The Derivative

Get ready to savor an episode of The Derivative that's anything but run-of-the-(corn) mill, featuring a guest who's serving up some fresh and unconventional perspectives. That's right, we're delving into the heart of the snack world where the notion of sturdy, thick chips and delicate, thin chips is more than meets the eye. Prepare to have the simplicity of your favorite tortilla chip upended, revealing the captivating intricacies that fuel everyone’s favorite salsa, guac, and queso vehicle, the tortilla chip.   Zack Gazzaniga, is the visionary behind Zack's Mighty Tortillas, a company rewriting the rulebook on what it means to be a tortilla chip. His entrepreneurial journey takes us from the humble beginnings of a small natural food startup to helping build a 60-SKU condiment brand at Sir Kensington's. Throughout this episode, he generously shares his insights on expanding product lines, managing complex supply chains, and navigating deals with corporate giants. But that’s the boring business stuff… stay for the talk on seed hunting in Italy, making tortillas, then chips – how many growing cycles our US soil has left, the many nuances in GMO vs non-GMO labeling, and the informative history of Corn you didn’t know you needed. This episode is a must-listen for fellow entrepreneurs and tortilla chip lovers – SEND IT! Chapters: 00:00-01:39= Intro  01:40-11:50= Buongiorno! Let’s talk: Origins, Sir Kensington’s, flavor, & the guacable chip 11:51-25:19= Economic building blocks, Investing in food, CAP-X deals, & intense integration 25:20-36:29= A brief history of corn: Quest for the golden kernel 36:30-50:24= The tortilla chip: From field to bag & Going organic – why it makes sense 50:25-01:01:41= Ethanol? Water? Growing and production concerns / Short-corn & gene editing 01:01:42-01:06:03= Where do we get them? & the Takis people... From the episode: Beautiful Corn: America’s Original grain from seed to plate (Book) Don't call it private equity, seeking value (and tax alpha) in small business with Adam Tkaczuk Follow along with Zack's Mighty on LinkedIn and Facebook! For more information on Zack's Mighty tortilla's chips and where to find them visit zacksmighty.com Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Derivative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rcmAlts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and our host Jeff at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AttainCap2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign-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, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer⁠

Jon Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Blueprint Investment Partners, shares insights on trend-following asset allocations, the evolution of portfolio management, and the future of the investment advisor space. Topics include: trend following as a filter on other investments, managing client preferences and portfolio strategies, challenges with private funds, and the future impact of blockchain and AI in delivering financial advice.

Explore the intricacies of building a systematic commodity trading strategy using fundamental inputs, the importance of risk management, and the role of machine learning. Discover the challenges of navigating this dynamic market and the complexities of this niche within the world of finance. Gain valuable perspectives for both seasoned traders and those seeking to understand commodity trading nuances.

Philadelphia is renowned for various iconic symbols, including the Liberty Bell, Rocky Balboa, the famous Philly cheesesteak, and, most recently, RCM's Live Panel Discussion "Is 60/40 Dead? Can Alternatives Fill the Void?" This engaging panel discussion features industry leaders Tim Pickering, Corey Hoffstein, and Brian Meloon, with the insightful Kevin Davitt giving an insightful intro. It was so compelling that we decided to turn it into an episode of the Derivative podcast. We kick off our discussion by diving into the rapidly evolving landscape of the index options market and the financial industry as a whole. Explore the critical role of adaptability in the face of exponential technological advancements, with a spotlight on NASDAQ's MDX options leading the way. But there's more! Tim Pickering, Corey Hoffstein, and Brian Meloon share pivotal moments from their careers, emphasizing the importance of innovation during challenging periods. We'll also delve into quantitative investing strategies, the intriguing concept of return stacking in ETFs, and why diversification is necessary in your investment portfolio — SEND IT! Chapters: 00:00-01:31 = Intro 01:32-14:18 = Adapting to a changing landscape with Kevin Davitt 14:19-22:24 = Introductions: Ah Ha! moments – what got you in the industry 22:25-36:38 = Adapting to market shifts 36:39-43:39 = Why should you care? 43:40-59:43 = What are investors looking for – Why Commodities? Why Systematic? Why Leverage? 59:44-01:04:25 = Why now? 01:04:26-01:17:17 = Open for questions From the episode: Flirting with Models podcast Liquidity Cascades – Newfound Research Follow along with Tim Pickering on Twitter @AuspiceTim, Corey Hoffstein @choffstein and Brian Meloon on LinkedIn Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Derivative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rcmAlts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and our host Jeff at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AttainCap2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign-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, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer

Topics discussed in this podcast include the evolution of options trading, hedging strategies, San Francisco's economic landscape, computer science and AI advancements, starting a fund, diversifying options, market environments, market participation, and the value of time in investing.

Emil van Essen and Bryan Kiernan of Katonah/EVE discuss the evolution of their strategies and firm, including front-running commodity index rolls and mastering roll yields. They explore topics like spread trading, diversification in commodity markets, and the importance of testing ideas with live ammunition. They also touch on the energy patch, the crypto space, and China's role in the market.

Join Tim Kramer, seasoned energy and power trader and CEO of CNIC Funds, on a stimulating conversation about electrifying America, the challenges facing renewable energy, creating innovative indices, the dynamic interplay between power and commodities, carbon offset vetting, and the legitimacy of Bitcoin mining on power grids.

