August 14, 2026

VIX Below 15: Why Scott Bauer Is Hedging His Bets

The S&P 500 just hit a new record high and the VIX has fallen to its lowest level in months. Scott Bauer joined Business First AM to explain why that combination is a signal to act and why traders should be buying protection right now while it is still cheap.

Scott covers:

  • Why the VIX dropping below 15 is a red flag traders shouldn’t ignore
  • The trader mantra he lives by when it comes to buying protection in a rising market
  • Two specific ways to hedge a long portfolio while staying fully invested
  • Why record highs and cheap volatility is a signal to act

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about the author:

Scott Bauer

A respected market commentator seen on Bloomberg, Fox Business, CNBC and other major financial networks, Scott Bauer has 30+ years of professional equity and index options experience at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and as a Vice-President/trader for Goldman Sachs. Scott graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois Business School and has taught classes both at his alma mater and at the CBOE.

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