Sometimes taking a very long-term view, describing the core “nature” or “essence” of the market’s behavior, can help put more recent experiences in context. That is precisely the point of this inaugural “Investment Perspectives” piece from Ogard Capital Markets Research, LLC. Below is a daily logarithmic return chart for the S&P 500 Index starting in…
Big news: BufferLABS has its first client—wealth management star Jeff Hussey! As markets teeter, we’re rolling out tools to enhance buffered ETF portfolios at Bufferlabsetfs.com. Jeff’s in, and you can be too! Meet Jeff HusseyJeff’s a serious investor: former Global Chief Investment Officer at Russell Investments, steering hundreds of billions through rough seas. Now, he…
On April 14, 2025, AQR Capital Management’s Daniel Villalon appeared on Bloomberg TV and labeled buffered ETFs, such as the FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) and Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF), as an “investment failure.” Watch it here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-04-14/buffer-etfs-an-investment-failure-aqr-video AQR’s critique claims these options-powered funds underperform simpler alternatives, fail to mitigate drawdowns…
We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming webinar, Introduction to BufferLABS – Mastering Buffered ETFs with the ADOPT Model, happening on May 7 at 2:00 PM EDT. In partnership with BlueVault Research, who is proudly sponsoring the event, we’ll unpack the BufferLABS research platform and showcase our innovative ADOPT model. Led by Erik Ogard, CFA, Co-Founder…
The exchange-traded fund (ETF) landscape has evolved dramatically over the past decade, with one of the most exciting innovations being the rise of buffered ETFs—also known as defined outcome ETFs. These funds, which use options strategies to provide downside protection while capping upside potential, have surged in popularity, growing from a niche concept in 2018…
Markets are stumbling through a correction—and it might get uglier. BufferLabs’ research subscriptions launch Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Bufferlabsetfs.com, arming you with tools to conquer buffered ETF portfolios. First 100 subscribers snag 50% off their first year—and advisors, you can claim a free 1:1 holdings review now, before you sign up. Let’s tame the…
BufferLABS Response to AQR Blog Post: “Rebuffed: A Closer Look at Options-Based Strategies” Dated March 21, 2025 – Cliff Asness and Daniel Villalon https://www.aqr.com/Insights/Perspectives/Rebuffed-A-Closer-Look-at-Options-Based-Strategies As a new research publisher and participant in the buffered ETF ecosystem, BufferLABS aims to shed light on these hedging instruments using data and facts—nothing more, nothing less. So, we read…
When it comes to Buffered ETFs, there are many misconceptions held by investors about their structures and payoff features that can lead to unrealistic expectations and, unfortunately, some disappointment in their returns. These things become prominent when the market goes through a period of heightened volatility, like the one we are in at present. We…
BufferLABS’ Goal is to deliver maximum value-added to our customers for a fair price. In setting our prices, we wanted to have offerings that could economically meet the needs of advisors across the spectrum: from small practices to large practices. Our tiered pricing provides just that: a way for advisors of almost any size to…