My guest this week is Brad Katsuyama, the founder of the IEX exchange and protagonist of Michael Lewis’s famous book Flash Boys, which chronicled the role of high frequency trading in markets.

This conversation was yet another reminder of how complicated markets can be, and that very few participants know all aspects of the process well. Brad and I get deep into the history behind his company, and the ways in which markets and exchanges have evolved, better or worse.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was our exploration of entrepreneurship. Brad’s whole story is one that entrepreneurs will appreciate, and is full of lessons for those aspiring to start their own business.

Please enjoy my conversation with Brad Katsuyama

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Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub.

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Books Referenced

Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt

Show Notes

2:10 – (First Question) Brad’s original discovery of a latency problem in trading stocks

12:51 – how the business model of the NASDAQ and exchanges and how it may surprise people

14:16 – The edge that exchanges are now monetizing

16:46 – How Brad went from finding a solution to his current firm

20:18 – Types of high frequency traders that there are

24:33 – The formation of IEX

27:56 – Funding IEX

30:48 – What happens to the initial funding

32:30 – Describe what IEX is as it was sold to early buy side investors

34:31 – Explaining the concept of a speedbump

38:18 – Pitching companies so they will be listed on their index

40:37 – Explains maker-taker fees

44:47 – The sources of revenue for IEX vs traditional exchanges

46:53 – Most memorable meeting Brad has had in establishing IEX

49:39 – How did he do this with young kids?

52:38 – Has the pool of potential profits that high-frequency trading firms can earn gone down

53:53 – What has Brad most excited about the future in terms of helping the buyside

55:17 – What was it like to see Brad’s venture get turned into a best-selling book. (Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt)

59:00 – Biggest thing that Brad has learned

1:00:56 – What would Brad do if he couldn’t work in the investing world.

1:02:25 - Kindest thing anyone has done for Brad

Learn More

For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.

Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub

Follow Patrick on twitter at @patrick_oshag