The Derivative

40 Episodes
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By: RCM Alternatives

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.

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Cliff Asness in the house, plus return resilience, stacking, and portable alpha with Corey Hoffstein
Cliff Asness in the house, plus return resilience, stacking, and portable alpha with Corey Hoffstein episode artwork
Yesterday at 5:59 PM

What does it take to build a portfolio that can weather changing markets, and how can advisors put that idea into practice? Jeff Malec sits down with Corey Hoffstein to explore return stacking, portable alpha, and the thinking behind a more diversified approach to investing. Drawing on the Return Stacked Symposium and his experience in the field, Corey shares perspectives on portfolio construction, managed futures, and the lessons learned from past implementations. It’s a conversation about making investment ideas practical, helping clients stay resilient, and building a stronger community around new approaches. - SEND IT!


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How an Discretionary Ag Trader "Reads the Soybean Leaves" with Stephen Davis
How an Discretionary Ag Trader "Reads the Soybean Leaves" with Stephen Davis episode artwork
10/22/2026

In this episode, Jeff talks with Stephen Davis of Davis Commodities about Memphis’s long-standing role as a center for commodity trading and Stephen’s path into the business, from his first days on the Chicago Board of Trade grain floor to building his own trading firm. Stephen dives into how agricultural markets are shaped by global supply and demand, crop conditions, weather, trade flows, and government policy, including the many uses of corn and soybeans in food, animal feed, and fuel. He also explains how he turns research into trades, why he favors longer-term themes over short-term market move...


Running an "Old Fashioned" Hedge Fund with Adrian Keevil of Plustick Partners
Running an "Old Fashioned" Hedge Fund with Adrian Keevil of Plustick Partners episode artwork
10/15/2026

In this episode, Jeff Malec talks with Adrian Keevil of Plustick Partners about his path from corporate finance and academic research to investing, and how his work on stakeholder relationships informs the firm’s approach. Keevil explains Plustick’s old-fashioned partnership philosophy and its focus on distressed, event-driven, and special-situations investing, from overlooked assets and misunderstood businesses to shorting unsecured bonds. He also shares the personal and professional experiences behind his perspective, including his family’s history in market trading and lessons from studying how real businesses operate. The conversation explores portfolio construction, credit markets and private credit, the potent...


The Fall Solo Six-Pack: Sports Games, the Return of Discretionary Macro, & AI Coming for Your Job
The Fall Solo Six-Pack: Sports Games, the Return of Discretionary Macro, & AI Coming for Your Job episode artwork
10/08/2026

In this solo six-pack episode of The Derivative, Jeff Malec makes the case for showing up to your kids’ games, especially when the final round of high school golf ends one stroke short of state. Then it’s off to the CTA Expo, where systematic strategies may be yesterday’s novelty and discretionary macro is having a moment. Jeff also digs into the Lakers sale, insurance float, and the tax perks that can come with owning a sports franchise, before wondering whether ultra-luxury resort communities are becoming self-contained mini-cities, and whether their plumbers and caddies could be among the worker...


AI, Markets, and the Profits of Doom with Adam Butler
AI, Markets, and the Profits of Doom with Adam Butler episode artwork
09/24/2026

Jeff Malec sits down with Adam Butler of Return Stacked ETFs, back for the first time since their May 2023 AI episode, when GPT-4 had just come out. Since then Return Stacked has grown past $1.6 billion. Adam explains why AI is spreading faster than any technology before it and describes his own workday, with Claude Code and Codex agents running in parallel and working overnight until the human's attention is the real limit. He then pushes back on the doomsday headlines. He argues that p-doom stories help frontier labs chasing trillion-dollar IPOs and favorable regulation, and points to the risks...


RE-RELEASE: Texas Trend Following with Salem Abraham
RE-RELEASE: Texas Trend Following with Salem Abraham episode artwork
09/17/2026

Some episodes are worth bringing back. This is one of them. Salem Abraham is a bit of a legend in the trend following and managed futures world. With 30+ years in the business, he’s got the experience, the war stories, and, thankfully, the willingness to tell them. We originally sat down with Salem a few years ago, and the conversation was too good to leave in the archives.  In this re-release, we cover tiny Canadian, Texas; why you need noodles and red sauce if you’re competing to make the best spaghetti; the Turtle Traders; a tourist boat capsizing in fr...


