The next generation of managers—from newly launched funds to maturing multi-strat platforms—requires more from their trading partners than just execution, according to Andy Volz, Chief Commercial Officer, Clear Street.
“The industry has reached an inflection point. Outsourced trading must now provide strategic insight, operational leverage and real-time technology,” he told Traders Magazine.
On May 21, Clear Street launched its outsourced trading platform, a fully integrated execution and support offering designed to meet the evolving needs of asset managers, hedge funds and family offices.
“Clear Street’s launch is a direct response to this,” Volz commented.
He said there is a growing need among clients for flexibility, speed and modern infrastructure—especially as strategies become more complex and investment teams more sophisticated.
The firm’s new offering reflects that expanded mandate. Rather than a basic execution service, Clear Street’s outsourced trading platform functions as an integrated extension of a fund’s internal operations.
“Outsourced trading today is not about replacing internal desks. It’s about enabling growth, managing risk and helping funds scale smarter,” he stressed.
At the core of the platform is Clear Street Studio, a proprietary cloud-native system that unifies portfolio management, execution, risk, and post-trade analytics. Volz described Studio as “more than just an execution tool—it’s an operating system for modern funds.”
By consolidating workflows in a single interface, Studio enhances real-time collaboration between portfolio managers and traders, increases data transparency, and improves cost efficiency. “We provide real-time collaboration, data transparency that meets institutional compliance standards, scalability to adapt to changes in AUM, strategy, or team structure, and cost efficiency by removing duplicative systems and reducing error risk,” said Volz.
Clear Street’s approach is also differentiated by the team behind the platform. The firm has appointed Morgan Ralph as Head of Outsourced Trading, bringing in a veteran with deep experience at UBS and State Street Global Markets. “We’ve assembled a team with a deep track record in building institutional-grade desks,” Volz said.
“Morgan Ralph joins from UBS and previously helped launch the platform at State Street Global Markets. Alongside him is a leadership bench with experience at Wells Fargo, Brown Brothers Harriman, and Lehman Brothers.”
The outsourced trading service is intentionally modular, allowing it to support a wide spectrum of client needs. From emerging managers who require a complete solution on day one, to established funds looking for burst capacity or regional trading support, Clear Street offers a flexible, customized model. “Whether a manager needs full outsourcing, burst capacity, or geographic coverage for specific strategies, we meet them where they are—functioning as a true extension of their team,” said Volz.
The platform’s launch also supports Clear Street’s broader mission to rebuild the brokerage ecosystem with modern, connected infrastructure. “Clear Street was founded to rebuild the brokerage ecosystem from the ground up—modern, connected, and tech-driven,” Volz said.
“Outsourced trading is the latest extension of that vision. It brings together the firm’s strengths in execution, infrastructure, and innovation, and it directly supports asset managers as they grow.”
Volz noted that the platform is already seeing interest from a wide range of clients, but highlighted three main groups driving early adoption: “Emerging managers who need a full-stack solution from day one, scaling funds who want to flex up quickly into new asset classes or geographies, and established funds looking to right-size operations or add specialized expertise.”
Success for the platform, Volz emphasized, will be measured through the lens of client outcomes rather than product metrics. “When our clients grow faster, raise more capital, and perform at their best—knowing their trading operations are streamlined, strategic, and fully supported—that’s the win. Our focus is, and always will be, exceptional client service.”
With the combination of a cloud-native technology stack, a seasoned institutional team, and a scalable service model, Clear Street’s outsourced trading platform is poised to meet the demands of a rapidly changing investment management landscape.
