Tag: Risk Management

Thematic Investors: Titan Advisors on Maintaining Focus to Build Resilient Portfolios

Thematic Investors: Titan Advisors on Maintaining Focus to Build Resilient Portfolios

The early days of hedge funds can be described as somewhat akin to the Wild West, characterized by limited information flow, higher volatility, and the risk of losing focus that could easily derail any performance gains made. Today, the industry is run more efficiently with improved information flows and regulatory oversight, which cuts down on the “nefarious characters” that have existed in the past.  

In this latest episode of the Thematic Investors podcast, host Kieran Cavanna, welcomes George Fox, Principal & President, Titan Advisors, LLC, to discuss his career and how removing your ego and hubris from running a hedge fund business is a great first step toward success.

Additional highlights from this discussion include:

  • How did an early career in commodities lead to George building Titan Advisors?
  • Why is focus key when creating a diversified portfolio that will become a volatility dampener versus a volatility enhancer?
  • How does George and his team look at the “block and tackling” approach on risk and the stewardship of capital from allocators like pensions, sovereign wealth funds, hospital foundations, and insurance companies?
  • Why do poor liquidity promises and allowing larger style drifts impact fund managers to such a large degree? Should hedge fund managers be more concerned with principles of how to run a business first?
  • Does George agree with some of the emerging market theories that Rob Citrone expressed in the last episode of Thematic Investors?
  • How the game of golf can be used to temper your expectations in running a hedge fund business.
  • What prompted the launch of Esker Point Advisers and the team’s greater focus on commodities?
  • And more.

Titan Disclaimer:
All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are unique, provided as of the date of this interview and do not necessarily reflect those Titan Advisors, LLC or its affiliates.  The statements and opinions contained herein may change at any time, based on market or other conditions. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.  This podcast is not intended to constitute investment advice; nor does it constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security, investment product, or service. No recommendation or advise is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. This podcast may contain forward-looking statements.  There is no representation, warranty, guarantee, or other assurance whatsoever that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding any investment decision.

Connect with Kieran Cavanna: 

Connect with George Fox:

About George Fox:

George Fox has been investing in hedge funds for over 30 years and leads Titan Advisors as its President. He is responsible for Titan’s business development efforts and actively engages in the firm’s research and portfolio management process as a member of the Investment Committee. George entered the New York financial markets in 1984 as a floor trader at the Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange and at Commodity Exchange Inc., where he traded for his own account for seven years. In 1992, he created G. Fox & Co., a hedge fund advisory firm and the predecessor to Titan Advisors.  In December 2000, after years of commodities trading and advising investors on hedge fund allocations, George Fox launched Titan Advisors, LLC.  George graduated with a B.A. from Tulane University in 1981 and earned a law degree from the University of Richmond (VA) in 1984.

Thematic Investors: Sio Capital on Balancing Success and Catalysts in Healthcare Investing

Thematic Investors: Sio Capital on Balancing Success and Catalysts in Healthcare Investing

Investing in healthcare and biotech requires razor-sharp models, especially if you want to create more opportunities in this category through short selling. In today’s market, how can investors capitalize on short opportunities when AI, external Medicare Service pressure, policy regulation, and other factors are impacting healthcare investment targets and potentially derailing performance returns?

In our latest episode of the Thematic Investors podcast, we sit down with one of the great under-the-radar investors who has taken $3MM in AUM and has built it into a $1 BN firm. Join us in welcoming Dr. Michael Castor, CIO and Portfolio Manager, Sio Capital Management. Kieran and Michael discuss:

  • What exactly turned him from an ENT resident into a career in finance.
  • How the short-selling models at SIO Capital Management take a deep look at 4 critical aspects in the investment journey: Valuation, Catalysts, Sentiment, and Investment Narrative.
  • Do Biotech investment targets simply go bankrupt, with investors holding the bag for returns that never materialize? Or is something else going on across the sector.
  • With 17% of the U.S. GDP and 10% global GDP, where is healthcare headed, and what type of external forces are at play in driving efficiency?
  • How will the U.S. administration balance drug prices, especially those that are significantly in the spotlight today like, Manjaro, Ozempic, and others?
  • Has the bar on scientific assessment been lowered too far over the last few years, and can the drag on the healthcare system be reversed at this stage?
  • The impact of AI and how new doctors will need to adjust their approaches in the next 5-10 years.
  • and more.

Connect with Michael Castor:

Connect with Kieran Cavanna: 

About Our Guest:

Michael founded Sio Capital Management in 2006 and has served as the portfolio manager since the Firm’s inception. Before starting Sio, Michael worked at Bernstein Investment Research and Management from October 2001 to February 2006 as Bernstein’s healthcare analyst. Michael was responsible for covering all sectors of healthcare globally. In addition to evaluating long investments, he identified healthcare short investments for several of Bernstein’s hedge funds. When Bernstein launched sector portfolios (an internal Bernstein product launched in 2003), Michael served as the healthcare sector leader.

Prior to Bernstein, Michael worked in the investment banking/equity capital markets division of JP Morgan, where he focused on biotechnology and healthcare equity offerings.

Before entering finance, Michael spent three years in clinical medicine. He completed his surgery internship at Indiana University Medical Center, followed by two years of surgery and otolaryngology residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. Michael earned a MD from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he graduated summa cum laude. He earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Tulane University where he graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors.