Thomas R. Jones is about to take a big step in his life: he is about to leave his fairly secure job with a large investment bank and to become an independent fund manager. In order to survive Thomas needs to be one step ahead of the crowd every step of the way and this involves a steep learning curve. One way in which Thomas hopes to achieve this is through the strategic use of derivatives. Research indicates that most fund managers could benefit from the use of derivatives but very few actually use them or seek information on them. This book explains to fund managers in an enjoyable and accessible form how they can improve their performance and portfolio management techniques through the use of derivatives. By placing techniques and instruments within the context of the everyday life of a fund manager Richard Folcker clearly demonstrates to institutional investors how these techniques relate to their own jobs and can improve performance. * Records in an easy to read diary format how Thomas learns to use derivatives and become a successful fund manager * Readers are taken through the learning curve with Thomas * Considerable practical experience of the author, both in the use of derivatives and in the creation and marketing of new products

Table of Contents:
Introduction: In Which Thomas Introduces Himself with the help of his Wife, Amanda; Prologue: Thomas Ends a Successful Career at GlobalBank to Start His Own Independent Fund Management Business; The First Board Meeting in Thomas R Jones Investments Ltd. Thomas Revisits the Old School Books to Refresh his Understanding of Derivatives (The Greeks and Much More). Thomas Learns what it Takes to Get Started with Derivatives Trading; In Which Thomas Engages in an Awesome Maths Session to Assess a Number of Different Portfolio 'Strategies'; Thomas Moves on to Focus on Different Options Strategies and when to Use Them - Some in Bullish Markets, Some in Bearish Markets, Some in Undecided Markets and Some Never. It May be Better Sometimes just to Wait and See; In Which Thomas Takes a Firm Grip on Risk, Encounters the Beast of Beasts, Faces Some Domestic Problems and does a Fair Bit of Networking; Thomas puts his Theory into Practice - Will his Fund Fly or Crash? Will he Master the Market and Reach Cloud Nine?; In Which Thomas Summarises the Development of the Market and his Business, and Looks at the Year Ahead; The Author's Opportunity to Add Some Final Comments and to Give Some Hints for Further Learning - Continuous Improvement.