Tracking CTAs since 1994
CTA Profiles
Tracking CTAs since 1994
Principal(s): Lawrence J. Abrams
Strategy: Multi-Strategy / Diversified
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The Ionic Strategy is a "Whole Portfolio" multi-strategy concept. It is composed of 3 components: Long Equity Index Futures (such as SP500 and Nasdaq100), Long Fixed Income Futures (such as 30 yr. US Treasury Bonds), and the ARCM Diversified Momentum Component (described below). The Ionic Strategy's purpose is to deliver the aggregate return/risk of a diversified Core Holdings Investment Strategy AND an Alternative Managed Futures Strategy within a single futures-based account.
Given the negative correlation between the equity markets and both the bond and the ARCM Diversified Momentum Component, historical market data and trading history has shown that when one of the components is in a drawdown, the others are not. Additionally, testing and history show that the ARCM Diversified Moment Component adds crisis alpha to the portfolio given that it has peak performance when equities are suffering large losses. The program is thus designed to produce higher returns and lower drawdowns than any of the single components over time.
Through the ARCM Diversified Momentum Component, the Strategy uses a systematic, quantitative approach, to trade and strictly manage risk across a current universe of 31 futures contracts in 9 market sectors (Financial Instruments - Govt. Securities, Foreign Currencies, Stock Indexes, Crypto (Futures), Grains, Metals, Energies, Meats, and Soft Commodities). All traded markets have significant volume and liquidity and are traded on major regulated Futures Exchanges.
The Ionic Strategy derives its name from the principle of Ionic Bonding in Chemistry. At a high level, Ionic Bonding occurs when 2 opposite elements interact and bond together to form a new more stable element. An example is Sodium Chloride (NaCl) which is made up of Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl). By themselves, both sodium and chlorine are strong and powerful elements, however, both are toxic if consumed by humans. When they are combined, the Ionic Bond takes place and they become NaCl, commonly known as table salt, an element that is safe and essential to the human body. The Ionic Strategy is similar to the chemical analogy in that the equity and bonds are very powerful but the occasional, significant drawdowns can make them toxic to a portfolio. Likewise, the ARCM Diversified Momentum Component is designed for considerable power, but again, significant drawdowns can occur. Given the negative correlation that exists between equities and both the bonds and the ARCM Diversified Components, combining these three products forms the Ionic Strategy, which should take advantage of the powerful underlying components while producing lower drawdowns than the individual components.
Details of the ARCM Diversified Momentum Component of the Ionic Strategy:
The heart of the Diversified Momentum Component has been derived from Mr. Abrams's experience and knowledge of Time Series Momentum and Cycle Identification. ARCM utilizes proprietary analysis to measure and ultimately act upon changes in price behavior driven by fundamental, technical, and discretionary shifts in supply and demand balance. Markets tend to make large extended moves when there is a shift in the supply/demand equilibrium. In short, the Diversified Momentum Component is designed to take advantage of what ARCM believes are rhythms and rhymes created within individual derivatives markets. Algorithms are in place that dynamically identify these situations and opportunistically take advantage of them using a measured and risk-managed methodology.
Proprietary algorithms have been developed that drive the strategy, using a blend of standard and proprietary indicators, filters, and rules. As a direct result of Mr. Abrams's extensive options experience, several proprietary filters derive much of their value by unique metrics from options data even though options are not traded in the strategy.
ARCM algorithms constantly monitor all 31 markets to:
Risk Management is the most important factor in our decision-making process. Our algorithms monitor and strictly manage the risk of individual trades, sector risk and overall account position.
Lawrence Abrams (Principal) has over 30 years of experience as a Futures and Options trader and broker. He has successfully traded through periods of drought, market crashes, natural and man-made disasters, clearing firm defaults, sweeping regulatory reforms, and more than a dozen so-called "Black Swan" events. Abrams' ability to prosper during tumultuous market periods is what ultimately inspired him to create ARCM.
Mr. Abrams was a partner of Cooper Neff, one of the nation's leading options market-making and technology innovation groups. The firm created many of the pricing and risk assessment tools that are still used by the derivatives industry decades later. Mr. Abrams was instrumental in significantly expanding the firm's footprint on The Philadelphia Stock Exchange, The Kansas City Board of Trade, Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).
After his division of Cooper Neff was acquired by a major Japanese Bank, Mr. Abrams formed his own trading firm, which operated from the CBOT trading floor. In the crucible of pit trading, Mr. Abrams developed many proprietary indicators, unique market analysis tools, and a range of risk management protocols to identify, trade, and manage trading opportunities. Abrams was a prominent "top-step" trader and market maker in the Soybean Options and Futures Pits at the CBOT and was elected to serve terms as a member of the Soybean Options Pit Committee. He was also nominated as a member and Vice-Chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade COM Committee (representing all options traders and options products at the CBOT).
Upon retiring from the trading floor in Chicago in 2015, he devoted the next 4 years of his time extensively researching, testing, and refining the managed futures strategies which underpin ARCM's trading models.
Mr. Abrams is a graduate of Boston University holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Additionally, he is actively involved with Open Heart Magic, a Chicago-based non-profit organization, training and providing opportunities for volunteer magicians to bring laughter, hope, and strength to sick children and their families at their hospital bedsides.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ROR | Max DD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.11% | -1.36% | -2.52% | -1.82% | -3.85% | |||||||||
| 2024 | -0.20% | 3.89% | 0.58% | 4.93% | -1.44% | 3.83% | 1.62% | 1.54% | 0.43% | -3.80% | 5.43% | -4.19% | 12.76% | -4.19% |
| 2023 | 1.45% | -2.11% | -2.04% | 1.22% | -1.62% | 2.05% | 1.84% | -3.32% | -1.53% | -3.47% | 4.24% | 4.06% | 0.36% | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 2.28% | 3.83% | 5.42% | 0.37% | -1.79% | -2.36% | 2.54% | -3.87% | -1.92% | -2.48% | -0.87% | -3.61% | -2.93% | -13.61% |
| 2021 | -0.70% | 5.09% | 1.36% | 8.09% | 2.21% | 1.34% | 1.27% | 1.92% | -0.75% | 3.60% | -0.88% | -1.04% | 23.28% | -1.91% |
| 2020 | 3.03% | -0.01% | 1.40% | 5.19% | 0.89% | 0.73% | 3.80% | 0.11% | -2.88% | -0.59% | 4.28% | 6.00% | 23.84% | -3.45% |
| 2019 | -0.21% | 1.55% | -5.52% | -3.36% | 3.85% | 1.96% | -2.03% | -8.69% | ||||||
| Years | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | -2.03% | 23.84% | 23.28% | -2.93% | 0.36% | 12.76% |
| Max DD | -8.69% | -3.45% | -1.91% | -13.61% | -8.80% | -4.19% |
| Years | 2025 YTD |
|---|---|
| ROR | -1.82% |
| Max DD | -3.85% |
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.
