Tracking CTAs since 1994
CTA Profiles
Tracking CTAs since 1994
Principal(s): Sam Beckers & Dario Michalek
Strategy: Multi-Strategy / Multi-Time Frame / S&P 500
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Soaring Pelican is short term systematic manager. Samuel Beckers and Dario Michalek bring a combined trading experience of over 45 years to the program utilizing proprietary pattern recognition and statistical analysis methods unique to their research. The Blended Advantage Program employs a multi-strategy multi-timeframe approach designed to capture both intraday and overnight movements in the S&P-500. This combination is designed to reduce the volatility of returns and maximize trading opportunities in diverse market environments. Primary to our process is the goal of creating a smooth and steady equity curve with no surprises to clients. We achieve this using profit protection and risk management techniques. Additionally, we have found that by incorporating a variety of non-correlated methods a more robust end result is achievable. We believe that our Blended Advantage Program is our best expression of this ideal.
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Samuel Beckers, CEO, was introduced to trading the financial markets during the dot-com boom in San Francisco in the late 1990's. His mentors were seasoned hedge fund managers that guided his growth and emphasized certain key elements of success. In a short period of time, financial markets experienced unprecedented volatility that educated Mr. Beckers in a variety of market conditions.
Sam began to research liquid markets for short term trading, searching for a consistent, profitable trading advantage. By 2005, observations in his research had led to a fundamental breakthrough which changed the way he viewed markets. Primarily this breakthrough involved looking at account growth from a "risk first" perspective. A year later, he began managing a limited partnership which capitalized on risk management and a unique proprietary trading methodology.
Further refinement and evolution of the methodology naturally led to the futures market and the establishment of the Diversified S&P Program in January, 2011. The program continues to operate after many years using the original concepts, which have repeatedly proven themselves over time.
Mr. Beckers is a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA), holds a Series 7 designation, and holds a BA in International Business from San Diego State University in California. His passions include all ocean related activities, musical endeavors, spending time with his wife and 2 children, and enjoying the natural beauty of home on Vancouver Island in Canada.
Dario Michalek, CIO is partner and Chief Investment Officer of Soaring Pelican and has approximately twenty years investing experience in stock, options and futures markets and has developed multiple trading strategies based on extensive market behavioral research. He formed Neptune Investing in 2005 and managed client accounts until joining forces with Soaring Pelican in June 2019.
From November 2002 to May 2007 he served as head analyst for Vision Investing Group, LLC a financial newsletter publisher that provides trading education, training and research. Mr. Michalek prepared in-depth analysis reports on S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 stocks for individual and institutional clients. From August 1999 until October 2002 Mr. Michalek was employed by Mapleton Capital Management, LLC a company that developed trading strategies and conducted trade research. Mr. Michalek was hired to perform research on trading systems and tested thousands of ideas both with computers and manually.
Mr. Michalek resides in Utah with his wife Lori and their six children. He is an avid chess player and a practitioner of the Martial Arts. When he is not trading or doing research he enjoys spending time with his family and working out.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ROR | Max DD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.91% | -2.44% | 1.41% | -0.16% | -2.44% | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2.43% | 0.69% | 1.44% | 0.14% | 5.91% | -0.30% | 1.63% | -1.54% | 2.44% | -1.43% | -1.30% | 1.29% | 11.75% | -2.71% |
| 2023 | 3.16% | -2.77% | -0.75% | 1.14% | 2.42% | 3.66% | 0.67% | -0.54% | -0.81% | -2.06% | 0.36% | 1.36% | 5.77% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 2.01% | 1.10% | -1.17% | 1.77% | 3.66% | -0.65% | -0.35% | 3.17% | 0.37% | -4.40% | 4.91% | -0.18% | 10.36% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 0.03% | 3.82% | 3.00% | -6.68% | 5.14% | -2.43% | -0.21% | 2.19% | -6.68% | |||||
| Years | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | 2.19% | 10.36% | 5.77% | 11.75% | -0.16% |
| Max DD | -6.68% | -4.40% | -3.50% | -2.71% | -2.44% |
PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE SUCCESS. IN SOME CASES MANAGED ACCOUNTS ARE CHARGED SUBSTANTIAL COMMISSIONS AND ADVISORY FEES. THOSE ACCOUNTS SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES, MAY NEED TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS JUST TO AVOID DEPLETION OF THEIR ASSETS. EACH COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR ("CTA") IS REQUIRED BY THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION ("CFTC") TO ISSUE TO PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS A RISK DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT OUTLINING THESE FEES, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND OTHER ASSOCIATED RISKS. A HARD COPY OF THESE RISK DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE BY CLICKING ON EACH CTA'S "REQUEST DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT" BUTTON.
THE FULL RISK OF COMMODITY FUTURES, OPTIONS AND FOREX TRADING CAN NOT BE ADDRESSED IN THIS RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. NO CONSIDERATION TO INVEST SHOULD BE MADE WITHOUT THOROUGHLY READING THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT OF EACH OF THE CTAS IN WHICH YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST. REQUESTING A DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT PLACES YOU UNDER NO OBLIGATION AND EACH DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED AT NO COST. THE CFTC HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS NOR ON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS. OTHER DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED TO YOU BEFORE AN ACCOUNT MAY BE OPENED FOR YOU.
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS SHOULD NOT BASE THEIR DECISION ON INVESTING IN THIS TRADING PROGRAM SOLELY ON THE PAST PERFORMANCE PRESENTED. ADDITIONALLY, IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS MUST ALSO RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE PERSON OR ENTITY MAKING THE TRADING DECISIONS AND THE TERMS OF THE ADVISORY AGREEMENT INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED.
AUTUMN GOLD CTA INDEXES ARE NON-INVESTABLE INDEXES COMPRISED OF THE CLIENT PERFORMANCE OF CTA PROGRAMS INCLUDED IN THE AUTUMN GOLD DATABASE AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE COMPLETE UNIVERSE OF CTAS. INVESTORS SHOULD NOTE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO INVEST IN THESE INDEXES.
