Are you okay with volatility? Really? You sure?

One of the things that bedevils all investors is volatility. Usually, we are trying to figure out how to take advantage of it. Investors, particularly value investors, are always claiming to not care about it. It's casually dismissed as noise. It usually is. Still, it's hard to call it noise when your portfolio drops 20%.

I hate volatility. I dread it except when I'm long and it's to the upside. I think that there are a lot out people out there who would agree with me. I expect volatility, and try to use it get lower my cost basis. I also use it to get out of positions, losing and winning ones.