Zigs, Zags, and Finding Micro Cap Winners with Ian Cassel
Zigs, Zags, and Finding Micro Cap Winners with Ian Cassel episode artwork
09/10/2026

Ian Cassel, founder of MicroCapClub and author of Stock Picker, joins Jeff Malec to walk through the underfollowed world of micro cap stocks, tiny, illiquid public companies where most 10x winners are born. He shares his journey from blowing up a dot‑com era portfolio to rebuilding it with XM Satellite Radio, explains why structural inefficiencies and lack of institutional capital create opportunity, and breaks down how he evaluates management, survives volatility, and finds small, profitable businesses that can self-fund growth. 

Along the way, they compare micro caps to private equity and venture, discuss global markets from Can...


From Quarterback to CIO: John McArthur on Alts, AI, and the Future of Wealth at Krilogy
From Quarterback to CIO: John McArthur on Alts, AI, and the Future of Wealth at Krilogy episode artwork
09/03/2026

In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with John McArthur of Krilogy to trace his path from backup quarterback at Mizzou and Northwestern to CIO of a nearly $6 billion independent wealth management firm. John talks about how college football shaped his views on timing, opportunity, and accountability, then connects those lessons to building a planning-first advisory culture outside the wirehouse world of AG Edwards and Morgan Stanley. The conversation dives into how Krilogy builds portfolios using a mix of active and passive tools, daily-liquid alts, private markets, and fixed income, with a particular focus on left-tail risk, crisis alpha...


Why Oil Didn't Go to $300, plus Chinese gold bugs, Copper Squeezes & Uranium Alpha with Josh Blanchfield (Avos Capital)
Why Oil Didn't Go to $300, plus Chinese gold bugs, Copper Squeezes & Uranium Alpha with Josh Blanchfield (Avos Capital) episode artwork
08/20/2026

Jeff Malec sits down with Josh Blanchfield of Avos to trace his path from physics at Harvard, poker pro, and 11 years at Bridgewater (including co-heading the trading desk during Lehman) to running a concentrated, risk-aware commodities and macro shop. Josh explains why China is “ground zero” for global commodities, detailing how its import cuts, stockpiling, and scrap policies have shaped oil, copper, gold, and uranium, and why understanding flows and participant behavior matters more than neat top-down supply-demand models. He breaks down how Avos blends macro with very granular micro, like Chinese spec flows around Lunar New Year, refinery outa...


Trading 80 Synthetic Markets with Trend, Carry & Skew: Jiro Fujisawa, Asset Management One USA
Trading 80 Synthetic Markets with Trend, Carry & Skew: Jiro Fujisawa, Asset Management One USA episode artwork
08/06/2026

*This podcast is provided for informational and educational purposed only and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation of any specific security, strategy or investment product. The views expressed in this recording are the personal views of the participants as of the date of this podcast, are subject to change, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Asset Management One USA Inc. itself. Any discussion of investment strategies, market conditions, or portfolio construction is intended to illustrate general investment concepts and may not be appropriate or eligible for every investor. There is no guarantee that any...


The 6-Year Test 10,000 Tickers Failed: with Eric Crittenden of Standpoint Funds
The 6-Year Test 10,000 Tickers Failed: with Eric Crittenden of Standpoint Funds episode artwork
07/30/2026

In this episode of The Derivative, host Jeff Malec welcomes back Standpoint Asset Management founder and CIO Eric Crittenden for his third appearance, diving into what’s happened since Standpoint launched in 2019 and why their approach has remained unchanged. Eric explains why he resists the industry’s obsession with “constant innovation,” favoring disciplined stability in his trend-following and multi-asset process, and how the past six years, from COVID to fast crashes and energy shocks, have stress-tested both his risk management and investor behavior.

Jeff and Eric dig into the “abandonment problem” in advisor portfolios: why investors love managed futu...


So You Want to Start an ETF? With Gavin Filmore of Tidal
So You Want to Start an ETF? With Gavin Filmore of Tidal episode artwork
07/16/2026

Jeff sits down with Gavin Filmore of Tidal for a deep dive into why, even after three decades, the ETF industry is still, potentially only in the “second or third inning.” Gavin walks through the evolution from simple, passive equity ETFs to today’s surge in active and derivatives-based products, explaining how his experience running an oil ETN through the negative-oil shock convinced him of the importance of flexibility over rigid index rules. They break down how market makers and regulation (like 6c-11 and the derivatives rule) have reshaped the landscape, why semi-transparent ETFs fizzled, and how white-label platforms like T...


