SCT Podcast

Join TJ this week to hear about the trades he placed in C and AMZN in the live trading room. The market looked bearish and the financial sector has been in a down trend recently. I wanted to take advantage of the decline in the market by trading a bear call spread in AMZN, Amazon and by buying a put in C, Citigroup. Both of the trades paid of as the market pushed lower.

Join Sarah Potter and TJ to hear this latest podcast. In this episode we discuss trading IPO’s and specific ways we are looking at trading recent stocks to go public like LYFT and BYND. Sarah has been particularly interested in buying BYND stock, especially after the stock rose about $65.00. BYND is a stock that is still new to the market, and hence we are still learning and watching to see how the options expire, how the much the stock moves within a day and the profitability of the stock company. TJ is interested in trading LYFT and explains that he believes this stock will continue to rise as it is a business that is well engrained into our lifestyles. Find out more about what to look for and how to assess IPOs.

The new Futures Micro EMinis launched this week. The new futures contracts are one tenth the size of the standard futures contract. Margin requirements are also lower than the standard contracts. The new contracts will offer a way to trade the US Equity Indexes with less capital required. On this episode of the SCT Podcast Sarah and TJ discuss how they will be incorporating the new contracts in to their trading strategy and what they see as some of the benefits of the new contracts.  

The stock market is made to seem super complicated but the reality is that everyone can learn how it works and make money trading for them selves. March 8 is International Women's day and I would like to see some of the barriers to trading broken down and more women feeling like they can trade and can understand the market. In this podcast Sarah talks about how you can learn and understand the stock market and how to trade options. Financial knowledge should be inclusive and available to everyone. Whether you want to trade for your self, or just want to have a better understanding of what your financial adviser is saying, we can show you where to find the information you need.

As a trader you have most likely heard the saying "Buy the Dip", what happens if a stock makes a large move down, should you still buy, and how far is too far? In this episode of the SCT Podcast Sarah and TJ will discus how to tell the difference between when you should buy the dip and when a stock is just too far gone. There are many examples of stocks that have had a large move down and price has remained low for years after the move. How can you tell which stocks will bounce back and which ones are down for the count.  Tune in to hear some strategies you can implement in your trading today.

Chipotle had a strong run until their food safety issues took the stock from over $700 to a low of around $250.  Chipotle seems to have put these issues behind them, and the stock price has rebounded. With a lift after earnings and analyst upgrade is it time to start looking at CMG again? In this episode of the SCT Podcast TJ and Sarah from youcantrade.com will discuss if they are trading CMG and if there are any better alternatives in the restaurant sector.

Earnings season is here and the results are mixed. Over the next two weeks most of the companies will report earnings for the end of 2018. Facebook, Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Alphabet just to name a few of the big names that have just reported or will report in a few days. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss how the market has reacted to earnings and some strategies you can use as an options and stock trader to make sure that you are on the right side of the trade. Earnings season is volatile and there are steps you can take as a trader to maker sure that you are minimizing your risk.

Media and social media has a tremendous effect on the markets. It also has and effect on the mind of a trader and how they place their trades. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, Sarah will discuss how the constant messaging from the media can have a negative effect on your trading and some strategies to tune out the noise. The market is very good at showing traders where it will move next, as a trader you have to watch for the clues and use evidence to get the edge in the market. 

In this weeks podcast, we discuss the S&P 500 chart and where we think the market support and resistance is this week. We had discussed after the correction on Dec 24th, that we believed that the market would make small daily moves to the upside. This premise has been proven as the market has made daily small moves up over the last few weeks. We feel that this will continue as long as the US political landscape remains the same as it is now. If there are any changes to the ongoing Government Shutdown, US China Trade dispute or other notable headlines the market will in our view see a larger move. Earnings season is about to begin and it will set the tone for the remainder of 2019. Many companies have hinted that earnings and revenue growth will be less than last quarter. The market seems to have priced this in thus far. However it is our belief that if companies release numbers that are even lower than their initial guidance then the market will not be kind to them and they will see larger than anticipated price adjustments to the down side. The market is showing signs of a recovery, however this is not a well established or confident rally, that could end any day.

