In this wide-ranging conversation, Jeff Malec sits down with Dave Morehead, CIO of Baylor University’s $2.2 billion endowment, to explore the unique challenges and strategies of institutional portfolio management. From his early days trading derivatives in Chicago’s financial district to overseeing one of Texas’s prominent university endowments, Morehead shares invaluable insights on risk management, alternative […]
Category: VIX and Volatility

WTF is this market? – with Vineer Bhansali of LongTail Alpha
In this emergency pod edition, Jeff Malec is joined by Vineer Bhansali, Founder and CIO at LongTail Alpha, LLC, to break down the market’s wild rollercoaster ride that demanded immediate attention. When markets hit new lows only to rocket back with a stunning 10% rally, we knew it was time for another “WTF episode” – […]

A US state with a sovereign wealth fund? Utah’s new approach to old money with Peter Madsen
In this first episode of 2025, we’re plunging right into the fascinating world of sovereign wealth funds with Peter Madsen, the CIO of Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO). Peter shares his unique perspective on managing a multi-billion dollar portfolio designed to support public education in the state for generations to come. From […]

The Polymath Pod: Jason Buck and Zed Francis talk rates, vol, and cheeseburgers?!
To close out the 2024 season of the Derivative podcast, host Jeff Malec sits down with two friends of the pod, and friends of his – Jason Buck (@jasoncbuck) and Zed Francis (@convexitas) – for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the markets, the unpredictability of macro events, and the importance of understanding underlying […]

Carmika Partners Unpack the August Volatility Spike and Complexities of Options Trading
In this episode, we explore the world of options trading with Martin Vestergaard and Michael Cameron from Carmika Partners. The conversation begins with an in-depth analysis of the volatility spike that occurred in early August, as Vestergaard and Cameron share their insights on the market dynamics and the impact on their trading strategies. The discussion […]

China Tech, Carbon, and Option Overlays in ETFs? Yep, with James Maund of KraneShares
Today’s episode on The Derivative, Jeff Malec sits down with James Maund, a veteran of the financial industry with experience spanning Goldman Sachs, the NYSE floor, and his current role at KraneShares. Maund provides a unique insider’s perspective on the rapid growth and innovation within the ETF space while outlining KraneShares main investment pillars – […]

Volatility Vultures: Hunting for Options Talent with Gary Selz of Zero Delta
In this episode of the Derivative we chat with Gary Selz @SelzGary, CIO and co-portfolio manager of Zero Delta Funds. Gary shares his background growing up in Chicago and studying electrical engineering at Northwestern University. He discovered options trading through a financial engineering course and was introduced to a Chicago prop trading firm. Gary discusses […]

50 Charts showing the Current State of Volatility, with Jeremie Holdom and Colin Suvak of LongTail Alpha
This episode of The Derivative discusses the current state of Volatility – and how to use those measurements in diversifying investment strategies with Jeremie Holdom and Colin Suvak of LongTail Alpha, an investment firm focused on tail risk hedging. The guests share insights into their work, analyzing volatility across asset classes and constructing customized hedging […]

Miami Hedge Fund week panel 2024 – Commodities: Outlook on Prices, Volatility, and Portfolio Diversification
This packed panel discussion featuring Tim Pickering (Auspice), Brent Belote (Cayler Capital), Gerardo Tarricone (Arion) and Derek Stroke (Equanimity Advisors) focused on commodities as diversifiers and opportunities in commodity trading and investing. Our panelists discussed topics like the reliability of commodities in portfolios, ESG factors, the potential for a commodity supercycle, and educating the next […]

Opportunities in Option Mutual Funds with Russ Kellites
In the ever-evolving world of finance, change is the only constant. Like the shifting tides of the market, options trading has transformed from monthly expirations to weekly and even daily strikes. It’s like going from a leisurely stroll to a thrilling daily marathon in the world of trading. Alongside these shifts, hedging strategies have also […]