Savouring the Trend
Savouring the Trend is a periodic publication where we sit down with some of the most interesting minds in systematic trading—over a long lunch and a good bottle of wine. Inspired by Lunch with the FT, each edition captures a relaxed, in-depth conversation that goes beyond performance metrics and dives into process, philosophy, and the personal stories behind the systems.
There are no charts, no slides, and no filters. Just honest dialogue about what it takes to survive and thrive in the world of trend following. Whether it’s a billion-dollar CTA or a solo trader quietly compounding, our goal is to uncover the conviction and character that define long-term success.
In each edition, we share a new experience from a different location around the world—highlighting the global reach and diversity of trend following today. Expect insights, ideas, a few laughs, and maybe even a wine recommendation or two.
Welcome to Savouring the Trend—where markets meet menus, and conviction is always on the table.
Savouring the Trend — An Evening with Niels Kaastrup-Larsen at Ristorante Bindella, Zurich
In this edition of Savouring the Trend, Adam Havryliv and Richard Brennan traveled to Zurich to dine with Niels Kaastrup-Larsen at Ristorante Bindella, a refined Italian institution that mirrors the Swiss city’s quiet competence. Over prosciutto, burrata, and perfectly prepared scaloppine, the conversation explored Kaastrup-Larsen’s dual contributions to systematic trading: his role heading European and Asian investor relations at DUNN Capital Management, and his creation of Top Traders Unplugged, a podcast that has become essential listening for the industry’s most serious practitioners. From hosting legends like Richard Dennis and Bill Eckhardt to providing a platform for deep systematic thinking, Niels has built a career defined by consistency and intellectual openness. In a setting where even forgotten glasses are met with quiet preparedness, the evening affirmed what matters most: discipline, restraint, and respect for process.
Savouring the Trend - with Michael Covel at Akuna in Ho Chi Minh City
In this second edition of Savouring the Trend, Adam Havryliv and Richard Brennan journeyed to Akuna in Ho Chi Minh City, the Michelin-starred stage of chef Sam Aisbett, to share an evening with Michael Covel — the chronicler of the Turtle Traders and voice of trend following. Over a daring tasting menu that stretched from slipper lobster to porcupine, the conversation traced Covel’s decades-long mission: uncovering the secrets of the Turtles, distilling the power of simple rules, and urging traders to confront uncertainty with courage. From bestselling books and films to a thousand-episode podcast, Covel’s legacy is a living testament to systematic trading — and in Saigon’s restless energy, his philosophy feels right at home.
Savouring the Trend Inaugural Edition — Latitude 30, Coffs Harbour
The inaugural edition of Savouring the Trend features Aussie Turtles co-founders Adam Havryliv and Richard Brennan reflecting on their journey into trend following. Over a relaxed lunch at Latitude 30 in Coffs Harbour, they discuss the origins of Aussie Turtles, the enduring relevance of rules-based trading, and their shared passion for process over prediction. It’s a candid, philosophy-rich conversation that sets the tone for the series—where conviction meets cuisine.
