SI329: CTAs: Innovation Meets Legacy & the BlackRock Effect ft. Andrew Beer & Tom Wrobel

Together with Andrew Beer and Tom Wrobel, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of managed futures and CTAs, highlighting the critical need for a narrative shift to better communicate their value to investors. Andrew and Tom discuss the challenges faced by allocators in understanding the unique benefits of trend-following strategies, especially amidst a backdrop of changing market dynamics. They explore the implications of BlackRock's recent move to launch an actively managed manager ETF, which could significantly impact how managed futures are perceived and allocated within investment portfolios. The conversation also touches on the potential for new ESG-compliant products that could attract investors reluctant to engage with traditional commodity exposure. With insights into the current market environment and the importance of adaptability, this episode provides valuable perspectives for anyone interested in systematic investing and the future of CTAs.

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Episode TimeStamps:

01:20 - Our expectations going into 2025

07:00 - What to do when bonds are collapsing

10:21 - Industry performance update

11:49 - A deep dive into indices

17:36 - The mechanisms behind creating an index

23:13 - What returns can you expect from a CTA replication index?

27:21 - What are the average fees in today's indices?

30:31 - The benefits of replication

34:04 - The drivers of replication strategies

40:50 - How CTA replicators handle inflection points

43:11 - What happens to an index if its underlying model changes

50:21 - Do trend followers in general make big changes to their models?

52:30 - How the AUM landscape has evolved

57:06 - Can you replicate a pod shop?

01:03:02 - Why many allocators are missing out on trend following

01:11:57 - What is going on with Blackrock?

01:15:29 - Big news from Andrew

01:21:05 - The challenges of complying with ESG metrics

01:23:58 - It's all about the narrative

01:26:48 - What is up for next week?

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