TheStreet explores how buffered ETFs use options strategies to provide defined downside protection in exchange for limited upside. The article examines their potential role in retirement portfolios, particularly for investors concerned about market volatility and sequence-of-returns risk.
As concentration in the S&P 500 grows, traditional asset allocation may no longer provide sufficient diversification. OCMR examines concentration risk, equal-weight indexing, and explicit ETF strategies investors can use to strengthen portfolio risk management.
Even buffered ETFs with nearly identical structures can deliver very different results because of reset timing and market path. OCMR examines how path dependency affects buffered ETF performance and why ongoing analysis and monitoring matter.
Understanding how buffered ETFs behave across changing market conditions is at the heart of OCMR’s research. Volume 1.2 explores the questions that led to BufferLABS’ research tools, models, indexes, and data-driven approach to buffered ETF analysis.
How unusual are today’s stock market returns? OCMR compares the S&P 500’s recent performance with more than 75 years of market history, examining returns, volatility, valuations, and the potential for mean reversion.
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…
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…
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…
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…
