What Fairlead Strategies does

Fairlead Strategies is an independent technical analysis research firm founded in 2018 by Katie Stockton, CMT, after senior technical strategy roles at BTIG and MKM Partners. The firm, organized as Fairlead Strategies LLC and headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, delivers subscription-based technical research to financial advisors, RIAs, institutional investors (family offices, hedge funds, pensions, sovereign wealth funds), and active individual investors. Core products include the daily Starting Line, weekly flagship Fairlead Tactics, Sector Deep Dive, ETF Navigator, Cryptocurrency Compass, and the Idea Generator distributed via Substack, all built on a proprietary multi-timeframe framework integrating trend, momentum, relative strength, and support/resistance with embedded risk management and no structural directional bias.

The firm operates an affiliated SEC-registered investment adviser, Fairlead Asset Management LLC, which serves as sub-advisor to the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK), launched in 2022 in partnership with Cary Street Partners. TACK applies the firm's rules-based technical methodology to systematic sector rotation and dynamic asset allocation, creating an asset-management revenue stream that complements the subscription business. Distribution spans a self-serve website funnel with a 30-day free trial, Substack for Idea Generator, and a sales-assisted motion for the Premium tier (custom pricing starting at $12,500 annually) that includes bespoke analysis, portfolio reviews, and direct analyst access. Pricing spans from $9/month (Idea Generator) to $399/month (Access tier), with standalone modules for ETF and crypto research.

Fairlead's go-to-market leans on founder-led brand equity—Katie Stockton's CNBC contributor role and coverage in Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, and MarketWatch—combined with conference presentations and Substack content. The firm holds a Women Owned Business certification and is founder-controlled with no disclosed external funding. Headcount is in the 1-10 range, with a named team of five covering research, operations, revenue, and analysis functions. The firm is privately held, SEC-registered, and operates exclusively in the United States.

Name

Fairlead Strategies

Legal name

Fairlead Strategies LLC

Website

https://fairleadstrategies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Research Services

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Pricing & Valuation Services (Fixed Income, OTC, Derivatives) (FSAFAIAF)

Keywords

• Technical analysis research
• Investment research
• ETF strategy
• Market research
• Financial research

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Subscription Plans: Tiered subscription model providing access to technical research reports including daily Starting Line, weekly Fairlead Tactics, Sector Deep Dive, ETF Navigator, and Cryptocurrency Compass. Premium tier includes bespoke technical analysis, portfolio reviews, and custom chartbooks.
2. Idea Generator (Substack): Weekly stock idea product distributed via Substack platform at $9/month, featuring annotated charts and technical rationale.
3. Fairlead Asset Management - TACK ETF: Fairlead Asset Management serves as sub-advisor to the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK), applying the firm's technical research framework to systematic ETF strategy design. Revenue generated through ETF management fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fairlead Strategies provides subscription-based independent technical analysis research covering equities, sectors, ETFs, commodities, currencies, Treasuries, and cryptocurrencies through daily and weekly reports, with tiered subscription plans and bespoke analytical services. Through its affiliated Fairlead Asset Management, the firm sub-advises the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK), applying its rules-based technical framework to systematic sector rotation and dynamic asset allocation.

Product overview

Fairlead Strategies offers a suite of technical analysis research products designed for disciplined investors. The core offerings include daily research (Starting Line) and weekly flagship reports (Fairlead Tactics, Sector Deep Dive), with add-on modules such as ETF Navigator for tactical ETF analysis, Cryptocurrency Compass for digital asset research, and Idea Generator for stock-specific technical ideas. The company also operates Fairlead Asset Management, which sub-advises the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK), applying the firm's technical framework to systematic sector rotation and dynamic asset allocation. Research is available through tiered subscription plans: Basic ($199/month), Access ($399/month), and Premium (custom pricing starting at $12,500 annually).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TACK (Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF): A model-driven ETF strategy designed to navigate changing market environments through systematic sector rotation and dynamic asset allocation, managed by Fairlead Asset Management with Katie Stockton as portfolio manager.
• Starting Line
• Fairlead Tactics
• Sector Deep Dive
• ETF Navigator
• Cryptocurrency Compass
• Idea Generator

