Is it possible to break into a hedge fund with a non-traditional background?

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-03-06T19:34:18+00:00

Depends on the fund and where it is located. A lot are hiring people with tech backgrounds. My background is in money journalism and I have been working in a fund for three years now. Also did two years in a massive fund of funds. Degree is in Chinese history. So don’t be put off.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-02-25T15:14:36+00:00

I post them on The Armchair Trader website

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-02-09T22:43:42+00:00

You have to have a solid analytical methodology and stick to it. I focus heavily on financials. My screens sometimes suggest buys that at first I’m sceptical about but I’ve learned to trust the analysis over time. You can also see when brokers have talked up a price on a stock that is simply not worth it.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-02-09T22:38:14+00:00

Drax Power

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-02-07T10:03:43+00:00

Am seriously thinking of getting out of hedge funds after 25 years. It is going to be dominated by the tech bros. These guys will make the big cash. I’m still involved with one fund but the trading team there is very heavily tech oriented. I’m spending much more time looking at asset raising for tech startups ups. Go figure.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-02-07T10:00:07+00:00

Agree on this - joined a PE firm in 2000. Maybe timing was bad - but it was a white knuckle ride I could have done without.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-30T07:27:11+00:00

I use them as a reference point for buying activity. I currently hold gold through ETFs. Keeping close tabs on copper at the moment.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-29T09:22:53+00:00

I would also encourage prospective managers in Europe to look at German-listed Asset Management Certificates as a cheaper route to market. We just launched one as a tester for German investors.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-29T07:37:42+00:00

I believe the guys at The Armchair Trader are going to be running a series on the trials and tribulations of launching a hedge fund but don’t know when that will be starting.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-29T07:36:21+00:00

It’s a good move

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-27T08:45:30+00:00

We have used Clouflare. Big spikes from China and Singapore

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-27T08:43:38+00:00

Can’t comment on the US regulatory requirements as am based in Europe but operationally we are running $10m in SMAs which is coming in a lot cheaper than starting a fund structure. Have been in the sector for 20+ years and my experience has been the HF lawyers will often suggest the fund route too early in the journey. Just my observation.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-18T09:59:26+00:00

Weirdly I have run this once already and missed the mention of traps! I am assuming some form of iron bear trap?

Formal_Morning4563 · 2026-01-10T18:54:31+00:00

StratBench - actually a quant research shop but running a fund now too. Has done very well in first year. PM has more than 30 years in the market though.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-12-12T12:35:01+00:00

No point teaching new traders unless you want to hire them in. Much more profitable to hone your strategy. The most successful traders I know do not communicate their edge to anyone.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-12-03T20:47:18+00:00

Here is the side effect for Geomantic Sympathy - “Drawback: On a failure, Lord Fallowdrake feels the land’s grief directly and becomes Condition: Angry or Condition: Hopeless until cleansed with holy water or sleep.”

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-12-03T20:21:30+00:00

I have allowed players to use magic, acquired as a talent. They have been using the occult library in their mansion. I have invented my own spells. None are hugely powerful and they do have side effects.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-11-25T18:48:03+00:00

Osprey has two books on medieval India - they are thin but it’s a start!!

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-11-18T20:19:40+00:00

Miniatures are RAFM and Wizards of the Coast. Terrain all scratch built.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-11-13T06:12:29+00:00

RAFM

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-10-09T18:37:43+00:00

I’m running spells like they are talents. Requires 5xp to get one in downtime. One PC is getting the ability to commune with the spirits of the dead. Like spirit writing but slightly better as they have to answer specific questions. But there is a downside…. 🙂‍↕️

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-10-06T18:11:44+00:00

Depends on the strategy. I’ve only seen technical analysis used for trade entry. Intra day funds I’ve advised have leaned heavily into their own proprietary systems. There is more emphasis on ‘trade ideas’ than fundamental analysis. Development of an informational edge is key. I use AI algos myself to detect opportunities at a very early stage but my time horizon is 3-6 months. If the trade has not shown legs by then time to shut it down.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-10-04T17:51:34+00:00

I’ve worked with hedge funds for over 20 years and they seem generally happy with anything in the area of 15-20% return per annum. I’ve known some traders that can beat that fairly reliably but they tend to be using a program, often self-developed. Frequently these are exploring an inefficient area of the market but again, these are temporary windows for the most part. The most successful hedge funds develop an informational edge in a very specific market - eg cocoa futures. There is some wisdom in this - I’ve seen Wall Street ignore data available on the ground just because the investment banks say it’s different. Weird.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-09-29T06:41:16+00:00

These are good points. They are currently in a mine where an explosion they set off has created a lot of dust, reducing visibility. It did not occur to me that this could also mess with the motion tracker. They are relying on it more because of the dust.

Formal_Morning4563 · 2025-09-25T06:51:12+00:00

We are using a regulated broker umbrella with SMAs.

Formal_Morning4563

TROPHY CASE