Luke Gromen
Luke Gromen is the Founder and CEO of Forest for the Trees (FFTT), a leading thematic macro research firm serving institutional investors, family offices, and corporate strategy teams worldwide. Known for his ability to synthesize vast amounts of data into clear, actionable macro insights, Gromen delivers research that uncovers long-term global economic, currency, debt, and geopolitical trends that traditional analysis often overlooks. With more than 25 years of experience in equity research and research sales, Gromen is recognized as one of the most influential macro thinkers in the financial industry. Before founding FFTT, he was a Founding Partner at Cleveland Research Company, where he contributed to the firm’s rapid growth and edited its flagship weekly thematic research summary for institutional clients. Earlier in his career, he served as a Partner at Midwest Research, working across equity research and sales. In addition to his institutional research, Gromen is well known for his “Mr. X Interviews”, a widely followed series in which he breaks down complex macroeconomic developments into accessible, high-signal commentary for global investors.
Luke Gromen Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Founder and CEO
Academic History
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M.B.A., Banking and Finance
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B.B.A., Accounting and Finance
Luke Gromen is a widely respected macroeconomic analyst and financial commentator known for his deep expertise in global markets, sovereign debt dynamics, and long-term structural trends.
He founded Forest for the Trees (FFTT) to deliver high-conviction macro research that blends rigorous analytical work with historical context, giving investors a clearer picture of the forces shaping global economic outcomes.
FFTT serves institutional investors and sophisticated individuals by aggregating diverse datasets—spanning macroeconomic indicators, thematic shifts, and sector-level developments—to uncover emerging bottlenecks and identify actionable investment opportunities ahead of consensus.
EARLY CAREER
Before launching FFTT, Gromen was a Founding Partner at Cleveland Research Company, where he worked in research sales and edited the firm’s flagship weekly thematic summary, Straight from the Source.
His work focused on distilling complex research into actionable insights for institutional clients.
Prior to that, he served as a Partner at Midwest Research, contributing to both equity research and sales, and was the Founding Editor of the firm's widely followed weekly thematic research summary.
Throughout his career, Gromen has advised corporate executives, hedge funds, and financial institutions, helping them understand long-term macro risks—including sovereign debt sustainability, currency devaluation pressures, energy-price volatility, and global geopolitical realignment.
MEDIA PRESENCE
Luke Gromen is a frequent guest on leading financial media platforms and investment podcasts, where he shares insights on global economic trends, monetary and fiscal policy, commodity markets, and structural shifts in international trade.
His commentary has been featured in Fox Business, Financial Times, TD Ameritrade Network, Blockworks, Real Vision, and numerous other top-tier outlets, making him a trusted voice among professional investors navigating today’s complex macro environment.