STF Management

What STF Management does

STF Management LP is a US-based, SEC-registered investment adviser founded in 2022 and headquartered in Frisco, Texas. The firm manages two actively managed, rules-based exchange-traded funds: the STF Tactical Growth ETF (TUG) and the STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN). Combined assets across the two ETFs were approximately $100 million as of March 30, 2026, at which point investment advisory duties transitioned to Shelton Capital Management (>$6.5B AUM), with STF Management LP retaining brand ownership of the fund wrappers. Jonathan Molchan, formerly of STF, joined Shelton as senior portfolio manager and head of ETF trading to maintain continuity.

The firm's underlying technology is a proprietary rules-based tactical asset allocation engine that adjusts equity exposure based on moving average and implied volatility thresholds, intended to keep the strategy fully invested in favorable conditions and reduce exposure during periods of market stress. TUGN layers an active options overlay program on the Nasdaq-100 Index that has, in disclosed periods, outperformed a passive buy-write benchmark by 5.1%. Distribution is handled by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, with both ETFs listed on NASDAQ and tradable through standard brokerage accounts. The firm targets retail and institutional investors seeking professional asset allocation and income-oriented solutions without emotional decision-making.

STF Management monetizes through investment advisory fees on assets under management, a recurring revenue model. GTM is sales-led via the stfm.com website, newsletter engagement, and earned media (NASDAQ Trade Talks interview, NASDAQ billboard). Customer acquisition is horizontal across retail and institutional segments, with no disclosed enterprise contracts or named institutional clients. The firm employs 1-10 people and has raised no disclosed external funding rounds.

Name

STF Management

Legal name

STF Management LP

Website

https://stfm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STF Management LP is a US-based, SEC-registered investment adviser managing two rules-based Nasdaq-100 ETFs (TUG and TUGN) targeting retail and institutional investors. The firm employs tactical asset allocation and an options overlay; advisory duties transferred to Shelton Capital Management in March 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Management / Actively Managed ETFs

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Asset & Allocation ETFs (Balanced, Target Risk) (FSAAAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Systematic Portfolio Construction & Risk Control (Risk Parity, Vol Target, Dynamic Allocation) (FSAHAEAJ), Target-Risk / Risk-Managed Allocation Funds (FSAAAEAG)

Keywords

• Tactical asset allocation
• Rules-based ETFs
• Investment advisory services
• Active ETF management
• Tactical growth funds

Headquarters

HQ city

Frisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Fees: STF Management LP serves as the investment adviser to the Funds, generating revenue through management/advisory fees charged on assets under management. The funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

STF Management LP is an SEC-registered investment adviser that sponsors and manages two rules-based, actively managed exchange-traded funds: the STF Tactical Growth ETF (TUG), which adapts equity allocation to market conditions, and the STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN), which adds an options overlay for income and hedging. The firm uses proprietary tactical allocation algorithms based on moving averages and implied volatility thresholds to deliver Nasdaq-100 Index exposure with risk-managed allocation between equities and cash.

Product overview

STF Management operates as an investment management firm offering two exchange-traded funds: the STF Tactical Growth ETF (TUG) and the STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN). These ETFs employ rules-based, active management strategies designed to navigate short-term market volatility while maintaining alignment with long-term investment objectives. TUG focuses on tactical growth through adaptive equity allocation, while TUGN adds an income generation component. As of March 30, 2026, Shelton Capital Management became the investment advisor for these ETFs, with combined assets of approximately $100 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STF Tactical Growth ETF (TUG): An active, rules-based ETF that navigates short-term market environments while adhering to long-term investment objectives.
• STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN)

Products and services

• STF Tactical Growth ETF (TUG) An active, rules-based ETF that targets the Nasdaq-100 Index and adjusts equity versus cash allocation using moving average and implied volatility thresholds in order to remain fully invested during favorable conditions and reduce exposure during market stress. Designed for retail and institutional investors seeking professional, rules-based tactical growth exposure.
• STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN) A tactical growth and income ETF that combines Nasdaq-100 equity exposure with an active options overlay program designed for hedging and current income generation. Targets investors who want managed asset allocation alongside opportunities to generate monthly income.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nasdaq-100 Index Q2 2024 return of 8.02%, YTD gains of 17.47%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WisdomTree: WisdomTree is a large, established ETF issuer with active, quantitative, and thematic strategies that overlap with STF's rules-based tactical growth thesis, particularly around Nasdaq-100 and factor-based allocation products.
• Pacer ETFs: Pacer is an established ETF sponsor with a range of tactical, trend-following, and structured outcome strategies (e.g., trend pilots, cash cows), competing for the same tactical allocation investor that STF targets with TUG/TUGN.

Emerging players

• GraniteShares: GraniteShares is a smaller ETF issuer with structured, options-driven, and tactical equity products, similar in scale and approach to STF's niche, actively managed rules-based ETF offerings.
• Horizon Investments: Horizon Investments offers tactical and risk-managed ETF strategies and separately managed accounts built on systematic allocation frameworks — closely analogous to STF's rules-based approach to equity and income allocation.
• Rational Advisors (Rational Funds): Rational Funds manages rules-based and quantitatively driven ETFs and ETFs-of-LCDs/ETNs, sharing STF's rules-based risk-managed allocation DNA and competing for similar tactical equity buckets.
• TrueShares ETFs: TrueShares offers actively managed, outcome-oriented ETFs using systematic and rules-based methodologies, positioning itself similarly to STF for advisors seeking tactical allocation exposure.

Direct peers

• Cambria ETF Trust: Cambria runs a suite of rules-based and tactical ETFs (e.g., Cambria Tactical Yield, Cambria Global Allocation ETF), targeting similar advisor-style and quant-driven allocations to retail and RIA clients, with overlapping distribution through traditional brokerage channels.
• Alpha Architect: Alpha Architect designs quantitative, factor- and rules-based ETFs and is a comparable small-to-mid asset manager pitching systematic allocation methodologies to advisor and self-directed retail channels.
• Simplify Asset Management: Simplify is an ETF issuer focused on options-based and hedged equity strategies, with products comparable to TUGN's active options overlay on equity indices, appealing to similar investor demand for downside-managed equity exposure.
• Shelton Capital Management: Shelton Capital Management is the firm that assumed investment advisory of STF's TUG and TUGN ETFs on March 30, 2026. It is an SEC-registered advisor managing over $6.5B across ETFs and separately managed accounts, making it both the most direct operational peer and the natural acquirer/advisor counterpart for a small tactical ETF firm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 STF Management