Episode 041: Many investors ask the same question: Is there a way to participate in the stock market's growth without taking on all of the downside risk?

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Kaufman, Senior Vice President and Head of ETFs at Calamos Investments, to explore one of the fastest-growing areas of investing: buffered ETFs.

Matt has spent more than two decades in the financial industry and has helped design and build hundreds of investment products. He does a fantastic job breaking down a topic that can sound complex and making it easy to understand.

We start with the basics by discussing what ETFs are and why they've become so popular with investors. From there, Matt explains how buffered ETFs work, how they seek to provide downside protection, and what investors give up in exchange for that protection. We also discuss who these strategies may be appropriate for, how they can fit within a portfolio, and some of the common misconceptions investors have about them.

Whether you're a seasoned investor or simply looking for ways to navigate today's uncertain markets, this conversation will help you better understand the tradeoffs between risk, reward, and protection.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What an ETF is and why they've become so popular
 • How buffered ETFs seek to limit downside risk
 • The tradeoffs investors should understand before investing
 • Who may benefit most from buffered ETF strategies
 • How buffered ETFs can fit into a broader portfolio
 • What the future may hold for risk-managed investing

If you've ever wondered whether there is a middle ground between being fully invested and sitting on the sidelines, this episode is for you.