In general, a good lazy portfolio should maximize returns, minimize volatility, and reduce the magnitude of
volatility changes over time.
Using absolute levels may not always be the best but sitting on the sideline while VIX is in transition could be one approach to use
when volatility changes quickly.
It is obvious how
account volatility changes by looking at the swings in the account and how far the graphs are apart from each other (the simulation is based on Edgewonk's risk simulator).
That also illustrates why I prefer funds to ETFs: encouraging folks to speculate
on volatility changes is a fool's errand.
Bollinger Bands show
relative volatility changes through the width of the bands themselves — the wider the bands, the greater the volatility.
Not only is the equity risk factor the most volatile, says Page,
volatility changes over time, something most risk models don't account for.
We consider two simple monthly crash protection rules based on the assumption that
volatility changes are somewhat persistent, as follows:
We consider two simple monthly crash protection rules based on the assumption that
volatility changes are somewhat persistent, as follows: