Farah Kamal

Lifelong learner. Professional pattern seeker.

I build systems that surface institutional risk before it becomes obvious.

SCROLL
2008
CHAPTER 01

Reading
Markets

Born in Toronto. Built my career on Bay Street.
Licensed to trade securities while still in college.
I learned to read fear before it hit the tape.

"When the screens went red, I was on the desk."

PENSON FINANCIAL — INSTITUTIONAL TRADING DESK

LEHMAN BROTHERS BANKRUPTCY — SEPTEMBER 15, 2008
PENSON TRADING TERMINAL 09/15/2008 S&P 500 1,192.70 -4.71% VIX 31.70 +24.2% DOW 10,917 -504 pts INTRADAY ALERT LEH: HALTED AIG: -61% MER: -36% ORDER FLOW SELL 50,000 SPY SELL 25,000 QQQ SELL 100,000 XLF BUY 10,000 GLD STATUS: EXTREME VOLATILITY CIRCUIT BREAKER: ARMED
2011
CHAPTER 02

Reading
Chaos

MF Global. Head of Trading.
When $1.6 billion in customer funds vanished,
I was running the trading floor.

"Some lessons cost everything to learn."

MF GLOBAL BANKRUPTCY — OCTOBER 31, 2011
MF GLOBAL — SYSTEM ALERT 10/31/2011 CUSTOMER FUNDS $1,600,000,000 UNACCOUNTED SYSTEM STATUS Trading Operations SUSPENDED Customer Withdrawals FROZEN Regulatory Status CH.11 FILED Position Transfers BLOCKED PRIORITY ALERT Segregated funds breach detected. All positions to be liquidated. 8TH LARGEST BANKRUPTCY IN US HISTORY
THE JOURNEY

25 Years Across
Capital Markets

2000 MERRILL LYNCH Launched online trading for ultra-high-net-worth clients
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS Built trade support desk. Advised clients on 401(k) accounts
2008 PENSON FINANCIAL Sponsored access to HFT firms. I was their original kill switch
2011 MF GLOBAL 7 conversions in 2 weeks. Rebuilt all client futures statements from scratch after CME sent positions to the wrong clearing broker. Thank god for mark-to-market
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS Recruited by the MD to bring a front-office edge to clearing
SCOTIA CAPITAL Led self-clearing project for CME and ICE
GMP SECURITIES Managed merger integration with FirstEnergy
BROADRIDGE Implemented Book of Record for National Bank and CIBC
WEALTHSIMPLE Launched Options Trading & Securities Lending. Set up Wealthsimple Investments Inc. as manufacturer for PE/PC funds
NOW FINLEET Founder. Creating the only normalized dataset across Banks, Credit Unions, RIAs, Broker Dealers, Private Markets, Derivatives and Funds using regulated financial data
CHAPTER 03

Reading
Fire

After the chaos, I learned to create.
Culinary school taught me what markets couldn't:
precision under pressure, but with beauty.

"Mise en place isn't just for kitchens. Always be prepared."

CHAPTER 04

Reading
Silence

Moved to rural Quebec. My client, National Bank, convinced me.
Bought a farm. Raised llamas and alpacas.

"Negotiated on-demand hay delivery within an hour.
My own Uber Hay — in a language I speak un peu."

LLAMA & ALPACA FARMER RURAL QUEBEC
CHAPTER 05

Reading
Cultures

Every border crossed is a lesson.
Every language attempted is humility.
Every meal shared is connection.

"The world is the best teacher—if you show up."

53 COUNTRIES
46 US STATES
CHAPTER 06

Reading
Data

Now I build the sales and product intelligence I wish I'd had
when launching trading desks or expanding operations.

70,000+ regulated entities. 1.5M people mapped.
All normalized with a FUID (Finleet Unique Identifier).

"I've been in the room when the system broke. Twice.
Now I make sure others see it coming."

إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
With hardship, comes ease.

farah@finleet.com
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