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Simplify Asset Management Names Peter van Amson Managing Director, Head of Risk Management
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Peter van Amson joins fast-growing ETF provider, bringing decades of experience in institutional-quality risk management, trading, product management and more
February 16, 2021
NEW YORK – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Simplify Asset Management (“Simplify”), a fast-growing provider of options-based Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), today announced that Peter van Amson, CFA, has joined the firm as Managing Director, Head of Risk Management.
Mr. van Amson was previously Partner and Director of Risk Management with Convexity Capital Management, LP, which at its peak managed $15 billion in institutional assets. With Convexity, Mr. van Amson built, implemented and had primary responsibility over the firm’s risk management and performance attribution functions. The proprietary, dynamic framework he developed for evaluating portfolio risks was particularly well suited to a strategy with unique and often rapidly changing attributes.
Prior to his tenure with Convexity, Mr. van Amson held senior roles with FIS Sungard Bancware, the Plymouth Rock group of companies, and Arthur Andersen. Most recently, he was providing consulting services to investors, asset managers, banks, insurers and others in areas such as risk advisory, financial engineering, and technology product positioning.
“Institutional-quality fund lineups, like the one we’re building at Simplify, require institutional-quality risk management approaches, and there is no one more qualified than Peter to join our team and take ownership of the risk management function,” said Paul Kim, CEO of Simplify. “Not only is he incredibly effective at building risk management solutions, he’s just as strong when it comes to communicating them both internally and externally to the investor community.”
Simplify launched its first suite of ETFs, the Equity PLUS Convexity suite, in September of 2020 and has already surpassed the $150 million asset mark as advisors, family offices, institutions and the retail investor community have been drawn to the more scientific approach the firm has pioneered in combining equity index exposures with robust options overlays.
“There were a number of factors that drew me to Simplify,” said Mr. van Amson. “First, Simplify’s funds are truly unique and designed to solve significant real world challenges for investors. Second, the commitment the team has made to building an institutional-quality firm and product lineup shines through in the approach they’ve taken. They’re looking to educate while they innovate, which is exactly what the marketplace needs.”
“There is also the fact that now is the time for ETFs,” added Mr. van Amson. “Changes on the regulatory front, the growing acceptance of the advantages inherent in the ETF wrapper, and increased understanding of the role that an options-powered ETF approach can have on investor outcomes make this an incredibly exciting moment for this category.”
van Amson’s hiring comes shortly after Simplify announced that Harley Bassman, “The Convexity Maven,” had joined the firm as Managing Partner.
“We don’t have small plans when it comes to the growth of this firm,” added Kim. “Harley and Peter are two of the best in their respective businesses, and the expertise they bring to our team with regard to education, insight, investment acumen, risk management, and so much more, positions us that much better to move into an industry-leading role in providing options-based solutions to solve investors’ toughest challenges.”
ABOUT THE SIMPLIFY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC
Simplify Asset Management Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser founded in 2020 to help advisors tackle the most pressing portfolio challenges with an innovative set of options-based strategies. By accounting for real-world investor needs and market behavior, along with the non-linear power of options, our strategies allow for the tailored portfolio outcomes for which clients are looking. For more information, visit www.simplify.us.
Mr. van Amson was previously Partner and Director of Risk Management with Convexity Capital Management, LP, which at its peak managed $15 billion in institutional assets. With Convexity, Mr. van Amson built, implemented and had primary responsibility over the firm’s risk management and performance attribution functions. The proprietary, dynamic framework he developed for evaluating portfolio risks was particularly well suited to a strategy with unique and often rapidly changing attributes.
Prior to his tenure with Convexity, Mr. van Amson held senior roles with FIS Sungard Bancware, the Plymouth Rock group of companies, and Arthur Andersen. Most recently, he was providing consulting services to investors, asset managers, banks, insurers and others in areas such as risk advisory, financial engineering, and technology product positioning.
“Institutional-quality fund lineups, like the one we’re building at Simplify, require institutional-quality risk management approaches, and there is no one more qualified than Peter to join our team and take ownership of the risk management function,” said Paul Kim, CEO of Simplify. “Not only is he incredibly effective at building risk management solutions, he’s just as strong when it comes to communicating them both internally and externally to the investor community.”
Simplify launched its first suite of ETFs, the Equity PLUS Convexity suite, in September of 2020 and has already surpassed the $150 million asset mark as advisors, family offices, institutions and the retail investor community have been drawn to the more scientific approach the firm has pioneered in combining equity index exposures with robust options overlays.
“There were a number of factors that drew me to Simplify,” said Mr. van Amson. “First, Simplify’s funds are truly unique and designed to solve significant real world challenges for investors. Second, the commitment the team has made to building an institutional-quality firm and product lineup shines through in the approach they’ve taken. They’re looking to educate while they innovate, which is exactly what the marketplace needs.”
“There is also the fact that now is the time for ETFs,” added Mr. van Amson. “Changes on the regulatory front, the growing acceptance of the advantages inherent in the ETF wrapper, and increased understanding of the role that an options-powered ETF approach can have on investor outcomes make this an incredibly exciting moment for this category.”
van Amson’s hiring comes shortly after Simplify announced that Harley Bassman, “The Convexity Maven,” had joined the firm as Managing Partner.
“We don’t have small plans when it comes to the growth of this firm,” added Kim. “Harley and Peter are two of the best in their respective businesses, and the expertise they bring to our team with regard to education, insight, investment acumen, risk management, and so much more, positions us that much better to move into an industry-leading role in providing options-based solutions to solve investors’ toughest challenges.”
ABOUT THE SIMPLIFY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC
Simplify Asset Management Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser founded in 2020 to help advisors tackle the most pressing portfolio challenges with an innovative set of options-based strategies. By accounting for real-world investor needs and market behavior, along with the non-linear power of options, our strategies allow for the tailored portfolio outcomes for which clients are looking. For more information, visit www.simplify.us.
