Last year around this time, stocks had just given investors a 6% return in the month gone by, after posting 21% in 2017, after averaging about 15% per year in the eight years before that. It seemed like all systems go – business as usual – with a benign VIX reading of 13.50 showing markets expecting annualized volatility over the next 30 days of just 13.5%.

Just five days later, on February 5th, 2018 – the tables turned in a big way, and we were left with a new term in the investment landscape – Vixmageddon. Out of the blue, the financial market’s so-called fear gauge, the VIX, spiked more than 100% to go above 30 for the first time since 2011!

Left in the VIX’s wake: more than $4 billion or so in assets invested in exchanged traded products that tracked the VIX, with the majority of that on the short (read: wrong) side of the move. A near billion dollar mutual fund selling volatility via options forced to close, allegations of market manipulation in VIX futures, and a stunned market, which was left wondering after seeing the Dow drop 1,000+ points, whether the fear index reflects moves in the stock market, or whether the stock market is now reflecting moves in the VIX.

Are we more prepared for such a move today than we were a year ago? Were lessons learned? We’re not so sure, so before we all forget just what a VIX spike can look and feel like, here’s a roundup of our VIXmageddon coverage a year ago:

• Whitepaper
  • Investing in VIX and Volatility Whitepaper
• Blogs
  • VIXTrordinary
  • Seller Beware: Everybody’s short the VIX these days
  • Raise, hold, or fold this VIX move?
  • A brief visual history of being short the VIX 
  • Want more volatility? Introducing FANG+ Futures 
  • VIX traders see February returns from +30% to – 95%
  • The tail has wagged the dog
  • The chart showing why this VIX move is unique
  • Why did the VIX implode?
  • LJM – The autopsy
• Infographics
  • Honey, I shrunk the VIX
  • How to trade the VIX