How do you adjust iron condors or credit spreads ahead of FOMC meetings when implied volatility is spiking?

At VixShield, we approach FOMC meetings with a disciplined, rules-based framework drawn directly from Russell Clark's SPX Mastery methodology rather than discretionary adjustments. Our core strategy centers on 1DTE SPX Iron Condors placed daily at 3:05 PM CST after the market close, using the Iron Condor Command. When implied volatility spikes ahead of these events, we rely on VIX Risk Scaling to govern our actions instead of widening strikes or reducing size manually. Specifically, if VIX remains below 15, all three risk tiers remain available: Conservative targeting a $0.70 credit, Balanced at $1.15, and Aggressive at $1.60. Between 15 and 20, we limit ourselves to Conservative and Balanced tiers only. Above 20, we enter full HOLD mode with no new Iron Condor positions initiated. This prevents fighting elevated premiums that often accompany FOMC-driven uncertainty. Our EDR indicator, which blends VIX9D and historical volatility, guides precise strike selection in real time, while RSAi rapidly assesses skew to ensure we capture the exact credit the market offers without forcing trades. The ALVH hedge remains fully active across all VIX regimes, with its three-layer structure of short, medium, and long VIX calls providing protection that historically cuts drawdowns by 35-40 percent during volatility events at an annual cost of just 1-2 percent of account value. We never employ stop losses, adhering strictly to our Set and Forget approach that leverages the Theta Time Shift for zero-loss recovery on any challenged positions by rolling forward to 1-7 DTE on EDR signals above 0.94 percent or VIX above 16, then rolling back on pullbacks below VWAP. Position sizing stays capped at 10 percent of account balance per trade, preserving capital through these macro events. With current VIX at 17.95 and its 5-day MA at 18.58, we would currently operate under the 15-20 band, favoring Conservative entries that maintain our approximately 90 percent win rate on that tier. This systematic process turns potential FOMC volatility into structured opportunity rather than reactive guesswork. All trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Visit vixshield.com to explore our full SPX Mastery resources and consider joining the SPX Mastery Club for live sessions and indicator access.