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Searching For ‘Volatility’ Insights? This Guide Can Help

March 16, 2018

Volatility is never far from our minds at Calamos Investments where our investment teams are on constant lookout for the opportunities that can present themselves. “Volatility is the flipside of opportunity,” as Calamos Founder, Chairman and Global CIO (and a pioneer in convertible securities investing) John P. Calamos, Sr. likes to say.

Even after nine years of a bull stock market, market volatility is a continuous focus of financial advisors, too—whose goal is to shield their clients from the effects of drawdowns.

But the attention that investors pay to volatility ebbs and flows. Based on the chart below of Google search trends, it’s safe to assume that February’s 13-day 10.1% drop in the S&P 500 has gotten their attention.

Search interest in “volatility” is approaching the interest level of searchers in October 2008. A value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term, achieved 10 years ago. Google reports that “volatility” has a value of 95 in February 2018 and is the highest since the 2008 high mark.

volatility interest over time

Financial advisors, here’s a resource for the volatility conversations you’re having with clients.

vog guide cover

The just-updated 2018 Calamos Volatility Opportunity Guide is an archive of some of the tried-and-true communications about the merits of remaining invested, including graphs and analysis on:

  • The costs of timing the U.S., developed and emerging markets
  • Investor behavior across market cycles
  • Keeping S&P 500 market declines in perspective: even up markets see drawdowns
  • Emerging market equities, major drawdowns and subsequent performance
  • Asymmetric payoff profile of lower volatility equity strategies
  • Convertible securities’ outperformance during periods of high volatility
  • Benefits of adding alternatives to an asset allocation
  • The rise of correlations between equity markets

The client-use guide includes ideas on how lower-volatility strategies can simultaneously manage risk and pursue growth. And, peppered throughout are perspectives on how volatility—including periods of low volatility such as was experienced in 2017—brings out the best in Calamos' investment professionals.

Download the 44-page PDF now.

Advisors, contact your Calamos Investment Consultant at 888-571-2567 or caminfo@calamos.com for print copies.

Managing volatility is Calamos’ specialty and we welcome the opportunity to help you with your clients’ conversations and investment plans. Your rough patch, as we like to say, is our sweet spot.




    Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-866-363-9219. Read it carefully before investing.

    Opinions and estimates offered constitute our judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions. We believe the information provided here is reliable, but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. References to future returns are not promises or even estimates of actual returns a client portfolio may achieve. Any forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation. The S&P 500 Index is considered generally representative of the U.S. stock market. Indexes are unmanaged, do not entail fees or expenses and are not available for direct investment.

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    Archived material may contain dated performance, risk and other information. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted in the archived material. For the most recent month-end performance information, please CLICK HERE. Archived material may contain dated opinions and estimates based on our judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions at the time of publishing. We believed the information provided here was reliable, but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. References to future returns are not promises or even estimates of actual returns a client portfolio may achieve. Any forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation.

    Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The principal value and return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance reflected at NAV does not include the Fund’s maximum front-end sales load. Had it been included, the Fund’s return would have been lower. For the most recent month-end fund performance information visit www.calamos.com.

    Archived material may contain dated performance, risk and other information. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted in the archived material. For the most recent month-end fund performance information visit www.calamos.com. Archived material may contain dated opinions and estimates based on our judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions at the time of publishing. We believed the information provided here was reliable, but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. References to future returns are not promises or even estimates of actual returns a client portfolio may achieve. Any forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation.

    Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The principal value and return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance reflected at NAV does not include the Fund’s maximum front-end sales load. Had it been included, the Fund’s return would have been lower.

    Archived on March 16, 2019