SI403: Trend Following in an Era of Geopolitical Risk ft. Marat Molyboga & Katy Kaminski

Geopolitical tensions, inflation shocks, and shifting market regimes are reshaping the investment landscape. Marat Molyboga and Katy Kaminski joins us to explore why managed futures have historically performed well during periods of geopolitical stress and why investors often misunderstand the role of crisis alpha in a portfolio. The conversation examines inflation driven market disruptions, diversification, short term versus long term trend following, portfolio construction, and the behavioural mistakes that prevent many investors from capturing the full benefits of trend strategies. It is a wide ranging discussion about risk, uncertainty, and adapting to a changing world.
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Episode TimeStamps:
00:00 - Introduction and welcome to the Systematic Investor series
01:13 - Marat Molyboga's background and Efficient Capital's investment philosophy
05:29 - World Cup excitement, soccer stories, and thoughts beyond markets
11:36 - AI, market concentration, energy trends, and major macro headlines
15:16 - Trend following performance review and key market drivers in 2026
23:36 - Understanding crisis alpha and the role of managed futures in portfolios
33:24 - Diversification, portfolio construction, and avoiding investor mistakes
44:08 - Geopolitical risk research and its connection to inflation
53:01 - Why managed futures have historically benefited from geopolitical uncertainty
59:01 - Commodities, inflation shocks, and the mechanics behind crisis alpha
01:06:47 - The case for short term trend following and execution challenges
01:20:31 - Final thoughts and lessons for navigating an uncertain investment landscape
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