The AlphaMind Podcast - #117: Susquehanna's Todd Simkin: Great Traders Are Made, Not Born

#117: Susquehanna's Todd Simkin: Great Traders Are Made, Not Born

10/01/23 • 84 min

Susquehanna International Group (SIG) is renowned as one of the world’s leading global proprietary trading firms, highly esteemed for its entrepreneurial ethos and meticulous analytical decision-making processes. Founded with a mindset rooted in entrepreneurship, SIG engages in trading various listed financial products and asset classes across the globe on a daily basis. The company attracts top-tier talent, employing both quantitative and discretionary approaches to maintain its position at the forefront of the industry.
They combine a profound understanding of specialized markets and traded products with a rigorous decision-making methodology grounded in probabilistic thinking, game theory, and a keen focus on signal detection and low-latency performance. This approach solidifies SIG's commitment to maintaining their eminent standing in the trading world.
In this episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Todd Simkin, currently the CEO of their Re-insurance business and a veteran at Susquehanna since 1997. Todd has played pivotal roles within the company, from being a trader to overseeing the day-to-day operations and even spearheading firm-wide education and trader development programmes.
Todd is possibly one of the pre-eminent minds in the world of trading, possessing a deep understanding of what contributes to the making of great traders. We were honoured that he was willing to converse with us and share with our audience some of his reflections and insights into what goes into the creation of successful traders.

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Previous Episode

#116 Jonny Matthews: Ex Hedge Fund Trader - Lessons From a Lifetime at Trading's Top-Table

In today's episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Jonny Matthews, a true luminary in the finance industry boasting an impressive 28-year track record. Jonny's journey commenced during the legendary 'Liar's Poker' era at Salomon Brothers.

Jonny later ascended to prominence as a Portfolio Manager, adeptly overseeing up to $500 million in assets at the renowned hedge fund Brevan Howard. Before his tenure at Brevan Howard, Jonny honed his craft at Citibank, where he mastered equity derivatives trading , ultimately ascending to the role of Managing Director and leading a substantial trading team.

Remarkably, Jonny remains an active trader today, driven by his unwavering focus on macroeconomic trends and their profound influence on the markets.

In addition to his illustrious career, Jonny shares his profound market wisdom through his widely acclaimed newsletter, presently known as "Macroscope," soon to be rebranded as "Super Macro."

Join us as we embark on Jonny Matthews' extraordinary journey, gaining exclusive insights into the dynamic world of markets, trading, and the rollercoaster ride that is an integral part of a trader's life at the pinnacle of the financial world.

You can follow Jonny on his twitter feed @supermacro

Next Episode

#118 Adam Birkett – Global Trading Lead Cargill OT: The Power of Non-Attachment

In this insightful episode, we sat down with Adam Birkett, the Global Trading Lead at Cargill Ocean Transportation division, which trades physical and derivative cargo, freight, and shipping products globally across all major markets, to delve into the profound concept of "The Power of Non-Attachment in Trading."
Adam has spent nearly his entire career at Cargill Ocean Transportation. He has been a trader, led a major trading team, worked in Risk Management, and then transitioned to becoming the lead for the trading side of the business, overseeing over 80 traders across multiple centres worldwide.
At the core of our conversation lies a fundamental principle: the ability of traders to distance themselves from ego-driven impulses and negative outcomes while making critical decisions amidst market turbulence. Adam eloquently describes how seasoned traders master the art of non-attachment, disentangling their identities from their trading activities, whilst also candidly acknowledging how challenging this is to do and sustain in real-time.
Adam discusses how, by detaching from ego-based desires and fears of negative outcomes, traders can achieve greater mental clarity and emotional equilibrium. This enables them to navigate the unpredictable waters of the market with a calmer, more rational mindset. Adam emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's trading process and not succumbing to impulsive reactions to market fluctuations and unfavourable outcomes.
In this enlightening chat, Adam illustrates his views with real-world examples from his extensive experience, speaks candidly about his own humbling episodes in his career, and shares some insights into the work they do at Cargill to aid better decision-making and performance across their highly successful business.