Key Takeaways
- • Andrew Beer, founder and managing member of Dynamic Beta Investments, discusses managed futures ETFs as a tool for investors seeking to prepare for market uncertainty and volatility in March 2026.
- • Managed futures strategies are positioned as contrarian positioning mechanisms that employ both long and short positions across multiple asset classes including equities, bonds, commodities, and currencies.
- • Disciplined allocation to managed futures during periods of market calm can position investors to benefit when macro volatility spikes, rather than forcing reactive positioning decisions during market stress.
- • Managed futures trend-following approaches are reframed as "early, contrarian and right" rather than the traditional perception of trend following as "late, consensus and wrong."
- • Managed futures ETFs provide diversification benefits through active management and transparent exposure to futures across liquid markets, offering tactical advantages during surprise market moves.
Summary
Andrew Beer, founder and managing member of Dynamic Beta Investments, joined CNBC's Halftime Report on March 23, 2026, to discuss how managed futures exchange-traded funds can serve as a positioning tool for investors navigating periods of heightened market uncertainty and volatility.
Managed futures ETFs employ actively managed strategies that take both long and short positions across a diverse set of asset classes, including equities, bonds, commodities, and currencies. This multi-asset approach through liquid, transparent futures markets provides investors with exposure to trend-following strategies that have historically demonstrated distinct return patterns from traditional stock-bond portfolios.
A critical theme in the discussion centers on the timing advantage of managed futures positioning. Rather than viewing trend following as reactive or consensus-driven, the analysis reframes these strategies as "early, contrarian and right"—a positioning that appeals to sophisticated allocators who recognize that markets are inherently volatile. The strategic implication is that investors maintaining disciplined allocations to managed futures during periods of relative calm are better positioned to benefit when macro volatility emerges, without forcing tactical decisions during market stress when execution costs and emotional decision-making are highest.
The broader institutional argument emphasizes preparedness: investors who establish managed futures exposure proactively can access diversification and potential hedging benefits across market regimes without requiring reactive rebalancing or entry at peak volatility. This approach acknowledges that while prevailing market conditions may mask underlying volatility risk, having a systematic managed futures allocation in place ahead of uncertainty offers both tactical flexibility and strategic discipline.
Managed futures ETFs employ actively managed strategies that take both long and short positions across a diverse set of asset classes, including equities, bonds, commodities, and currencies. This multi-asset approach through liquid, transparent futures markets provides investors with exposure to trend-following strategies that have historically demonstrated distinct return patterns from traditional stock-bond portfolios.
A critical theme in the discussion centers on the timing advantage of managed futures positioning. Rather than viewing trend following as reactive or consensus-driven, the analysis reframes these strategies as "early, contrarian and right"—a positioning that appeals to sophisticated allocators who recognize that markets are inherently volatile. The strategic implication is that investors maintaining disciplined allocations to managed futures during periods of relative calm are better positioned to benefit when macro volatility emerges, without forcing tactical decisions during market stress when execution costs and emotional decision-making are highest.
The broader institutional argument emphasizes preparedness: investors who establish managed futures exposure proactively can access diversification and potential hedging benefits across market regimes without requiring reactive rebalancing or entry at peak volatility. This approach acknowledges that while prevailing market conditions may mask underlying volatility risk, having a systematic managed futures allocation in place ahead of uncertainty offers both tactical flexibility and strategic discipline.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.