Too Basic to Notice, Too Big to Ignore: Tom Ferguson on the VC Opportunity in Water Tech
Too Basic to Notice, Too Big to Ignore: Tom Ferguson on the VC Opportunity in Water Tech episode artwork
07/09/2026

This week on The Derivative, Jeff Malec sits down with Burnt Island Ventures founder Tom Ferguson to explore why water might be the most underappreciated investment theme on the planet. Tom walks through the $1.6 trillion annual capex flowing into water, why our pipes and treatment systems are effectively “Victorian tech” in a digital world, and how that creates a massive opening for early-stage innovation. He explains what “freshwater stewardship” really means, why utilities aren’t as slow or dumb as they’re often portrayed, and how consulting engineers act as quiet gatekeepers for change. Jeff and Tom dig into subsea desal...


This City Trades Different: Yogi, the Floor, and Building RCM
This City Trades Different: Yogi, the Floor, and Building RCM episode artwork
06/25/2026

Former CME floor trader and RCM co-founder Bobby “Yogi” Schwartz joins Jeff to close out our Chicago month and walks through a wild career arc: from generational hog pit roots to dominating the Nasdaq futures pit during the dot-com bubble, then building prop firms, arbing minis vs. big contracts, and eventually stepping into Hollywood film finance before returning to launch RCM. 

Bobby shares vivid floor stories: badges, hand signals, full-contact fights, and multi-million-dollar errors, while explaining how open outcry actually worked, why Chicago produced so many elite prop traders, and how the e‑mini revolution rewired the futures...


How Chicago Became the World’s Options, Vol, and Derivatives Capital (with Cboe’s Rob Hocking & Mandy Xu)
How Chicago Became the World’s Options, Vol, and Derivatives Capital (with Cboe’s Rob Hocking & Mandy Xu) episode artwork
06/18/2026

On this episode of The Derivative, Jeff Malec continues Chicago Month with a deep dive into the past, present, and future of derivatives and volatility at Cboe with two of its stars. 

First up, Cboe Global Head of Derivatives Rob Hocking traces Chicago’s rise as the world’s derivatives hub, from the Board of Trade’s agricultural hedging roots to SPX and VIX becoming the center of global risk transfer. Rob walks through life in the OEX and SPX pits, the culture of open outcry, the evolution from Hull and DRW to “the dark side” at the exchang...


Inside $2B of Chicago Real Estate: Tommy Choi on Housing, Migration, and Millennials
Inside $2B of Chicago Real Estate: Tommy Choi on Housing, Migration, and Millennials episode artwork
06/11/2026

Jeff Malec kicks off “Chicago Month” on The Derivative with Chicago real estate powerhouse Tommy Choi of Weinberg Choi. Tommy lays out what really makes Chicago compelling as a place to live and invest—world-class food, underrated beaches, iconic bungalows, and relative affordability, while tackling the tough stuff around crime headlines, taxes, and politics. He breaks down post-pandemic migration, why inventory is so tight, how boomers with 2–3% mortgages and “Bank of Mom and Dad” shape the market, and why millennials are choosing flexibility and crypto over owning. Jeff and Tommy hit on stubbornly high rates, surging rents, condo special assessments...


“Dr. Copper”: From Chilean Mines to Chinese Smelters to AI Data Centers in the US - with Kurt Nelson & Natalie Scott-Gray
“Dr. Copper”: From Chilean Mines to Chinese Smelters to AI Data Centers in the US - with Kurt Nelson & Natalie Scott-Gray episode artwork
05/28/2026

Copper steps out of the shadow of gold and silver in this wide‑ranging conversation with StoneX’s Natalie Scott Gray and SummerHaven’s Kurt Nelson. Jeff digs into why “Dr. Copper” sits at the heart of electrification, AI data centers, EVs, and defense, and how underinvestment in mines, fragile supply chains from Chile to the DRC, and China’s smelting dominance are setting the stage for structural shortages. Natalie breaks down the real fundamentals: tariffs, sulfuric acid bottlenecks, strategic stockpiling, and the difference between visible and hidden inventories, while Kurt connects it all to macro, inflation, and why investors ma...


