Do the Tradeable Volatility Markets think there are Road bumps coming? Turn on the financial news and you’ll hear the word “volatility” almost every day. But are markets really more volatile... or does it just feel that way? In this video, I break down what market volatility actually looks like as we head into 2026, a mid-term election year that has historically brought wider swings and heightened uncertainty. I walk through the data behind market drawdowns, explain what’s normal versus what’s truly out of the ordinary, and put recent market moves into proper long-term perspective. We start with bond volatility, using the MOVE Index as ground zero for stress in collateral markets. Despite the headlines, the data tells a very different, and much more constructive, story for Treasuries and liquidity conditions. From there, I pivot to stock market volatility, covering: Realized vs. implied volatility What current SpotVol levels are telling us Why short-dated options are pricing in more risk How the VIX and volatility futures curve signal potential market vulnerability later in Q1 and early Q2 Most importantly, I explain what all of this means for investors over the next 4–6 months and why periods of elevated volatility often create the best long-term opportunities for disciplined investors willing to stay patient. This is also why we’ve emphasized patience in recent weeks. The options market is hinting that a real “buy the dip” moment may emerge later in Q1, setting the stage for a potential mid-year rally. 📅 Join us live on January 29, 2026, as we unveil our full 2026 Market Outlook with Troy, Charles, and myself. Feel free to send in questions ahead of time if there are specific topics you’d like us to address. https://click2retire.com/Register-1h-2026-mos About Chris Perras, CFA®, CLU®, ChFC®, Chief Investment Officer: As CIO, Chris is the lead investment strategist and director of research at Oak Harvest Financial Group. Chris develops the firm's core market outlook, putting his decades of experience and expertise to work for our clients. He hosts Oak Harvest's podcast, "Stock Talk," available on the website with new episodes each week. He completed his undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech, and went on to obtain an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Driven by a desire to maximize his knowledge and skill set, he acquired financial planning and investment management qualifications, becoming a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®). Stock Talk is a weekly vlog/podcast dedicated to discussing the Oak Harvest Financial Group Investment Team's perspective on what's happening in the market. Hosted by Chief Investment Officer Chris Perras, each episode brings you our views on stocks, the market, and the economy with a little education thrown in for good measure. Listen each week and help stay connected to your money! Do you need a retirement plan that goes beyond allocating funds to truly fit your needs? We can help you create a retirement life plan customized for your retirement vision and legacy. Call us at 877-896-0040 or fill out this form for a free visit: https://click2retire.com/lets-connect Important disclosures: Content of Oak Harvest podcasts expresses the views of the speaker and is for informational purposes only. Oak Harvest believes that any data, articles, or information cited are reliable at the time of creation, but does not warrant any information contained herein to be correct, complete, accurate, or timely. References to third-party analysts should not be seen as an endorsement of their views or recommendations, and you should do your own research before investing. The views and opinions expressed herein may change without notice. Strategies and ideas discussed may not be right for you, and nothing in this podcast constitutes personalized investment, tax or legal advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Indexes such as the S&P 500 are not available for direct investment and your investment results may differ when compared to an index. Any specific portfolio actions or strategies discussed will not apply to all client portfolios. Investing involves the risk of loss, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
