VICTOR NIEDERHOFFER’s storied career as a speculator spans more than twenty-five years. He began speculating in commodities in the 1970s, and through 1997 held one of the most successful track records of any hedge fund manager. He currently manages money for overseas clients and trades for his own account. Niederhoffer is the author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling Education of a Speculator, and has written numerous articles for scholarly and professional publications including the Financial Analysts Journal. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard (1964) and the University of Chicago (PhD 1969), Victor taught finance at Berkley and founded Niederhoffer, Cross & Zeckhauser, a mergers and acquisitions firm that was a leader in the field for many years. During the 1970s he dominated the squash world, claiming the world title in 1976. He currently writes a weekly column for CNBC Money with Laurel Kenner.

LAUREL KENNER is a financial writer. Her columns on the stock market, co-written with Victor Niederhoffer, have appeared on CNBC Money, worldlyinvestor.com, and TheStreet.com. Her journalism career includes five years as chief U.S. stocks editor at Bloomberg News and five years as an award-winning aerospace reporter for Copley Newspapers. She holds a degree in classical piano from the University of California at Los Angeles.