This no-fluff breakdown pits two heavyweight strategies against each other over a five-year period: passively buying and holding the S&P 500 index versus actively selling cash-secured puts. It dives deep into returns, taxes, drawdowns, fees, and the psychological grind of staying consistent. While selling puts can outperform on paper, especially in calm markets or with tax-efficient setups, buy-and-hold wins on simplicity and scalability. The report dissects both sides to help investors pick a side based on facts—not fantasies.