The S&P500 continues to show the volatility that we saw at the end of December. The market has pushed up from the low we saw at the end of December. There is talk in the media about how this is a good time to start buying stocks after the pull back and to start building a position now that the market has pulled back. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, TJ and Sarah will discuss if they think the market has made a bottom and if it is time to start buying. There are many conflicting signals that the market is showing at the bottom. The S&P500 is stuck under resistance on the weekly chart, but has managed to break above resistance on the daily chart. There are continuing issues, such as Trade, The US Government shutdown and others that continue to weigh heavily on the market. Tune in to hear if it really is the best time to start buying stocks again.  

2019 is here what are your Trading Resolutions? In this episode of the SCT Podcast Sarah and TJ discuss what their resolutions are for 2019.

Apple (AAPL) stock has moved down from previous highs and is now trading around $170. Is this the time to buy some AAPL? Call options allow a trader to profit if a stock like Apple moves up. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, we discuss if now is a good time to buy call options or shares in AAPL.  Price is at attractive levels but there are many bearish factors that could push price down lower.

Expiry is an important decision for any options trade. Picking the correct expiry can make the difference between making money in an options trade and not making money in the trade. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss how to pick the best expiry for your options strategies. We detail when to pick a shorter expiry and when to extend the time to expiry.

When trading you will lose money. Each trader will deal with this differently. While each trader is unique and will handle the situation in their own way, there are some trips and strategies that we can use as traders to manage the losses and move on to the next profitable trade. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, we will discuss some strategies for managing losses when trading, and discuss something that you should not ever do as a trader after a loss.

The markets are always presenting new and exciting ideas to traders. There is always another trade or a new stock that is making all time highs or lows. How can you as a trader filter out the market noise and maintain your focus on the strategies that are making you money. It is all too easy to be distracted by news or a surprise move in a stock. In this podcast we discuss how we keep our eyes on the ball and stick to our proven options trading strategies.

Implied volatility has been on investors minds lately, as the markets have seen an increase in the amount they are moving each day. This increase in volatility has spilled over to individual stocks increasing the Implied Volatility. Implied Volatility can be traded directly, or traders can take advantage of certain options strategies that benefit from increasing and high volatility. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss the strategies and tools we use to trade Implied Volatility.

There are many ways to pick stocks to trade. From fundamental analysis to technical analysis, to gut feel. Each investor will have a set of criteria they use to pick the stocks they trade.  Some traders like to invest in the stocks of the company's products they really like. if you like Ford cars then you would buy Ford stock. In this episode of the podcast we discuss how we choose stocks to invest in and if we buy stocks and options based on the products we really like.

Shecantrade has launched YouCanTrade.com, the new site is active and will grow to provide more trading related products for its users. SheCanTrade is not going anywhere, we are just extending our brand so we can offer even more products to our valued customers in the future. Check back often for more updates, courses and great trading related products.

The market can have unexpected moves at any time. What do you do as an investor after a large market correction or sell off like we just witnessed? Volatility increases and with it your stress level as an investor and trader. The increase in volatility can be a benefit to traders. The increase in volatility increases the premium in options and can increase the price that options can be sold for. Corrections allow new levels of support and resistance to be made, think of a correction like wiping off a chalkboard, preparing it for the next great idea to be written. This means opportunity for investors and traders, with new ranges and increased volatility corrections can open up a word of opportunity if you are patient and listen to the market's clues. In this episode of the SCT podcast we discuss what to do after a market correction and how to benefit from the "reset".

How do you start your trading day? Do you watch the open or check the markets mid morning? Every trader has a daily plan that they follow, in this episode of the SCT Podcast Sarah and TJ share how they set up their trading days and the strategies they use to tell how the market is going to move that day.

