Clarke Capital Management — Global Magnum

Exhibit ID

AFG-COLLAB-003

Artifact Type

Original managed-futures collaboration and CTA promotional material

Approximate Period

Late 2000s

Archival Status

Authenticated Primary Source — Argo Futures Group Collaboration Material

This exhibit documents Argo Futures Group's collaboration with Michael Clarke and Clarke Capital Management in connection with the Global Magnum managed-futures program.

By this stage, Argo had become known within the industry for evaluating professional trading programs, constructing compliant educational and marketing materials, and developing capital relationships for commodity trading advisors whose records and operating platforms met the firm's standards.

According to founder Dan Miller's recollection, Clarke Capital Management had already developed a substantial record and asset base and historically had little incentive to enter joint marketing relationships because collaboration required additional responsibility for third-party promotional materials. Argo approached the relationship by first presenting its prior experience, explaining why Global Magnum appeared under-recognized relative to its historical record, and proposing a structured collaboration rather than simply requesting permission to distribute an existing product. The firm then commissioned a professionally designed campaign using Clarke's portrait, program record, and historical information. The resulting direct-mail material became one of Argo's most successful collaboration campaigns and was distributed broadly, including newspaper inserts in Ohio and selected markets elsewhere.

The Clarke Capital collaboration represents a mature stage in Argo Futures Group's managed-futures development. Unlike the Steve Kapptie relationship, which grew organically from an existing client, and unlike the Bond King relationship, which centered on an industry legend, the Clarke Capital campaign demonstrates Argo's ability to approach an established professional manager, propose a structured joint-marketing framework, and create original campaign materials around an already successful managed-futures program.

It also illustrates how Argo combined manager selection, compliance-aware marketing, professional design, and broad distribution into a repeatable business-development model.

Evidence tier: Unverified personal recollection
The following account is drawn from the personal recollection of the founder. It has not been independently verified and is presented as oral history only.

According to founder Dan Miller's recollection, Michael Clarke initially had little reason to participate in collaborative marketing because Clarke Capital Management was already successful and any collaboration created additional responsibility for the resulting materials.

Miller proposed that Argo first develop and present a complete campaign concept. Argo's design team created a publication using Clarke's headshot and track record, and the finished piece was later distributed through large-scale direct-mail and newspaper-insert campaigns.