Nassim Taleb: Ask Me Anything

The link to his book Silent Risk is within this link. I opened the link and tried to read his book. Well, it is readable only for someone who is studying for his PhD in mathematical finance. I gave up after about page 100. As an options traders I really don't know how it could help me except perhaps this:
View attachment 175044
I certainly like to take advantage of a situation where payoff swamps probability.

Perhaps try this one:

https://seekingalpha.com/article/1975481-book-review-bhansali-tail-risk-hedging


TAIL RISK HEDGING: Creating Robust Portfolios for Volatile Markets (Professional Finance & Investment) 1st Edition
by Vineer Bhansali


 
Most retail options punters do not even understand how to trade Gama, neither do they understand skew, higher order risks, managing an options book. ... I don't know the details why he closed down and neither do I care.

Gama???

Perhaps he should start a new fund trading again! Why not?
 
Here some info on the Universa Investments fund that Taleb is advising:

https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/bear-going-vs-the-bulls-still-profits/?_r=0

Q

A Wall Street hedging expert said that adding such a bearish bet to a big holding of stocks could erase as much as 8 percent from the value of the portfolio each year.

Mr. Spitznagel, however, contends that Universa’s hedge costs far less than that. Universa, he said, has been able to buy protection against a stock market crash at a price that makes the firm’s overall strategy viable. But doing so has not been easy, Mr. Spitznagel contended. “You’ve got to be buying when other people are selling it — and that’s very hard to do,” he said.
UQ

As an adviser, Taleb would have to tell the public very little about anything that could be useful, if any. imo
 
Pekelo,

This is your thread and I have a lot of respect for you. So, I propose to bring the discussion back to the merits of his specific strategy.

I think many here and in the hedge fund industry argued the wrong thing: Yes, hedging tail risk can be expensive and may not be worthwhile. However, Taleb's strategy is not to hedge a portfolio against tails but rather how one can profit from tails? They are 180 degree apart. The two points he made:

1. Keep most of your assets risk free but use a very small percentage to invest in tail events.

2. The investment in tail events can be profitable because of the convexity of tail events.

Perhaps it is extremely difficult to implement successfully because of the rarity of tails and I think most hedge fund cannot afford to not make money for a while waiting for tails or their customers will bolt before they succeed. This reminded me of the "Big Short".

My question to all you professional option traders is whether what he said has merit? Yes/no? And what are your rationale, or proofs of your answer. This way an amateur mom and pop retail trader like me can learn something from you professionals.

Cheers.
 
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