Lessons Learned for 2023

Lessons learned for 2023

Yes. I know. But it’s not a typo. As of this year, I’ve been in options for 29 years. And do you know what my objective is for 2022? It’s to get better at trading. You’d think I’d be over that, seeing as it’s been my objective every year for, well, 29 years. But I’m […]

ATM, ITM and OTM Options Explained

ATM call option

There are three ways based on strike prices to buy and sell options with varying degrees. An option can be at-the-money (ATM), in-the-money (ITM) or out-of-the-money (OTM). But what makes an option ATM, ITM or OTM? Below we will answer that very question and show a few examples that should make the concept a little […]

Using VXX as a Portfolio Hedge

VXX Chart

During the past couple of weeks, several people have asked me about using VXX as a portfolio hedge. Maybe people feel things are getting a little toppy with all the Fed intervention and the many other harbingers of potential danger hanging over the markets. I wanted to write about this subject because it’s pretty darned […]

Option Trading Success Secrets Unveiled

Option Trading

Are there such things as option trading success secrets? That can be debated, but what you should know is that there are ways to improve your odds for success in option trading. Are they necessarily a secret? Probably not. However, most option traders don’t do certain things that could enable them to extract money from […]

Start Each Trading Day With a Plan

routine

Professionals in all walks of life are engaged day and night. My leisure passion is golf. I study the game and hone my craft through practice. I did the same as a baseball player during my college years. Through sports I learned hard work and diligence pay off. My dream to be a pro player, […]

If You Want to Succeed, Get Motivated

On the surface, it seems silly to think one is not motivated to make money option trading. But if you look deeper, lack of motivation is what holds back many traders. Having the proper attitude can go a long way in life including in your potential success as an option trader. So ask yourself right […]

Use VIX to Adapt in Extraordinary Times

There is a toxic cocktail that traders are forced to swallow. The pandemic, election, lockdowns, and divided House and Senate comprise a nasty drink. The current trading environment is extraordinary and challenging on normally reliable strategies. As traders we must adapt. When volatility is at lofty levels, regulating risk and profit targets requires adjustment. Setting […]

Put Your Profit Taking Orders in Immediately

technical indicators

The market has been a volatile beast and there are no signs of that slowing down especially with the election on the horizon. This post will not only be an eye-opener to some but will also remind others of something they should already be doing: Set up a profit taking order as soon as you […]

Having Anxiety About Your Long Stock?

If the market has not been volatile enough for you recently, add in quarterly earnings and you have even more potential volatility into the mix. If you own stock, you would love your stock to gap higher after the release. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The way 2020 has progressed thus far, option […]

Use Daily Candles to Spot Changing Trends

To recognize change in trend we must understand “responsive activity.” As a market moves lower, we need to identify when buyers respond to the cheap prices. Conversely, as prices move higher, we have to note when sellers consider prices too rich. Daily candlesticks are a useful tool to determine when momentum has faded and the […]

Before You Enter That Trade…

I have a bunch of different sayings when it some to options trading, but this one might be my absolute favorite: “Know exactly what you will do no matter what happens.” What this really means is that I want traders to have a trade management plan in place before they enter a position. As we […]

The Essential Elements of Trade Analysis

Market Analysis

Acronyms and mnemonic devices are learning techniques that aid in information retention. I use them to recall patterns in charts and when teaching a logical approach to trading. The acronym I use most often when creating trade strategy is VERTEX. Each letter in this acronym is an element I research for every trade. The V […]

Option Bid-Ask Spreads Can Hurt You

I have always wondered why there has to be a spread between what you can buy an option for and what you can sell it for. The simple answer is someone needs to make money and that someone is usually the market maker. All kidding aside, many option traders do not even think about the […]

Your Trading Plan of Attack

Option Vega

When scanning for trades I do it with purpose. When searching for directional or vertical trades, there are conditions that must be met. And the first one is that the market has come into a long-term support/resistance zone. Markets frequently reverse when revisiting previous extremes. When a market reaches such an area, the next requirement […]

What Triggered Today’s Stock Tumble?

Stocks had been trending steadily for a couple of weeks, but today they took a tumble, seemingly out of the blue. In the Wednesday MTM Daily Edge session, we prepared for a possible reversal or consolidation phase to begin. A day before the sharp decline there were subtle changes that are common before market turns. […]

How to Compete With Pro Traders

I have three sons who grew up in a unique era. Little league and soccer were their first social gatherings. Around that time electronic games were just taking hold. Baseball, football, soccer, hockey, water polo, lacrosse, boy scouts and music were options for youngsters, and my kids tried them all. They embraced competition and accepted […]

What You Should Know About Bollinger Bands

bollinger bands

I have researched and tested many technical tools and indicators. My goal has always been to find the ideal combination of instruments without overloading my charts. When traders use too many tools, they often get conflicting signals making it difficult to execute trades confidently. I began testing new disciplines years ago and started a journal […]

Keep It Simple When Viewing Candles

Keep your trading simple

Arguably daily candlesticks are the most widely used technical tool to analyze price action. The reason for this is because they are designed to track opens and closes, which are the most volatile and liquid times of the trading day. When a market closes above the opening price, it is thought to have positive momentum. […]

A Volatile Market Is an Excuse to Review Your Trades

management

With volatility picking up in the market once again, option traders can have an instant edge. But sometimes, because of market uncertainty or wider than normal bid-ask spreads, it may be hard to profit. As you hear me say plenty of times, no position is sometimes the best position. Traders need to consider sitting on […]

Volatility Apt to Remain High Amid Fed Uncertainty

On Wednesday afternoon the FOMC meeting culminated with no changes in monetary policy. The equity indexes rallied on the news that the Fed will continue to be accommodative and use all their tools to ensure Americans receive financial aid where needed. However, 30 minutes after this news was reported, Chairman Powell held a press conference. […]

Use RSI to Navigate Uncertain Markets

Relative Strength Index

Technical indicators can be quite helpful when fundamentals are absent. Now more than ever traders need to interpret price action using charts because the stock market lacks guidance. Earnings estimates and guidance mainly drive stock prices. With much of the economy shut down and the uncertainty of when it will be running at full capacity […]