Perry J. Kaufman


Perry J. Kaufman is an American systematic trader, rocket scientist, index developer, and quantitative financial theorist. He is considered a leading expert in the development of fully algorithmic trading programs.

Career

Kaufman publishes KaufmanSignals.com, geared towards individual traders, and the Kaufman Research Report, for systematic strategy developers. He received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.

Aerospace background

Beginning as a “rocket scientist” in the aerospace industry, Kaufman worked on the navigation and control systems for the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, the predecessor of the Hubble Space Telescope. Moreover, he was involved in the development of navigation systems for Project Gemini which were later used for Apollo missions.

Trading experience

Kaufman worked in trading, research and advisory functions at major commercial banks, securities houses, central banks, and hedge funds.
After leaving the aerospace industry, Kaufman became a partner in an Illinois-based farm management company where, as a commercial hedger, he developed expertise in trading commodity futures markets. Between 1981 and 1991, Kaufman resided in Bermuda where he worked as Head of Trading Systems for Transworld Oil, Ltd.. He was a principal at Man-Drapeau Research from 1992 to 1998 and worked in consulting functions for Cinergy and Prudential-Bache. Between 2003 and 2008, Perry J. Kaufman worked as a portfolio manager and senior quantitative analyst for Graham Capital Management, a hedge fund with a focus on managed futures trading strategies. Kaufman is currently a consultant to Mizuho Alternative Investments and serves as a board member at ARIAD Asset Management GmbH. Kaufman also advises the Aquantum Group and collaborates with the company in the design of systematic trading programs and indices.

Publications & Canon Contributions

Kaufman is the founder of the Journal of Futures Markets and creator of John Wiley & Sons's Traders Advantage series.

Books

Point and Figure Commodity Trading Techniques Commodity Trading Systems and Methods Technical Analysis in Commodities, also in Japanese Handbook of Futures Markets The Concise Handbook of Futures Markets The New Commodity Trading Systems and Methods Smarter Trading Global Equity Investing, with Alberto Vivanti A Short Course in Technical Trading, also in Chinese Alpha Trading, also in Chinese Trading Systems and Methods Kaufman Constructs Trading Systems
  • ''Learn to Trade: Trade To Win With A Rule-Based Method Paperback''

Book contributions

  • "Technical Analysis" in Nancy Rothstein's The Handbook of Financial Futures
  • "Moving Averages and Trends" in Todd Lofton's Trading Tactics
  • "Essential Mathematics for Traders” in Ralph Acampora's ''Masters of Technical Analysis and Strategy''

Board memberships and affiliations