Why Systematic? Why CTA? Why Now? These are common questions on the minds of many professionals in the Managed Futures field. On this episode of the Derivative podcast, host Jeff Malec takes on a unique role as a featured guest on a panel recently hosted by RCM Alternatives in Chicago alongside Cohen & Company and Mercer. While Jeff is usually the one leading the discussions, this time, he gets the opportunity to be a participant alongside other industry experts. Together, they delve deep into the inner workings of various trading models. The main focus of the discussion is to understand how these models function, distinguish between pod-shops and multi-strat data infrastructure, and explore the role of A.I. in the industry. Additionally, they discuss the differences between systematic macro and trend-following approaches.   Joining Jeff on the panel are Joe Kelly from Campbell, Brian Proctor from EMC, and Rodrigo Gordillo from Resolve. The conversation is both insightful and engaging, shedding light on the world of Managed Futures Hedge Funds — SEND IT! Chapters: 00:00-01:42=Intro 01:43-15:41=Approaching CTAs – Why now for systematic macro? Inflation, stacking (yes + this) 15:42-25:57=Current state of rising interest rates & trend following diversification 25:58-40:25=Machine learning: Parameter sets, Data, managing risk, A.I., & no emotions 40:26-48:49=Discretion: When, Why, or do we use it? 48:50-01:11:06=Questions? Let's open it up to the audience Follow along on Twitter with Rodrigo Gordillo @RodGordilloP, Mercer @mercer, & Cohen & Company @CohenCPA for more information! Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Derivative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rcmAlts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and our host Jeff at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AttainCap2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign-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, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer

What do you do when you’ve already done everything there is to do in trend. Managed billion of dollars: check. One of first to run a trend following mutual fund: check. Trend following on individual equities: check. You push the envelope again, and convince the folks that create ETFs that you actually can pack your fully diversified equities plus futures portfolio into an ETF wrapper.  On this episode of The Derivative, we sit down with the legendary Jerry Parker, a former Turtle Trader who’s newest effort is an ETF product called ‘Trend Following Plus Nothing’.   Jerry and Jeff explore a wide range of topics, including whether multi-billion CTAs sold their (trend) souls to get there, just why nobody really tries to trend follow on individual equity names. Seeing a green light when they tell you it can’t be done. Jerry also opens up about finding the perfect balance of personal risk and mental fortitude to achieve success in trend following while sharing some personal anecdotes, including his love for pet birds.  Discover the power of trading components instead of an index of components, the impact of Fed limits on trend, and the intricacies of volatility targeting (hint: Jerry doesn’t believe in it). We'll also delve into the art of portfolio construction, the virtue of trend following impatience, the true essence of trend following as an inflationary hedge, and so much more — SEND IT. Chapters: 00:00-02:00=Intro 02:01-04:50= No birds allowed on Long Island, NY 04:51-16:38= The journey creating the new ETF needed diversification 16:39-30:02= Replication – what’s your limit? Hard=Simple/Simple=Hard 30:03-41:45= Market Makers, Outlier Moves, and what’s deserving of your portfolio 41:46-48:50=Embracing the Trend Following philosophy 48:51-01:00:02= The narrow road taken 01:00:03-01:03:29= Trend following+nothing From the episode: The Swiss(Franc) isn’t all that neutral – blog post Trend Following Turtle Tails (and Tales) with Jerry Parker - podcast Check out our Trend Following whitepaper! Follow along with Jerry on Twitter @rjparkerjr09 and visit ChesapeakeCapital.com for more information! Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Derivative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rcmAlts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and our host Jeff at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AttainCap2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign-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, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer

Jason Buck is back in this follow-up, Part II episode rehashing all the goings on at Global EQD '23, and he's continuing the conversation on equity market hedging, not to mention interest rate, currency, and more hedging – plus volatility markets and investment strategies with host Jeff Malec.  Jason and Jeff discuss what was discussed, including the influence of Fed policy, abnormally low volatility in equities, cross-asset volatility, and the relationship between skew and put options. Tune in to discover the risks associated with high-frequency trading (HFT) firms in the zero-day-to-expiration market and gain insights into balance and risk management.  Explore supply and demand dynamics, black swan events, and the perspective of market makers. Gain valuable knowledge on the interplay between institutional and retail traders, the importance of diversification in building portfolios, and the comparison between systematic and discretionary approaches to investing — SEND IT! Chapters: 00:00-01:31=Intro 01:32-10:07= Leaders in Vol – Monetizing Vol, Skew vs puts & commodity Vol can’t be suppressed 10:08-26:00= The volume of ODTE options & when retail flow becomes toxic 26:01-32:55= Complexity, probability & path dependency: Building a resilient portfolio 32:56-48:43= Systematic vs discretionary, the importance of dispersion 48:44-58:54= Fixed income factors and a panel too short In case you missed it: Check out Part I of this EQD Breakdown here! Follow along on Twitter with Jason ⁠@jasoncbuck ⁠and ⁠@MutinyFunds⁠ for all updates and also check out the website ⁠mutinyfund.com⁠ for more information. Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Derivative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rcmAlts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and our host Jeff at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AttainCap2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign-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, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer