The Derivative - Signing Off for 2025: The Derivative Returns in January!
Episode Date: December 11, 2025Join 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, bu...t we’ll be back with fresh conversations and a stacked guest lineup in January. SEND IT!Episode favs from 2026:Sal MerconglianoSolo Summer Six-packHarold De BoerGrant JaffarianPeter MadsenDon'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
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Hello there.
All right, everybody.
Welcome to a very short episode of the derivative.
Usually right about now, I'd be introducing a guest that's smarter me to talk about
volatility or trend following or why the market is acting like a cocaine bear or something.
But today, it's just me.
We are closing the books on another year, another successful season of the pod.
And before we shut down the terminals and head out to argue with the relatives about windmills
first wind turbines, which is a pet peeve of mine, I wanted to first and foremost say thank you.
Whether you're a longtime listener who's been with us since the early days or just stumbled
onto the pod because you Googled Convexie or something and got lost, we appreciate you.
We know your time is the most valuable asset in your personal portfolio and the fact you choose
to spend an hour or so of it with me every week means the world to me and the whole team here.
So thanks again. It's been a wild year in the markets. We had the
tear of tantrum, the April mess, which looked like we were headed for a big, nasty move down,
only for that sharp rebound. That took trend to the Woodhouse a little bit. We saw a
vall crush, and we've seen rates move quite a bit. Through it all, had some incredible conversations.
Some of my favorites, I was looking back through the feed to find some of my favorites.
Let's start with the recent one, if you missed it. Please go back, listen to the Wreck of the Edmund
Fitzgerald episode with Maritime Professor Sal. I can't pronounce his last name. You have to listen to the
episode. But we talk about the song and the infamous ship that sank, but also Sal had a wealth of
info on the shipping industry and what drives maritime trade. So that was an interesting talk,
a little bit different. As for the ones you guys liked, the solo pot I did, just going through
a six pack of my own thoughts. That got great feedback. It's a little terrifying to talk to yourself
for an hour without someone there to bail you out. But it gave me a chance to really drill down
into what's rattling around up in this head. I mean, just some of it. If I gave you the full
rattle. It would be a little scary, but you got six of them, six of the 600 in there. Then we had
the heavy hitters. We had Harold DeBoer from Trans Trend. He's a legend in the space. So that was
fun to have him up there and just listen to his way his mind works getting, regarding systems
and philosophy of trading and whatnot. Speaking of Trend, Grant Jafarian came on to talk about
whether Trend following is dying, which we always like to get into that myth, although he had some
stats, perhaps supporting that at least its sharper ratio is going down historically.
So that was an interesting one.
And I have to give a shout out to the very first episode of the year.
We kick things off with Peter Madsen from the Utah School and Institutional Trust Funds
Office, Sitfo, they call themselves.
But super interesting story there, how Teddy Roosevelt had set a bunch of land and money
aside for all the Western states that now has to be run by someone.
So Peter's doing the dirty work there of running the state of Utah's money.
It was really interesting to hear how an allocator at that scale thinks about protecting and growing a portfolio.
So if you need something to listen to while you're traveling or hiding from your in-laws, go back, scroll back, hit play on one of those.
Now for little housekeeping, the team and I are taking a little break, officially off for the holidays.
We're going to recharge, maybe drink a little eggnog.
Definitely stop staring at the VIX and Trend following for a few weeks.
so plan is to be back with a new episode in mid-January so we're busy at work getting a killer
slate of guests for the new years so thanks again happy new year and we'll see it in the new
year peace
