio Manager at Crabel Capital Management with 30 years of experience, shares his insights on trend following strategies. He discusses the recent decline in performance, the challenges posed by high-frequency trading, and the necessity for innovation. Jaffarian analyzes the evolving landscape of trend following, including diminishing Sharpe ratios and adapting to market dynamics. The conversation even touches on quantum mechanics, making it a mix of finance and science while maintaining an optimistic outlook on trend following's future.

May 15, 2025 • 1h 7min
Value Creation Over Financial Engineering: Kinzie Capital’s Suzanne Yoon on Modern Private Equity
In this episode of The Derivative, host Jeff Malec sits down with Suzanne Yoon, Founder and Managing Partner of Kinzie Capital Partners, for an in-depth exploration of private equity. Yoon shares her remarkable journey from the daughter of immigrant entrepreneurs in Chicago to leading a lower middle market buyout firm. Drawing from her rich background, Suzanne discusses the evolution of private equity from financial engineering to value creation, revealing how her firm identifies and transforms businesses across manufacturing and service sectors. She provides candid insights into deal sourcing, the challenges of modernizing family-owned companies, and navigating today's complex investment landscape.With perspectives shaped by experiences ranging from the Enron workout to founding her own firm, Yoon offers a compelling narrative about entrepreneurship, strategic investing, and the importance of passion in business. Join us and gain intriguing insights into the inner workings of private equity and the critical role of technology and operational improvements in driving company growth. SEND IT! Chapters:00:00-00:57=Intro00:58-06:58= Entrepreneurial Origins: Uncovering the Roots of Resilience in Suzanne Yoon's Journey06:59-22:50=From Iowa to Wall Street: Lessons for Achieving Success in Finance22:51-38:05=Private Equity's New Playbook: Evolving from Financial Engineering to Value Creation38:06-49:10= The Art of the Deal: Strategies for Sourcing and Selecting Profitable Private Equity Investments49:11-01:07:08=Tariffs, Tech, and Transformation: Navigating the Future of Private Equity Follow along with Suzanne on LinkedIn and Kinzie Capital Partners and be sure to check out their website at kinziecp.com for more information! Don't forget to subscribe toThe Derivative, follow us on Twitter at@rcmAlts and our host Jeff at@AttainCap2, orLinkedIn , andFacebook, andsign-up for our blog digest.Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, or tax advice. All opinions expressed by podcast participants are solely their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of RCM Alternatives, their affiliates, or companies featured. Due to industry regulations, participants on this podcast are instructed not to make specific trade recommendations, nor reference past or potential profits. And listeners are reminded that managed futures, commodity trading, and other alternative investments are complex and carry a risk of substantial losses. As such, they are not suitable for all investors. For more information, visitwww.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer

7 snips
May 8, 2025 • 58min
Stacking Assets: Bitcoin, Gold, and the Future of Portfolio Diversification with David Dziekanski of Quantify Funds
David Dziekanski, founder of Quantify Funds, dives into the intriguing interplay of Bitcoin and gold as vital assets for modern investors. He discusses the innovative BTGD ETF, cleverly merging these two investments for optimal risk management. Dziekanski shares insights on strategic rebalancing to enhance portfolio performance and emphasizes Bitcoin's evolution into an institutional-grade asset. He also explores the enduring value of gold in hedging against currency devaluation, shedding light on new investment strategies amid economic uncertainty.

Apr 24, 2025 • 1h 30min
Podshops, Prices, and Physical Flows: A Commodity Trading Framework with Stephane Bernhard of CAM/ETG
In this engaging conversation, Stephane Bernhard, CEO/CIO of CAM Multi-Strat Asset Management, shares insights from his 30+ years in commodity trading. He discusses the evolution of commodity trading and the importance of risk management, revealing why traditional VAR methods fall short. Stephane highlights his firm’s unique approach to merging physical and financial strategies in trading while tracing historical parallels in the market. Personal anecdotes from his experiences add depth to the discussion, making this a must-listen for trading enthusiasts!