The Doctor who Traded Pork Bellies: Patrick Welton's Journey from Stanford Oncologist to one of Trend Following's Quiet Legends
The Doctor who Traded Pork Bellies: Patrick Welton's Journey from Stanford Oncologist to one of Trend Following's Quiet Legends episode artwork
05/21/2026

In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with Dr. Patrick Welton to trace his remarkable path from Wisconsin kid to Stanford oncologist to veteran futures trader and founder of Welton Investment Partners. Patrick shares how trading pork bellies and interest rate futures in the late 1970s to pay tuition evolved into a decades-long career shaped by mentors at Commodities Corp, relationships with legends like Paul Tudor Jones and John Henry, and a unique “outside inside trader” role that let him keep practicing medicine at Stanford while managing money. He explains how his medical background and scientific training influence his appr...


Painting Corners to Protecting Portfolios: Former MLB pitcher Scott Karl on How Athletes Blow the Money, Alts, the Mental Side of Performance, and the NIL Era
Painting Corners to Protecting Portfolios: Former MLB pitcher Scott Karl on How Athletes Blow the Money, Alts, the Mental Side of Performance, and the NIL Era episode artwork
05/14/2026

In this episode, former Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Scott Karl traces his path from Carlsbad standout to big league starter to financial advisor. He swaps stories with Jeff about Bandon Dunes and his move from California to Lake Norman, then dives into his career, getting a last-minute shot after the ’94 strike, surviving as a finesse pitcher in a power era, facing legends like Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Sammy Sosa, and taking the mound during the 1998 home run chase. Scott shares how he lost roughly 70% of his portfolio in the dot-com bust while still playing, what it taught him about ri...


Crisis Alpha, Cocoa Trends, and Correlated Trendlessness: Inside Aspect Capital’s Strategy with Christopher Reeve
Crisis Alpha, Cocoa Trends, and Correlated Trendlessness: Inside Aspect Capital’s Strategy with Christopher Reeve episode artwork
05/07/2026

Jeff Malec sits down with Christopher Reeve, Chief Investment Officer of Aspect Capital, one of the original managed futures shops with roots tracing back to the "L" in AHL. Chris shares his path from chemistry and early-2000s AI at Oxford to 22 years at Aspect, where he now runs the investment side of the business. Jeff puts every trend following critique on the table, too big, too simple, too crowded, just beta, and Chris pushes back on all of it. They dig into why the edge is real but small, why multi-model diversification is the whole game, and why...


Status of Alternatives - A Live Recording from Uncorrelated Puerto Rico
Status of Alternatives - A Live Recording from Uncorrelated Puerto Rico episode artwork
04/30/2026

Recorded live in Puerto Rico, this special episode of The Derivative features host Jeff Malec with guests Brent Johnson, Jason Buck, and Mark Tower exploring how alternative investments are behaving in a world shifting from globalization to de‑globalization. The panel covers why some managed futures and volatility strategies haven’t delivered as expected in recent crises, the growing stress in private credit and liquidity mismatches, and the evolving roles of gold and Bitcoin as hedges against instability and fiat risk. They also dig into de‑dollarization versus continued dollar dominance, the power and data‑center boom tied to AI, and...


Spring Six Pack talking Florida Conferences, Bonds, AI & Hand Dryers
Spring Six Pack talking Florida Conferences, Bonds, AI & Hand Dryers episode artwork
04/16/2026

Join Jeff Malec for another solo Six Pack episode of The Derivative, where he riffs on everything from the post-COVID conference circuit to bond markets, AI, and yes… public restrooms. Jeff contrasts the buttoned-up energy of iConnections with the beach-side vibes of Future Proof and asks whether meeting managers face-to-face actually improves allocation decisions or just introduces new biases. He digs into Florida's great hedge fund migration and whether the tax savings actually pencil out, breaks down why the last five years have been historically brutal for bonds and what that's meant for managed futures globally, and tackles AI's de...


The Hedge Fund that Polls Regular People Where Markets Are Going ?
The Hedge Fund that Polls Regular People Where Markets Are Going ? episode artwork
04/09/2026

In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with Vuk Vukovic and Scott Alford of Oraclum Capital (ORCA) to explore how an academic project on elections turned into a $70M hedge fund powered by crowd predictions. Vuk explains how he and his co-founders, coming from economics, physics, and computer science backgrounds, built a survey-based system that originally nailed events like Brexit and the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, then adapted the same framework to financial markets. Scott breaks down how ORCA combines wisdom of crowds, network analysis, and machine learning to identify the best retail predictors each week and turn their...


