Simplify Asset Management just launched something interesting: an ETF that gives you two complete strategies for the price of one. The Simplify US Equity PLUS Managed Futures Strategy ETF (CTAP) is designed to deliver both full exposure to U.S. large-cap stocks and complete exposure to a managed futures strategy, all wrapped up in one capital-efficient package.

Here's how it works. The fund holds a passive, market-cap-weighted allocation to U.S. large caps through a low-cost, liquid ETF. That's your standard stock market exposure. But simultaneously, investors get 100% exposure to a long/short managed futures strategy operated by Altis Partners, which brings two decades of experience running systematic trend-following programs.

The managed futures piece comes through a total return swap linked to Simplify's existing Managed Futures Strategy ETF (CTA), which has pulled in over $1.1 billion in assets since launching in 2022. That CTA strategy is multi-asset and trend-following by design, spanning global commodities and interest rates with the goal of generating absolute returns. It's built to offer strong diversification benefits, especially when markets get choppy or macro factors dominate.

David Berns, co-founder and CIO at Simplify, explained that the fund addresses two key investor needs: diversification and capital efficiency. "Historically, stocks and managed futures have exhibited a low correlation with each other, making them effective partners in a two-strategy combination," he said. The beauty of CTAP is that it lets investors add managed futures to their portfolios without cutting back on equity exposure or deploying extra cash.

By bundling both exposures into one ETF, Simplify is positioning CTAP as a tool for building more resilient portfolios. The idea is to potentially cushion equity drawdowns through the managed futures sleeve while maintaining full participation in stock market gains. It's essentially leveraging capital efficiency to give you double exposure without double the investment.