Smooth out the stock rollercoaster with Index puts

TRUTH HAS A FUNNY way of punching you in the gut. I received my punch thanks to the 2022 decline in the stock market, which put a dent in the “funded” status of the 529 college-savings plans for my two sons, ages 16 and 14.

Buy and hold is all well and good if you have an infinite investment time horizon. Strict adherents will argue that mark-to-market gains and losses are just noise. Time will smooth out the ripples. But what if the funds are earmarked for an upcoming goal, like college costs or retirement?

Working from home can blur work-life boundaries. To prevent burnout: – Set a strict start and end time – Take scheduled breaks – Create a dedicated workspace – Communicate boundaries with your team – Prioritize offline time after work

Are you & your clients in the market for long-term gains? April 2025 shows how a ‘stop loss’ could have shaken you out just as the market was headed for new highs—while an index put could have helped you stay the course with less turbulence. Mike Tosaw explains.