Oil, War, and the Strait of Hormuz: What current events look like through the eyes of an energy trader
Oil, War, and the Strait of Hormuz: What current events look like through the eyes of an energy trader episode artwork
04/02/2026

In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with returning “resident oil guy” Brent Belote of Cayler Capital to unpack one of the wildest stretches in energy markets since COVID and Russia/Ukraine. They dig into recent oil volatility, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and why the Straits of Hormuz still matter more than most people think. Brent breaks down how traders are actually navigating this market, from tracking physical flows to managing extreme option volatility, and what could come next. Jeff and Brent also explore how EV adoption, data centers, and grid constraints collide with the energy transition narr...


OpenSnow’s Joel Gratz built a Pod Shop for Powder Days: the PMs are Meteorologists and the Returns are Faceshots. Send It!
OpenSnow’s Joel Gratz built a Pod Shop for Powder Days: the PMs are Meteorologists and the Returns are Faceshots. Send It! episode artwork
03/26/2026

What happens when a data-obsessed mind that could have been optimizing portfolios decides to optimize powder days instead? This episode features meteorologist and OpenSnow founder Joel Gratz in a deep dive on snow, skiing, and the science of weather forecasting, told through the lens of someone who treats every incoming storm like a market opportunity.

Joel shares how a childhood obsession with snow days in Pennsylvania led to studying meteorology, moving to Boulder, and eventually creating OpenSnow, essentially a Bloomberg Terminal for skiers chasing powder. He explains the real science behind why some mountains get more snow...


Drone Wars, Space Intelligence, and AI-powered Defense Tech Investing with Ian Winer of Center15 Capital
Drone Wars, Space Intelligence, and AI-powered Defense Tech Investing with Ian Winer of Center15 Capital episode artwork
03/12/2026

In this episode of The Derivative, Jeff Malec sits down with Ian Winer, West Point grad and founder of Center 15 Capital, to unpack how modern warfare and national security are being reshaped by drones, AI, and space. Using the recent conflict with Iran as a case study, they explore how cheap one-way attack drones are challenging traditional air defenses, why firing multimillion-dollar interceptors at $15,000 drones is unsustainable, and what a proper layered counter-drone strategy looks like, including jammers, directed energy, and high-powered microwaves. Ian also explains how space-based sensors and AI-driven analysis are shortening the intelligence loop, and walks...


SuperCars, Salad, and Sumo Wrestlers: Inside OneRiver’s Systematic Risk Mitigation Playbook with Patrick Kazley
SuperCars, Salad, and Sumo Wrestlers: Inside OneRiver’s Systematic Risk Mitigation Playbook with Patrick Kazley episode artwork
03/05/2026

In this episode of The Derivative, Jeff Malec is joined by Patrick Kazley of OneRiver explore how long volatility, convexity, trend following, and systematic macro can be combined in a capital‑efficient way to improve equity compounding and protect portfolios from major drawdowns. They discuss crisis “shapes,” why time-based rebalancing often beats intuitive drawdown triggers, how changing volatility microstructure (zero‑DTE, single-name vol, dispersion) creates new opportunities, and why behavioral biases keep most investors under-allocated to positively skewed defensive strategies. Patrick ties it all together with vivid metaphors — from F1 cars and soup vs. salad to sumo wrestlers and the beer b...


Carry, Calendar Spreads, and Climate: Bruce Sinclair on the Future of Grain Markets
Carry, Calendar Spreads, and Climate: Bruce Sinclair on the Future of Grain Markets episode artwork
02/26/2026

In this episode of The Derivative, host Jeff Malec talks with South African grain spread trader Bruce Sinclair (Brent Trading) about how he went from a farming background to running a spread-focused commodities program trading Chicago grains from a remote game farm in South Africa. Bruce explains, in plain language, how carry and calendar spreads work, why he believes spreads offer a more manageable risk profile than outright futures, and how he enforces a hard 10% annual drawdown limit for investors. They dig into the realities of global grain markets with Brazil, Argentina, China, and geopolitics in the mix, why...


