Joe Terranova
Joe Terranova is the Senior Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist at Virtus Investment Partners, a leading asset management firm. In this role, he oversees the firm’s investment strategies and serves as a client-facing thought leader, offering insights into domestic and global financial markets. Terranova is the creator of the Terranova US Quality Momentum Index, a systematic tool designed to provide exposure to large-cap U.S. companies demonstrating both quality and momentum characteristics. Before joining Virtus in 2008, Terranova spent 18 years at MBF Clearing Corp., ultimately serving as Director of Trading for the firm and its subsidiaries. He also held key positions at Swiss Banking Corp. and JP Morgan Securities, building a foundation in equities, derivatives, and institutional trading. A seasoned media contributor, Terranova has been a CNBC ensemble member since 2008, regularly appearing on programs such as Halftime Report, Squawk Box, and other digital and broadcast platforms. He is also the author of “Buy High, Sell Higher”, providing practical investing strategies informed by his decades of experience in trading and market analysis.
Joe Terranova Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Senior Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist
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Ensemble Member
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Chief Alternatives Strategist
Academic History
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B.S., Finance
As Chief Market Strategist at Virtus Investment Partners, Joe Terranova collaborates closely with the firm’s investment management teams and financial advisors, providing actionable insights across equities, commodities, fixed income, and currencies.
He frequently represents Virtus as a keynote speaker and moderator at major financial institution conferences hosted by Morgan Stanley, UBS, Fidelity, Credit Suisse, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch.
Terranova’s investment philosophy is captured in the Terranova US Quality Momentum Index, which reflects the principles he has applied throughout his career.
In November 2020, Virtus launched the JOET ETF, a Nasdaq-listed fund tracking the index, which had approximately $90 million in assets under management as of February 2024.
MBF CLEARING CORP
Before Virtus, Terranova managed more than 300 traders and support staff at MBF Clearing Corp, one of the largest firms on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
He oversaw proprietary trading operations during turbulent market periods, including the first Gulf War, the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, 9/11, and the collapse of Amaranth Advisors.
His work at MBF was highlighted as the feature story in the June 2004 issue of Futures magazine.
MARKET CALLS
Terranova has a track record of prescient market insights.
In 2003, he was among the first Wall Street professionals to call for higher energy, natural resources, and commodity prices.
In June 2008, he advised investors to move to the sidelines in commodities, and in March 2009, he recommended overweighting equities despite global pessimism.
PHILANTHROPY
Joe is actively engaged in charitable initiatives. He founded the 501(c)(3) South Nassau Rock organization and created “Bossy’s Bunch”, a program recognizing excellence in elementary school classrooms.
In 2013, he established and financially supported “The Courier of Courage” with the New York Islanders and continues to support the Islanders Children’s Foundation and Smile Train, reflecting his commitment to education, youth development, and community service.