Key Takeaways
- • Simplify Asset Management launched the Simplify US Equity PLUS Managed Futures Strategy ETF (CTAP), listed on NYSE Arca as of December 8, 2025, with a total expense ratio of 0.28%.
- • CTAP combines 100% exposure to large-cap US equities with 100% exposure to a systematic long/short managed futures strategy developed by Altis Partners, targeting long-term capital appreciation with capital-efficient positioning.
- • The ETF structure delivers dual portfolio exposure—equity and managed futures—enabling investors to access systematic trend-based strategies in futures contracts (equities, US Treasuries, commodities, and foreign exchange) alongside traditional equity holdings.
- • The strategy aims to provide portfolio diversification and absolute return potential by capturing economic benefits from price trends across multiple asset classes while maintaining systematic risk management.
Summary
Simplify Asset Management, a registered investment adviser, has introduced a novel ETF structure designed to appeal to institutional and sophisticated investors seeking integrated equity and alternative strategy exposure. The Simplify US Equity PLUS Managed Futures Strategy ETF (CTAP) began trading on NYSE Arca on December 8, 2025, and carries a competitive total expense ratio of 0.28%, positioning it favorably within the managed futures ETF category.
The fund's core innovation lies in its dual-exposure architecture: CTAP simultaneously maintains 100% exposure to large-cap US equities while providing 100% exposure to a systematic managed futures strategy developed by Altis Partners. This structure is capital-efficient, allowing investors to gain leveraged exposure to both traditional equities and alternative strategies without proportional increases in capital deployment. The managed futures component employs a long/short methodology designed to operate systematically across multiple asset classes, including equity futures, US Treasury futures, commodity futures, and foreign exchange futures contracts.
The investment objective centers on long-term capital appreciation through trend-following mechanics in futures markets. Under normal market conditions, the managed futures strategy seeks to identify and capitalize on price momentum and trend changes across the underlying futures contracts. This approach is intended to provide diversification benefits relative to traditional equity-only portfolios and generate absolute returns during both bullish and bearish equity environments, a characteristic that differentiates managed futures strategies from conventional equity indices.
The launch reflects broader institutional adoption of systematic alternative strategies within traditional ETF wrappers, addressing investor demand for capital-efficient access to managed futures without K-1 tax reporting complexity or substantial minimum investment requirements. By pairing passive large-cap equity exposure with active managed futures positioning, CTAP targets investors seeking enhanced diversification, risk management, and return generation across market cycles.
The fund's core innovation lies in its dual-exposure architecture: CTAP simultaneously maintains 100% exposure to large-cap US equities while providing 100% exposure to a systematic managed futures strategy developed by Altis Partners. This structure is capital-efficient, allowing investors to gain leveraged exposure to both traditional equities and alternative strategies without proportional increases in capital deployment. The managed futures component employs a long/short methodology designed to operate systematically across multiple asset classes, including equity futures, US Treasury futures, commodity futures, and foreign exchange futures contracts.
The investment objective centers on long-term capital appreciation through trend-following mechanics in futures markets. Under normal market conditions, the managed futures strategy seeks to identify and capitalize on price momentum and trend changes across the underlying futures contracts. This approach is intended to provide diversification benefits relative to traditional equity-only portfolios and generate absolute returns during both bullish and bearish equity environments, a characteristic that differentiates managed futures strategies from conventional equity indices.
The launch reflects broader institutional adoption of systematic alternative strategies within traditional ETF wrappers, addressing investor demand for capital-efficient access to managed futures without K-1 tax reporting complexity or substantial minimum investment requirements. By pairing passive large-cap equity exposure with active managed futures positioning, CTAP targets investors seeking enhanced diversification, risk management, and return generation across market cycles.
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.