I have been coaching a number of new traders over the last few months, the 5 week beginner options program has been very popular. As part of this program, I have two one on one coaching sessions with each participant. Its wonderful to work with individuals based on their needs because it also gives insights as to where traders are struggling. Here are three things that I wish everyone would remember about trading:  1. The Tortoise and the Hare have some important lessons for all traders. Whether you are new to trading, or have been trading for years, it is important to remember the key skill of being patient, and realising that trading is about the long game. Only a minute amount of extremely lucky people will gamble with their money and hit it rich on the first go (this is not trading, this is gambling). Most will need to spend time trading in the markets in order to gain mastery as such, you need to trade more like the tortoise, and not the Hare. While you may want to go all in, and place big trades looking for big wins, most often the trader trying to sprint to the finish will only end up blowing their account up. The trader with smaller, achievable goals, who focuses on trading many times with attainable profit targets, and cashing in the profits as you go, will often be the most successful.  2. Don’t Second Guess Yourself While I agree that everyone needs to create goals and look to take the most profit out of the market as they can, if you are always going back and second guessing your trades, you are probably making yourself more unsure of yourself. Once you have taken profits in a trade, don’t go back an hour later to see what the stock did only to say to yourself; “man I left profit on the table, I should have held the trade to make more money”. When you make decisions to exit a trade, you do it in the moment, in real time, so it is important to make the decision making process as routine as possible. Try not to let your emotions get in the way of making the decisions for you because the worst case scenario is that you hold a trade too long because you are second guessing yourself…and you lose the profit you had. Instead, write down the evidence, the reasons why you are getting out the of trade at the time. This process will help to ensure you are making rational decisions about your trading.  3. Don’t make you trading goals 100% Nobody should try to get 100% of your trades right, this is unrealistic. I can’t tell you how many people think that it is about perfection, but think about it, how many other things in life do you do that you do at 100% all of the time?...be honest with yourself… Setting achievable goals for yourself will build your confidence and help you focus on your strengths in trading. Create trading goals that are focused on keeping losing trades small, and finding many achievable winners.

Futures contracts are typically what traders think of when the hear the term day trading. Options contracts can be day traded just like futures contracts or stocks. There are many options strategies that work well for day trading.  In this episode of the SCT Podcast, we discuss out favorite ways to day trade futures, we talk about the best days of the week to day trade and the strategies and stocks that work best.

As the seasons move from summer in to fall, the markets are also seeing a transition. As a trader, you want to be able to recognise the signals to ensure you are adjusting your trades according to how the market is moving. The S&P is no different. This past summer was particularly interesting as there was more volatility on some days with the volatility drying up the following week. We had days with lots of trade entries, followed by days without trades at all. The market which saw highs of 2900 in January with a hard sell off, and moved back to the 2900 this summer. Now that the markets are coming off the highs with a controlled move, it looks like the fall is setting up for some great trades ahead. One stock that has been headlining is AMZN with its projections to be a 3 trillion dollar company. While everyone is discussing this stock Im not trading it. Typically, this is a stock that look to trade every week, it is usually a great candidate for a credit spread on a weekly basis. The stock trends nicely which allows for strong levels of support or resistance, providing ideal levels to trade based on credit. But, for now, as the stock is printed on most media outlets, I will be waiting to trade it.

Should you hold both long and short positions in your account at the same time? If the market is rallying should you look to buy puts on stocks that are moving lower, or ignore these stocks in favor of stocks that are moving up with the market. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we will discuss whether you should play both sides of the market just to be safe, or if the better strategy is to always trade with the market momentum and direction.

Apple just passed one trillion dollars in market capitalization. This is a new milestone for the stock, but what does it mean for the average investor? Should you buy Apple now, or is it too late now that Apple is making all time highs? In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss our opinions on Apple stock if we think that it is a good trade or if the ship has sailed.

The market is beginning to dismiss any news as a non event. With the many and ongoing news stories to make headlines, the market looks like it is tiring and resisting making any sudden moves. The shock and awe moments seemed to have changed to ho hum just another news story moments. The market needs to move, it's like a shark, if the market doesn't move then there is no market.  In this episode of the SCT podcast we discuss how the market is essentially ignoring the most recent comments from the President and actually moving upwards in an opposite direction to what would be anticipated. We also discuss how this lack of reaction is building and might culminate in a large unexpected move.

There are many ways to trade the broad market, from futures to ETF's traders have many ways to place trades and participate in the broad market. Indexes like the S&P500 and the DOW are talked about daily in the media, but they can also be traded. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we focus on how to trade the S&P500 index using ETF's and the SPX cash settled index. We discuss the differences between the SPY and SPX and the strategies for trading each. 

This summer promises to be a volatile summer. With the many factors impacting the market to continue over the summer traders will continue to be able to find great setups as the market should keep moving until the fall. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss where we think the market will move this summer and the best strategies we are using to make the most of the continuing volatility.

In this episode of the SCT Podcast the team discusses if the small cap rally will last despite the weakening of the large cap indexes. Are the small cap indexes a place to invest during this uncertain political time?

Tesla ( TSLA ) is on the radar of most options traders. Some trade TSLA often and some stay far away fearing the surprise announcements and moves in stock price. In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss if we think that Tesla is worth trading and the best strategies to use to trade it right now.