Going Nuclear: How Uranium is Powering Portfolios with Trevor Hall & Justin Huhn
Going Nuclear: How Uranium is Powering Portfolios with Trevor Hall & Justin Huhn episode artwork
02/19/2026

In this episode of The Derivative, host Jeff Malec talks with uranium analyst Justin Huhn and mining and commodities commentator Trevor Hall of the Going Nuclear podcast about why uranium and nuclear power may be the most compelling long-term solution for clean baseload energy. They dig into the current uranium bull market, how AI and data centers are driving a step-change in electricity demand, what makes the uranium supply–demand setup unique versus oil and gas, and why life extensions of existing reactors matter so much. The discussion also takes its course exploring the future of SMRs and advanced re...


Defensive Equity, Flex Options, and the Future of Quant at PGIM
Defensive Equity, Flex Options, and the Future of Quant at PGIM episode artwork
02/12/2026

In this new episode of The Derivative, host Jeff Malec talks with PGIM Quantitative Solutions’ Devang Gambhirwala and Lorne Johnson about managing over $100 billion in quant and multi-asset strategies inside a $1.5 trillion asset manager. They break down the boom in options-based ETFs, from covered calls and defensive equity to buffered and defined-outcome strategies powered by flex options, plus what today’s volatility and rate environment mean for investors. The trio also tackles the impact of AI, fiscal imbalances, and even gold’s renewed role in portfolios. SEND IT!


Chapters:

00:00-00:46= Intro

00:47-07:25= From N...


Timing, Triggers & Transparency: Inside Potomac Funds’ Tactical Investing Playbook with Dan Russo
Timing, Triggers & Transparency: Inside Potomac Funds’ Tactical Investing Playbook with Dan Russo episode artwork
01/29/2026

In this episode of The Derivative, Jeff Malec dusts off the dress shoes and steps out from behind the webcam for his first in-person interview since before COVID. He heads to Potomac's studio to sit down with Dan Russo, Portfolio Manager and CIO, for a conversation on why investing theory often breaks down when real life shows up. This chat covers why market timing isn't about catching every move, it's about avoiding the ones that cause lasting damage. Dan also explains how Potomac applies systematic, rules-based models built on trend, breadth, and intermarket signals, why cash is a position...


From Venezuelan Oil to Nuclear Frontiers: Navigating Resource Markets with Robert Mullin
From Venezuelan Oil to Nuclear Frontiers: Navigating Resource Markets with Robert Mullin episode artwork
01/22/2026

This week on The Derivative, Jeff Malec is joined by seasoned resource investor Robert Mullin for a reality check on Venezuelan oil and the market narratives surrounding it. They dig into why headlines calling for cheap oil miss the point, what it actually takes to restart a broken energy system, and why “world’s largest reserves” isn’t the bullish mic drop many assume. Along the way, they unpack sanctions, shadow tanker fleets, Gulf Coast refinery hype, and where the real economic constraints lie. It’s a sharp, grounded conversation focused on market structure, logistics, and context, cutting through the noise...


The 2025 market review draft, talking Bears, Crypto Cycles & AI Paradoxes with David Dziekanski & Zed Francis
The 2025 market review draft, talking Bears, Crypto Cycles & AI Paradoxes with David Dziekanski & Zed Francis episode artwork
01/15/2026

Kick off the first episode of 2026 with a fun, draft-style market showdown as host Jeff Malec is joined by David Dziekanski and Zed Francis on The Derivative. Using funky categories and plenty of hot takes, the trio drafts everything from “wait, that’s still a thing” trades to market overreactions, false idols, and narratives that didn’t survive the year. Along the way, they break down crypto cycles, volatility, cash, and derivatives, mixing sharp insight with dry humor and real debate. It’s a loose, fast-paced way to start the year, packed with strong opinions, laughs, and a few bold predi...


Signing Off for 2025: The Derivative Returns in January!
Signing Off for 2025: The Derivative Returns in January! episode artwork
12/11/2025

Join Jeff Malec for a quick, fun season finale as he looks back on the year’s market highlights, standout episodes, and unforgettable guests. The Derivative is heading into a short holiday break, but we’ll be back with fresh conversations and a stacked guest lineup in January.  SEND IT!


