Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Work Preference
Timeline
Generic

Jonathan Grabill

Option Trader
Chicago,IL

Summary

Dynamic finance professional with extensive experience in derivative trading and portfolio management. Proven track record of pioneering profitable strategies, including managing a VIX market-making book during the Covid crisis. A collaborative team player with strong relationships across the trading community, consistently driving substantial profits and growth.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior Trader

Walleye Capital
04.2021 - 03.2025
  • Collaborated in a 7 member market making team trading the SPX.
  • Pioneered new trading spots in both the Covid pit and the new trading floor at the CBOT.

VIX Portfolio Manager

Walleye Capital
05.2019 - 03.2021
  • Assumed control of existing VIX market making book, relieving Index PM of day to day responsibility for the book.
  • Developed trading strategy for the product and made markets both electronically and in open outcry.
  • Profitably managed a short gamma position throughout the Covid crisis, and effectively managed the position while the trading floor was closed for 3 months in 2020.

Portfolio Manager

Private Investment Management
06.2016 - 04.2019

Managed a diversified portfolio of stocks, options, private equity, hedge fund, and commercial real estate investments.

JD/LLM in Tax Law (Joint Degree)

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
05.2013 - 06.2016
  • Member of US Supreme Court Clinic
  • Focus on Bankruptcy and Corporate Tax Law
  • Student Representative of Chicago Bar Association

Senior Trader

Walleye Capital
05.2007 - 05.2013
  • Made firm's single most profitable trade in 2009.
  • Worked to build a cohesive relationship between the floor trading unit and senior management in Minneapolis.

Senior Trader

SMC Option Management, LLC
03.2005 - 04.2007
  • Built and managed the group's SPX book, 1 of 3 main profit centers for the firm.
  • Developed the book's strategy and direction, which included all financial modeling and trading for the business unit.

Partner

Joseph D. Heard, Jr., LLC
01.1999 - 02.2005
  • Developed and implemented business plan for new trading group (NASDAQ 100 Index Options) that resulted in net profits in excess of $4.5M and became one of the firm's most profitable books within 3 years.
  • Developed the strategy and direction for the business unit, which included all hiring, financial modeling, and trading.

Trader

Cooper, Neff, & Associates, LP
01.1995 - 12.1998
  • Traded options on the S & P 100, S & P 500, and Dow indices.
  • Led the firm's foray into the Dow Complex.
  • Helped general partner liquidate $100M option portfolio as firm exited the US trading business.

CBOE Floor Runner

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
08.1993 - 12.1994

Floor runner covering both the CBOE equity pits, and the index crowds.

Senior Registered Rep - Options Trading

Charles Schwab
10.1990 - 07.1993
  • Placed trades for and manually calculated margin requirements for firm's most aggressive option trading clients.
  • led several educational initiatives within the 400 broker call center and authored a monthly options column in the firm newsletter.

Education

JD/LLM in Taxation (Joint Degree) -

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
06-2016

MBA -

Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
06-2006

Master of Science - Financial Markets And Trading

Illinois Institute of Technology
06-2000

Bachelor of Arts - Economics

Indiana University, Bloomington
08-1990

Skills

  • Derivative trading
  • Team player
  • Broad knowledge of financial markets
  • Substantial relationships with brokers and locals
  • Pit trading & desk trading experience
  • Experience on both retail & prop trading desks

Certification

Held Series 7, 8, 57, and 63 FINRA licenses over course of career. Series 57 license is current.

Work Preference

Work Type

Full Time

Work Location

On-SiteRemoteHybrid

Important To Me

Career advancementCompany CultureHealthcare benefits

Timeline

Senior Trader

Walleye Capital
04.2021 - 03.2025

VIX Portfolio Manager

Walleye Capital
05.2019 - 03.2021

Portfolio Manager

Private Investment Management
06.2016 - 04.2019

JD/LLM in Tax Law (Joint Degree)

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
05.2013 - 06.2016

Senior Trader

Walleye Capital
05.2007 - 05.2013

Senior Trader

SMC Option Management, LLC
03.2005 - 04.2007

Partner

Joseph D. Heard, Jr., LLC
01.1999 - 02.2005

Trader

Cooper, Neff, & Associates, LP
01.1995 - 12.1998

CBOE Floor Runner

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
08.1993 - 12.1994

Senior Registered Rep - Options Trading

Charles Schwab
10.1990 - 07.1993

JD/LLM in Taxation (Joint Degree) -

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

MBA -

Northwestern Kellogg School of Management

Master of Science - Financial Markets And Trading

Illinois Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Arts - Economics

Indiana University, Bloomington
Jonathan GrabillOption Trader