taleb question

Quote from nravo:

By VN you must mean Neiderhoffer -- another quant who writes as badly as he trades. Is this guy still around?

Sure he's a goof to listen to, and most of his writings and answers are babble. As far as trading, he averaged 40% a year for many years and over 30% the last few years. He blew up in 97 and is back, how is this "trading badly"?

His results are out there and known. Where are Taleb's results?
 
Quote from nravo:
His writing is as prolix and pretentious as a lawyer's. I know the guy is smart, so why does he have to come off like some pseudo-intellectual? Is it an affectation? Or are the quants who love him and buy his books oblivious to the need for clarity and simplicity when discussing complex subjects in the English language. By the way, I'd still like to see his audited 10-year returns.

I happend to know the guy personally. Even though I disagree with him on variety of topics, I really do like him. He is a bright guy and has been around the street for a long time, certainly longer then me and almost-certainly longer that anyone on this board. Experience counts in this business more then anywhere else.

As for his language, he talks like that too, must be the background or something. Overall, he is a pretty natural guy and very easy to be around, but whenever he opens his mouth, you need a thesaurus. And I am talking about a chit-chat over dinner, not an academic discussion - would you use the word "hedonistic model" when discussing wine prices?

In any case, his fund has done surprisingly well, in risk-weighted terms. But then again, so did the bond market.
 
he has blown up more than once. he has lost dozens maybe hundreds of million dollars.

Anyone can play for a reversion. Sell premium when the reversion takes longer than normal and then blow up.

There were articles saying he kept betting even though his customers requeste the return of their investments.

finally

anyone who blows up others money in large amounts should not be considered a good trader.
 
Quote from sle:

I

In any case, his fund has done surprisingly well, in risk-weighted terms. But then again, so did the bond market.


do you have any additional info on why the fund was closed and the sabatical letter?

thanks
 
Quote from hank rollins:

do you have any additional info on why the fund was closed and the sabatical letter?

thanks

You could probably get in touch with him on the Wilmott site. He sometimes posts using the handle kurtosis
 
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