David Dredge, Founder and CIO, Convex Strategies

David Dredge, Founder and CIO of Convex Strategies, has spent his career in derivatives markets, on the long side of optionality and seeking value in convexity. It was great to learn more about the role he plays in fortifying client portfolios with insurance and to have him reflect on how periods of market stress expose limitations in traditional risk methodologies. Our conversation focuses on volatility supply and the structural forces that generate it. Here, David discusses the growth of structured products across equities, rates, and FX markets, and explains how regulatory frameworks, accounting treatment, and yield-seeking behavior contribute to the persistent creation of short-volatility exposures throughout the financial system. David describes Convex Strategies as a value investor in volatility, focused on sourcing efficient insurance rather than trading volatility for profit. He explains how the firm seeks to identify areas where volatility is supplied at attractive prices and where convexity can provide meaningful diversification during periods of stress. We also explore the role of leverage, correlation assumptions, and risk management frameworks in amplifying market dislocations. David discusses examples ranging from LTCM and the Global Financial Crisis to the rate volatility repricing of 2022. The conversation concludes with perspectives on Japan, global bond markets, and the importance of pricing when constructing hedges. Throughout, David emphasizes that the effectiveness of any hedge depends not simply on the instrument itself, but on the value at which that protection is acquired. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Alpha Exchange, my conversation with David Dredge.