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08 March, 2020 Flex Strategy

The Flex Rebounds During a Volatile Week


ALL BLOG CONTENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ANY REFERENCE TO OR MENTION OF INDIVIDUAL STOCKS, INDEXES, OR OTHER SECURITIES ARE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY NOT REFERENCED AS PAST RECOMMENDATIONS OF PATTON WEALTH ADVISORS. ALL GRAPHS, CHARTS, AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION ARE ALSO NOT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE IN REACTION TO SHIFTING MARKET, ECONOMIC, OR POLITICAL CONDITIONS.  IT IS COMMON FOR US TO USE A FUND AS A PROXY FOR AN INDEX OR ASSET CLASS.  FOR MORE DETAILS SEE OUR FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

The Flex Rallies

The Flex Strategy gained +9.9% for the week while the S&P 500 was higher by +0.4%. This brings the Flex back into positive territory for the year while the S&P 500 remains lower by -8.0%.

Built-in Risk Controls

It was an extremely volatile week for both the Flex and S&P 500 as investors reacted to news regarding the coronavirus. The Flex has multiple built-in risk controls including one that reduces the total exposure, and therefore reduces risk, when volatility increases as it has.

Exposure is the amount of stocks in the portfolio relative to the amount of investor's capital. The goal is for the Flex to have $5 of stocks for each $1 invested or exposure of 5 to 1. This is done through borrowing. Note that the stocks in the Flex Strategy are always a combination of long and short positions.

Flex Exposure

As volatility increases, moving above its long-term average, the Flex will automatically reduce its exposure, again, reducing risk. This has occurred multiple times since the launch 10 years ago. Most recently, exposure was reduced in September of last year, to a ratio of $4 to $1, when we had a stretch of heightened volatility. This again happened on Friday reducing the exposure to a ratio of $3 to $1. This will reduce, but certainly not eliminate, some of the volatility in the Flex.

What Next?

There's no way to know what comes next. The obvious answer is more volatility and I suppose this is likely. Volatility though can disappear as fast as it came upon us in late January.

Regardless of where the market goes next, the performance of our Flex Strategy will continue to have its good and bad days sometimes doing better than the market and sometimes worse. As more time passes, and as research shows in last week's blog, odds will remain in our favor that the Flex will continue to deliver better than market performance.

Contact Mark A. Patton :

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. Any specific securities or investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own situation before making any investment decision including whether to retain an investment adviser.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.  Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed. This content was created as of the specific date indicated and reflects the author’s views as of that date. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

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