American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company is a leading provider of annuity solutions designed to help clients protect and grow retirement income. Part of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, we partner with more than 40,000 financial professionals and help fund over half a million retirements nationwide. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies and named a Top Workplace in Iowa, American Equity fosters a collaborative and purpose-driven culture where employees are empowered to ignite their passion and help shape the future of financial services.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with satellite offices in New York, NY, American Equity provides opportunities for employees to support work across the enterprise, including our sister company, American National, headquartered in Houston, Texas.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Intermediate Trader is responsible, under direction, for executing authorized derivatives trades on behalf of American Equity in accordance with approved investment strategies, risk parameters, and trading guidelines. This role supports the derivatives function by monitoring assigned markets, assisting with trade execution activities, maintaining dealer relationships, and providing timely information regarding market sentiment, trading activity, volume, liquidity, and price volatility.

The Intermediate Trader is expected to continue developing knowledge of assigned asset classes, including equity options and other derivative instruments, and to apply analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills to support accurate and timely trade execution. This position typically works under the guidance of Senior Traders or the Head of Derivatives and has less experience and more limited knowledge of assigned asset classes and markets than Senior Traders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Executes authorized derivatives trades under direction in accordance with approved strategies, trading guidelines, risk limits, and internal controls.
Trades with external dealers and market participants on behalf of American Equity, in alignment with direction provided by Senior Traders or the Head of Derivatives.
Develops and maintains effective working relationships with derivatives dealers, counterparties, brokers, and other market participants.
Provides the Head of Derivatives, Managing Senior Traders, and other stakeholders with ongoing information regarding market sentiment, trading environment, trading volume, liquidity, and price volatility.
Monitors assigned asset classes and related markets to understand trading characteristics, price trends, valuation drivers, and execution considerations.
Supports trade analysis, pricing review, scenario evaluation, and other pre- and post-trade activities using Bloomberg, Excel, SQL, Power Query, macros, Python, or other approved tools.
Applies strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to evaluate market information, identify issues, ask appropriate follow-up questions, and support timely trading execution.
Maintains accurate trade-related documentation and supports compliance with applicable policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and internal control expectations.
Collaborates with derivatives, investment, risk, operations, legal, compliance, technology, and other business partners to support effective trade execution and lifecycle processes.
Receives direction, guidance, and feedback from Senior Traders, Managing Senior Traders, or the Head of Derivatives to support continued development in trade execution and assigned markets.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, mathematics, statistics, business, accounting, or a related field; plus three (3) or more years of trading, derivatives, investment, capital markets, risk management, or related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience supporting or executing trades involving equity options or other derivative instruments is preferred.