With the stock market becoming more unpredictable, many investors are on the lookout for strategies to protect their investments or even beat the market averages. This led me to sit down with Ananda Aisola, co-founder of Composer, an innovative investment platform.
I’ve spent over a decade in the equities department of major investment banks and have been living in San Francisco since 2001—a hotspot for tech startups. This background fuels my interest in startups like Composer that are shaking up the equity space. Personally, equities make up about 30% of my net worth, with the majority in index funds and the rest in individual stocks.
Composer, which started in April 2020 during the onset of COVID-19, is a small but growing team based in Toronto and the U.S. They’re officially registered with the SEC as an RIA, and currently, their services are available only in the U.S. They’ve raised over $11 million from investors like First Round Capital and Left Lane, among others. Their typical customers are financially knowledgeable individuals aged 25-35, aiming for financial independence.
Composer is planning to expand its offerings to include retirement accounts, dynamic screening, cryptocurrencies, and other enhancements. Since its inception, Composer has seen growth in both its user base and assets managed.
During my interview with Ananda, we discussed how Composer aims to help investors, especially in challenging market conditions like a bear market. Composer offers a variety of strategies to help investors diversify and make decisions systematically, reducing emotional trading and potential losses. They also provide tools for investors to design and manage their portfolios with ease, automating trades and rebalancing as needed.
Ananda shared that Composer’s strategies are not just about outperforming the market. They focus on creating better portfolios that can handle different market conditions, using tools like leveraged ETFs and strategies that capitalize on market anomalies. For those looking to outperform the S&P 500, Composer offers strategies that adjust to market conditions, aiming for better risk-adjusted returns.
Composer charges a flat monthly fee for its services, making sophisticated investing strategies accessible without the need for deep technical or financial knowledge. They work with Alpaca for brokerage services, ensuring that investments are held securely.
Looking ahead, Composer is keeping an eye on various economic indicators and market conditions to adapt their strategies accordingly. They believe in offering strategies that can perform well across different market scenarios, helping investors manage risks and achieve their financial goals.
For those interested in exploring what Composer has to offer, signing up is straightforward. You can customize or choose ready-made investment strategies that suit your financial goals and risk tolerance.
In addition to traditional investments, I’m also exploring venture capital opportunities through the Innovation Fund, which focuses on sectors like AI, FinTech, and PropTech. This fund allows for a much lower entry point compared to traditional venture capital investments, making it an exciting option for those looking to diversify further.