Apr 17, 2025 • 1h 10min
The Endowment Playbook: Balancing Long-Term Goals with Current Market Volatility
Join Dave Morehead, CIO of Baylor University's $2.2 billion endowment, as he shares his insights on institutional investing. He discusses innovative portfolio strategies, successfully deploying volatility tactics during the 2020 crash. Morehead emphasizes a cautious approach to equity exposure while focusing on secular growth in healthcare and technology. He also dives into the dynamics of bond markets, trade policies, and how institutional funds navigate market volatility while supporting education. A captivating blend of finance and personal stories awaits!

Apr 11, 2025 • 55min
WTF is this market? - with Vineer Bhansali of LongTail Alpha
Vineer Bhansali, Founder and CIO at LongTail Alpha, is an expert in tail risk hedging and volatility. In this discussion, he tackles the recent market turbulence, highlighting the implications of liquidity challenges and the shift towards automated trading. He discusses strategies like 0DTE options and emphasizes the potential decline of American exceptionalism impacting the U.S. dollar and gold's resurgence. Bhansali also dives into market distress indicators and the Fed's role in stabilizing rates amidst ongoing economic uncertainty.

Apr 3, 2025 • 1h 11min
Trends, Tall Heads, and Transformations with Transtrend’s Harold de Boer
Join Harold de Boer, a trailblazing systematic trader and founder of Transtrend, as he shares his journey from a Dutch dairy farm to revolutionizing trend following. Discover how trend following mirrors herd behavior in markets and the vital role of diversification. With insights on navigating complex market dynamics and resilience during downturns, Harold emphasizes the importance of adaptability. He even lightens the mood with a cinematic take on trends, contrasting traders to cows—all while dissecting the art and science of successful trading.

Mar 20, 2025 • 1h 31min
A Four-Stack Pod, talking stacking assets with Return Stacked ETFs
Corey Hoffstein, known for his insightful research on return stacking, joins financial wizards Adam Butler and Rodrigo Gordillo, along with Mike Philbrick, to explore innovative investment strategies. They discuss enhancing portfolios without disrupting core holdings through layering alternative assets. The group examines sophisticated strategies like managed futures and merger arbitrage, highlighting their potential for diversification. Plus, they engage in a playful round of 'Choose Your Fighter,' revealing their unique strengths and camaraderie.

Mar 13, 2025 • 59min
Unlocking the Equity Risk Premium with Dividend Futures
In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with Rick Silva, the co-founder of Metaurus Advisors, a boutique asset manager. Rick walks us through Metaurus Advisors' innovative approach to understanding and trading the equity risk premium using dividend futures markets.Rick Silva provides insights into the firm's background in derivative markets and their goal of bringing fixed income securitization techniques to the equity space. He explains the concept of parallel tranche securitization applied to the S&P 500 using dividend futures, which offers visibility into how the market prices equity cash flows and the equity risk premium.Rick and Jeff discuss the strategies Metaurus has developed to harvest risk premiums in the front-end of the dividend curve across different markets, as well as the introduction of new futures contracts based on sequential tranche securitization of a 100-stock index. The episode also addresses the challenges and opportunities in the dividend futures market, including differences across regions, and for a little fun, we fall down a political rabbit hole - SEND IT!Chapters:00:00-01:02=Intro01:03-09:57= Bringing Fixed Income Securitization Techniques to the Equity Markets09:58-21:53= Harvesting Equity Risk Premiums through Dividend Futures Strategies21:54-35:36=Introducing Sequential Tranche Securitization in Equity Futures Contracts35:37-44:06=Dividend Futures Markets Across Regions and Regulatory Challenges44:07-54:07=Implied growth rate & data analysis54:08-59:22=Rabbit Holes: Political Impacts Metaurus Advisors Don't forget to subscribe toThe Derivative, follow us on Twitter at@rcmAlts and our host Jeff at@AttainCap2, orLinkedIn , andFacebook, andsign-up for our blog digest.Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, or tax advice. All opinions expressed by podcast participants are solely their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of RCM Alternatives, their affiliates, or companies featured. Due to industry regulations, participants on this podcast are instructed not to make specific trade recommendations, nor reference past or potential profits. And listeners are reminded that managed futures, commodity trading, and other alternative investments are complex and carry a risk of substantial losses. As such, they are not suitable for all investors. For more information, visitwww.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer