I had an interesting conversation with an option trader today who is still searching for the secret to making consistent returns with option trading. He said many things that I absolutely agreed with.
One thing that got my attention was when he said “Non-directional option trading doesn’t mean we can make money in any direction. It means that we make money if the underlying doesn’t move in any direction. In other words, it’s still a directional trade, sideways.” He was right, and it’s often advertised that it’s easy to make money with options because we can make money on any direction. However, this isn’t always the case.
If you are trading Iron Condors based upon what most courses teach, then you will understand what I am talking about. Using this strategy when it comes to trading in 2009, the amount that you are making is probably minimal. The Iron Condor option trade needs a sideways directional as opposed to the normal up and down direction. Predicting a sideways move is as difficult as it is to predict an up or down movement.
Because of trading credit spreads and condors, many people have ended up losing sizeable chunks from their accounts and calling me. They repeat to me the same story… “Everything was going great for several months and then all of a sudden in one day I nearly lost my whole account.” This story has been repeated to me time and time again.
This is precisely why I don’t trade the popular Condors and Credit Spreads. If you’re a few days from expiration, and the RUT is right at your short strike, then you are trading the way most people trade this strategy, and soon you’ll be telling the same story to your best friend, and even hiding the truth from your wife! You chuckle now, but you won’t think it’s funny once it happens to you. The worst part of this style of trading is the high stress level that could really ruin your life.
To combat the problem, San Jose Options Mentoring has redesigned Iron Condors and Credit Spreads. They taught me a different technique which gives the underlying much more wiggle room, lowering my stress level and keeping me out of dangerous situations. Remember, in most cases, you’re better off the less you have to adjust your condor.
By using their developed techniques, I was able to lock in my profits on Condors. I learned from them how to stay in the trade a little longer after I was able to lock-in my profits, which is unlike most options trader who after they have made a profit exit their trades.
If a Condor should ever move against me, by using the techniques which were taught to me I will be able to morph into a new position and make adjustments to keep me in the game! When most traders would bite the bullet and move on because of a bad month, I will be able to get an excellent, free trade from it.
Along with my other strategies, win or lose, I have now developed an impressive way to trade Iron Condors.