E189: Inside the Goldman Sachs Prop Desk: Lessons from a Top Trader w/Nancy Davis
E189: Inside the Goldman Sachs Prop Desk: Lessons from a Top Trader w/Nancy Davis  
Podcast: How I Invest with David Weisburd
Published On: Mon Jul 21 2025
Description: Nancy Davis spent nearly a decade on Goldman Sachs’ legendary prop desk before founding Quadratic Capital, the firm behind the popular iVol ETF. In this episode, we dive deep into her options-based approach to investing, why she believes most investors manage risk backward, and how her firm is positioning for a potential return of stagflation. We also talk about her early days at Goldman, the psychological traps investors fall into, and why she thinks humility and coachability are underrated superpowers in finance. If you’ve ever wanted to understand volatility, inflation protection, or how to think like a derivatives trader—this episode is for you.