Episode favs from 2026:

Sal Mercongliano

Solo Summer Six-pack

Harold De Boer

Grant Jaffarian

Peter Madsen


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Building a Commodity Trader Multi-Strat with Tom Holliday of HIP investment
Building a Commodity Trader Multi-Strat with Tom Holliday of HIP investment episode artwork
11/20/2025

In this episode, Jeff Malec sits down with Tom Holliday, founder and CIO of HIP Investments, for an in-depth conversation on reimagining multi-strategy investing in the commodity space. Tom shares insights from his distinguished career, from his early days at Refco to working with George Soros and launching both Titan Advisors and Hip Investments. Together, they explore the evolution from traditional fund-of-funds to collaborative, actively managed multi-strat funds, highlighting the advantages of diversification, portfolio construction, and innovative incentive structures for specialist traders. The discussion covers risk management tactics, the unique challenges and opportunities of commodity markets, and why institutional...


When the Gales of November Come Early: the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and Modern Maritime Trade with Sal Mercogliano
When the Gales of November Come Early: the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and Modern Maritime Trade with Sal Mercogliano episode artwork
11/13/2025

Set sail with maritime historian Sal Mercogliano as we dive deep into the enduring mystery of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a legendary ship lost on the Great Lakes 50 years ago this week. From chilling tales of mariners’ lives and the critical role of iron ore trade, to the evolving challenges facing commercial shipping, this episode explores what really happened that stormy night in 1975—and why the story resonates today. Join host Jeff Malec and Sal for a wide-ranging conversation about Great Lakes lore, the economics and environmental impact of shipping, and what the future holds for this vital but often-overlooked indu...


Volatility's Heartbeat, the AI Boom, and MJ’s Bulls with Equity Armor’s Brian Stutland
Volatility's Heartbeat, the AI Boom, and MJ’s Bulls with Equity Armor’s Brian Stutland episode artwork
11/06/2025

Join Jeff Malec and Brian Stutland, Portfolio Manager at Equity Armor Investments, as they dive deep into the complex world of market volatility, AI's transformative potential, and strategic investing. Drawing from his extensive trading experience, Stutland offers unique insights into the VIX, option strategies, and navigating today's dynamic market landscape. From the dot-com era to the current AI revolution, they explore how volatility can be an asset class, discuss the potential economic impacts of technological innovation, and share strategies for protecting and growing investment portfolios. Whether you're a seasoned investor or curious about option strategies and market dynamics, this...


Engineering Alpha using Trend and Volatility on Equity Beta with Eric Leake of ALTUS Private Capital
Engineering Alpha using Trend and Volatility on Equity Beta with Eric Leake of ALTUS Private Capital episode artwork
10/23/2025

Buckle up for a wild ride through the markets with Eric Leake, founder of Altus Private Capital, as Jeff Malec explores the investment world with a quantitative maverick who's about to reveal the hidden playbook of market mastery! From analyzing market waves to navigating volatility, Eric uncovers his unique approach combining long-term equity market trend analysis with short-term volatility management. Discover the secret sauce of strategies that don't just follow the crowd - they dance to their own quantitative beat. 

With insights sharper than a guitar riff and techniques more calculated than conventional wisdom, Eric shares how h...


Overheard at a Stacked Portable Alpha Symposium
Overheard at a Stacked Portable Alpha Symposium episode artwork
10/16/2025

Join Jeff Malec and Jason Buck as they dive deep into the inaugural Return Stacked Symposium held at the CBOE in Chicago. They break down key presentations from institutional leaders like Jonathan Glidden and Roxton McNeal, exploring how portable alpha and return stacking are revolutionizing portfolio construction. Hear their candid insights on leverage, uncorrelated strategies, and why this approach might be the future of investing. From pension fund strategies to practical advice for RIAs, this episode offers a comprehensive review of the cutting-edge investment conference that's challenging traditional portfolio management.. SEND IT!


Chapters:

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Beyond Buy and Hold: Q3 Asset Mgmt's Quantitative Approach to Tactical Investing with Bruce Greig & Brad Giaimo
Beyond Buy and Hold: Q3 Asset Mgmt's Quantitative Approach to Tactical Investing with Bruce Greig & Brad Giaimo episode artwork
10/02/2025

Join Jeff Malec as he sits down with Brad Giaimo and Bruce Greig from Q3 Asset Management, two investment pros who turned trading floor grit into a modern, rules-based quant shop helping RIAs build out tactical trading models for clients.  From Brad's formative days alongside Paul Tudor Jones to Bruce's mathematical approach to market analysis, you’ll hear how Q3 builds transparent, systematic models that aim to outperform while protecting downside risk.  If you’re an RIA, allocator, or markets geek, this episode is packed with tactical insights and practical knowledge delivered by practitioners who’ve moved from the trading...