Another MFA conference has come and gone, and we can’t help but feel as though this time around was decidedly different from the MFAs of yesteryear. The feel of the event was unique, but not really quantifiable. What were the takeaways?

1. The emergence of new traders from Wall Street proprietary desks. We’ve found a surge in CTAs coming out of the woodwork from Goldman, Citi, Citadel and others as the big boys shift around their investments to dodge regulatory bullets. Time will tell if these types of “quant” traders will make a sizable impact on the industry.
2. A decrease in capital introduction meetings. This conference seemed to be less about introducing investors to traders, and more about CTAs telling the industry about themselves. Why? Really, it’s anyone’s guess, but we believe it has a lot to do with other brokers going the fund route.
3. The emphasis on communication. There seems to be resounding agreement among the industry people we spoke with- we all need to work on communicating what managed futures is, how it works, and why it may be worth it to some to the public at large.
4. The field is full of opportunities. Whether discussing product development, investor interest, or new research pieces, everyone is excited about what’s around the corner in managed futures.
5. Florida’s MFA should be excellent, as well. We know that we’ll be eager to escape the frigid Chicago winter and head south for some sun and shop talk.

Thank you again to all of the managers who took time to speak with us. We look forward to what’s coming next!