Risk-Managed Put Selling

For institutional investors

Parametric’s Risk-Managed Put Selling program aims to capture the volatility risk premium (VRP) by selling put spreads on S&P 500® Index options.

Risk-Managed Put Selling may make sense for investors who seek to increase returns on underlying fixed income portfolios or cash. The strategy has a predefined maximum loss per 28-day period.

Investing in an options strategy involves risk. All investments are subject to loss. Learn more.

The effectiveness of the option strategy depends on a general imbalance of natural buyers over natural sellers of index options. This imbalance could decrease or be eliminated, which could have an adverse effect. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived and well-executed options programs may be adversely affected by market behavior or unexpected events. Successful options strategies may require the anticipation of future movements in securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors. No assurances can be given that the judgment of Parametric in this respect will be correct.

Options are not suitable for all investors and carry additional risks. Investors must ensure that they have read and understood the current options risk disclosure document before entering into any options transactions. In addition, investors should consult with a tax, legal or financial advisor prior to contemplating any derivative transactions. The options risk disclosure document can be accessed at the following web address: https://www.theocc.com/Company-Information/Documents-and-Archives/Options-Disclosure-Document.

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Intended benefits of Risk-Managed Put Selling

Limited downside

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Risk-Managed Put Selling limits maximum losses during any consecutive 28-day period.

Enhanced returns

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Risk-Managed Put Selling aims to generate options profits to enhance returns on an underlying fixed income portfolio or cash.

Low correlation

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Risk-Managed Put Selling generates returns that are generally uncorrelated to fixed income and have low correlation to most traditional return strategies.

How it works

Transparent strategy
Minimizing event risk and path risk

We systematically sell S&P 500^® put option spreads to harvest the VRP. The options can be sold against a portion or all of a portfolio. The underlying collateral can be any marginable security, such as stocks, bonds, or cash.

Short-dated put option spreads are sold across multiple tranches to maximize the benefits of time decay, minimize event-specific risk, and reduce path risk.

Why choose Parametric?

$608Bn+

Total firm AUM

$19Bn+

VRP solutions AUM

Derivative investment professionals

As of 6/30/2025

MORE WAYS TO INVEST

Volatility Risk Premium

Parametric's volatility risk premium solutions are strategies that seek to benefit from the VRP, a distinct and diversifying risk premium that options buyers pay to options sellers. We’ve historically observed that this premium can be a persistent source of return, better positioning your clients’ portfolios to weather market volatility over a full market cycle and improve overall performance.

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