We like to explore, educate, and share ideas involving options trading. Come along with us on
our journey to demystify the complex yet rewarding world of options trading.

Spicer's Soapbox

  1. How To Lower Your Stock Basis Using Options

    How To Lower Your Stock Basis Using Options

    Throughout my investing career, I have always applied my energies to basis reduction and not seeking discounts when buying a position in a company. I love to use call options or put credit spreads to reduce the basis of a core holding. In this post, I will share with you some of my basis reducing ideas.

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  2. How Successful Options Traders Generate Monthly Income

    How Successful Options Traders Generate Monthly Income

    Many people think they can quit their day job and start day trading. The truth is, most do not succeed day trading long term. There is an alternative that can generate monthly income just like you hoped to do by day trading. In this post we explore the concept of selling premium in the options market using probability-based options trading.

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  3. How I Prevent Emotional Trading

    How I Prevent Emotional Trading

    Over the years I have learned that there is no upside to emotional trading. The market is random, and if you try to guess what the next tick will be you will lose. In this post I walk you through designing a trading strategy that prevents your emotions from sabotaging your trading through the wildest of times.

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  4. Directional Options Trading Is Not for Me (Typically)

    Directional Options Trading Is Not for Me (Typically)

    I like directional trading but for the most part directional options trading is a hobby. There is nothing better than picking a direction, applying a leveraged bet via options or futures, and watching that trade take off. Here I will explain why directional trading is just a hobby.

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  5. Staying Engaged in the Market Is Key

    Staying Engaged in the Market Is Key

    When I first started Stockpeer I expected to mostly share my experiences trading the stock market via automation. But I find myself talking less about automation for an important reason: automation can lead to a lack of engagement—aka complacency.

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  6. Trading Futures as a Hedge

    Trading Futures as a Hedge

    Recently I have been playing around with something new: trading the futures market as a hedge against my options trading strategy. Why hedge a good bet you ask? Though the strategy I rely on the most—trading put credit spreads on a consistent basis.

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  7. The Importance of Grading Your Trades

    The Importance of Grading Your Trades

    To start I want to point out 2 things: this idea is not originally mine, and though I talk mostly about trading I think the concept applies to all forms of investing (buy-and-hold, real estate, fixed income, and so on). From time to time I attend a meetup group.

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  8. Trading Weekly Put Credit Spreads

    Trading Weekly Put Credit Spreads

    Want day trading returns without the headache of sitting in front of 26 big-ass monitors all day? You’re in luck because today we are going to discuss trading weekly put credit spreads on the SPY. The idea is pretty basic. I sell a put credit spread on the SPY that expires in 7 days.

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  9. I Took a Blogging Sabbatical and Didn’t Even Get You a Lousy T-Shirt

    I Took a Blogging Sabbatical and Didn’t Even Get You a Lousy T-Shirt

    I’m baaaaaack! But that’s not to say I am returning empty handed. . . You did notice that I took a nearly 5-month sabbatical from Stockpeer blogging—right? The catalyst was the arrival of my second child, a dangerously sweet little girl!

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  10. Picking an Investment Style That Suits You

    Picking an Investment Style That Suits You

    Warren Buffett often says that he tap dances to work. He has found a method of trading that gets him high. I, however, would be bored to tears if I invested the way Buffett invests: I need more action, which is why I like to trade credit spreads and day trade the SPY.

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