Products and services

• Starting Line A concise daily report covering technical catalysts, notable technical signals, and key market internals, sold as part of subscription research plans for advisors, institutional investors, and active individual investors.
• Fairlead Tactics The flagship weekly report covering equities, commodities, currencies, Treasuries, charts, commentary, and stock ideas, included in the Basic subscription tier and above.
• Sector Deep Dive Sector-level technical research designed to identify leadership, breakouts and breakdowns, and technical catalysts across market sectors.
• ETF Navigator Weekly ETF technical analysis report providing trend and signal coverage to time entries, manage risk, and spot leadership across multiple asset classes, available as a standalone subscription or within the Access and Premium tiers.
• Cryptocurrency Compass Weekly cryptocurrency research applying Fairlead's technical framework to Bitcoin, Ether, and major digital assets, including support/resistance levels, momentum indicators, and directional bias commentary.
• Idea Generator Weekly stock idea product distributed via Substack featuring one featured stock with annotated charts, technical levels and rationale, and subscriber-only events, targeted at active individual investors.
• Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK) A rules-based technical ETF strategy that uses a systematic process to identify sector leadership, align with prevailing trends, and reduce exposure when trend conditions weaken, sub-advised by Fairlead Asset Management with Katie Stockton as portfolio manager.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cary Street PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK) was launched in 2022 as a partnership between Fairlead Asset Management and Cary Street Partners. Fairlead Asset Management serves as sub-advisor to TACK, a model-driven ETF strategy managed by Katie Stockton. The ETF uses a systematic technical process to identify sector leadership and align with prevailing trends. Tom Herrick, currently CRO at Fairlead, previously served as Chief Investment Officer for Cary Street Partners from 2015-2024.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MKM Partners: Mid-market broker-dealer providing institutional research, sales, and trading — Katie Stockton's earlier employer and a broader incumbent whose research offering overlaps with Fairlead's but is part of a wider franchise.
• BTIG: Global investment bank and broker-dealer with institutional research, trading, and asset management — Katie Stockton's prior employer and a broader incumbent offering overlapping technical/equity research as part of a much larger platform.

Direct peers

• Zacks Investment Research: Long-running independent equity research firm offering subscription-based rankings, reports, and market commentary to retail and advisor audiences — closely comparable in subscription research, equity focus, and tiered access model.
• Ned Davis Research: Long-standing independent technical and quantitative research firm serving institutional investors, RIAs, and advisors with subscription-based market analysis — directly comparable to Fairlead in product type, distribution model, and target customer.
• Real Vision: Subscription research and video media platform featuring independent macro, technical, and on-chain analysis for sophisticated retail and institutional investors — directly comparable in subscription research and media-driven distribution.
• Bespoke Investment: Independent research provider known for technical and macro commentary, sell-side-style notes, and ETF/flow analysis distributed via subscription — directly comparable in independent-research positioning and end-investor audience.
• All Star Charts: Pure-play technical analysis research and education firm founded by JC Parets, selling subscription research to active traders and advisors — directly comparable as a founder-led, independent technical research business.
• Strategas Research Partners: Independent institutional research firm providing thematic, macro, and technical work to asset managers, hedge funds, and advisors on a subscription basis — closely comparable in client base and research-driven subscription model.

Others

• Carson Group: Large RIA platform and advisor community that bundles research, coaching, and technology for financial advisors — adjacent ecosystem participant that competes for the same RIA/financial-advisor wallet share that Fairlead targets.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Wealth management and advisor support platform providing research and practice management to RIAs — adjacent rather than directly competitive, but serves overlapping financial-advisor customers with bundled research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairleadstrategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fairlead Strategies