the best way to make profits through trading to learn. the skills

Most traders wake up, check their phone, and start panic-buying whatever's moving.

Then they wonder why they're red by lunch.

Here's the exact pre-market routine I use every single morning before 9:30 AM:

1. Check the overnight futures (30 seconds)

S&P, Nasdaq, and VIX. That's it. If VIX is above 25, I'm trading smaller. No exceptions.

2. Scan for earnings & macro events (1 minute)

Fed speakers? CPI? Jobs report? If yes, I adjust my risk. Earnings movers are noted — but I never trade the first 15 minutes of an earnings gap.

3. Review my watchlist levels (2 minutes)

I mark key support/resistance the night before. If price is sitting at a level, it's on my radar. If not, I skip it.

4. Set my max loss for the day (30 seconds)

I decide the number BEFORE the market opens. Once I hit it, I'm done. No revenge trades. Ever.

5. Wait for the setup — don't chase (the rest of the day)

The best trades come to you. If nothing hits your levels, doing nothing IS the right trade.

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This routine takes 5 minutes, but it's the difference between trading with a plan and gambling.

The traders who survive aren't the ones with the best entries — they're the ones with the best discipline.

I break down setups like this daily inside ProfitWave. Real-time alerts, full trading course, and a community of serious traders. Join while it's 20% off with code LAUNCH20 🌊

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Most new options traders start by buying calls and puts — then wonder why they bleed money even when they're right on direction. Here are 3 strategies that changed the game for me.

1. The Vertical Spread (Risk-Defined Directional Bet)

Instead of buying a naked call for $5.00, buy the $100 call and sell the $105 call for a net debit of ~$2.00. You cap your upside at $3.00 profit, but you cut your cost by 60%. Theta and IV crush hit you way less because the short leg offsets decay on the long leg.

When to use it: You have a directional thesis but don't want to pay full premium, especially going into earnings or a catalyst.

2. The Cash-Secured Put (Get Paid to Buy Stocks You Want)

If you want to buy AAPL at $170 and it's trading at $180, sell the $170 put. You collect premium immediately. If the stock drops to $170, you buy it at the price you wanted anyway — minus the premium you collected. If it stays above $170, you keep the premium as pure profit.

When to use it: You're bullish on a stock long-term and have the capital to buy 100 shares. This is how Warren Buffett entered many of his positions.

3. The Iron Condor (Profit From Sideways Markets)

Sell an OTM call spread and an OTM put spread simultaneously. You collect premium from both sides and profit as long as the stock stays within a range. Works best on stocks or ETFs in consolidation with elevated IV.

When to use it: After a big move when IV is high but you expect the stock to chop sideways. SPY and QQQ iron condors are a staple for income traders.

The Key Takeaway

The difference between losing and winning in options isn't about picking direction — it's about structuring trades that give you an edge on cost basis, theta, and probability. Master these three and you'll already be ahead of 90% of retail options traders.

I share setups using these strategies (and more) daily inside ProfitWave. If you want real-time trade alerts with full breakdowns of the logic behind each position, come check it out.