In the second part of a two part series on active vs passive investing. The SCT team discusses the methods and strategies they use to pick both their active and longer term trades. Tune in to hear the proven strategies the SCT team uses to trade each and every week.

In this episode of the SCT Podcast. The SCT team discusses active vs passive investing and how both have a place in your portfolio. Active and passive investing are often discussed in terms of the possibility of only having one in your portfolio. In the podcast we will discuss how one does not have to replace the other, and how both active and passive investing can add performance to your investing. The discussion continues with episode 2 coming next week.

There is a timeless argument among traders, what is more important, the entry or the exit? With traders on each side of the debate making a logical argument the jury is out on which is more important. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, the SCT team shares their thoughts on the debate.

Facebook has been volatile since the issues they have had with the privacy of user data. Now that the issue is out and many people have forgotten about it, is it time to once again start buying Facebook? In this episode of the SCT podcast the SCT team will discuss where they think Facebook options will move next, and whether you should be buying calls or puts.

This earnings season will be different, expectations will be high, and traders are expecting earnings to dig the S&P500 out from the recent lows.  In this episode of the SCT podcast the SCT team discusses if they think this earnings season will be different, what to watch out for as a trader and how to manage trades during this potentially volatile time.

How do you keep calm when things get stressful? Trading is like any other activity in life, it can be stressful, how you deal with that stress can make the difference between success and failure. In this podcast the SCT Trading Team discusses how to keep calm and trade on. Try taking some of the strategies that give you success in other areas of your life and apply them to trading. We can all manage the stress of trading, listen to the podcast and get some great tips to help you stay calm while trading options.

The technology sector has been split lately, with some companies like Netflix making large gains, while companies like Facebook and Amazon have seen their stock prices dramatically reduced over the last few weeks. In this Podcast the SCT team discusses their views of the tech sector and if they think there are opportunities to trade. Tune in to hear the team discuss where they believe opportunities exist in the market.

The new hot sector in Canada is Cannabis stocks. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, Sarah Potter and the SCT Team discuss cannabis stocks if they are right for your portfolio, are the companies over valued and if there is potential to make money in this emerging sector.

Creating good trading habits is essential to having success when trading. Whether you trade every day or once every few months, effective habits will make sure that you are maximizing your chances in the market.  In this podcast the SCT Team discusses how they have set up good trading habits and how they have fixed some of the bad trading habits that every trader deals with.

In this episode of the SCT Podcast Sarah discusses what it's like to trade for yourself. Trading options and having an understanding of the market is a valuable skill. Whether you are trading every day or just want to have a more informed discussion with your financial planner. Learning and understanding stocks, options and trading can be a benefit to you.

Trading can be stressful, what can you do to reduce the stress. In this podcast Sarah Potter discusses how she deals with the stress of trading and some helpful tips to make trading less stressful.  

Should short term trading be a part of your portfolio? In this podcast we discuss the advantages of short term trading and how you can use short term trading to add an active trading component to your portfolio.

The US markets have had almost a week of volatility with the DOW moving more than 1000 points a few days in a row. In this podcast we discuss if this is a good time to buy the market, is the extreme volatility over or is there more to come? We also discuss some options strategies that work well in this extreme volatility.

Even trader's make New Year's resolutions! What are some of the things you will change about your trading this year? In this episode of the SCT Podcast Sarah and TJ will discuss the changes they are each making in their trading this year. Tune in to see how they are going to make 2018 a great trading year.

December is almost over and 2018 is right around the corner. In this episode Sarah shares what she does at year end and how she prepares for the new year. She also discusses how to evaluate your trading strategies and make sure that you have your best strategies working for you in 2018.

Traders always want to make the most profit possible with every trade. Traders feel bad when they leave money on the table. In this episode of the SCT Podcast, we discuss strategies to maximize the profit you have in a trade. We discuss the pros and cons of a few different strategies and why they might be a good fit for your trading.

What if making money was just like riding a bike? Where you get better the more you practise the skill. While you may be familiar with money preserving skills like ‘save more’ or ‘spend less’, Sarah Potter explores the myths and realities of what it is really like to build the skills to make more money, grow wealth and investing in the markets for average people. Find out why financial literacy is failing you, and how to change the financial narrative for the next generation. Sarah Potter is the author of How You Can Trade Like A Pro: Breaking into Options, Futures, Stocks and ETFs (Published by McGraw Hill) and founder of www.shecantrade.com Sarah is well regarded as a trading and market expert and is well known for her trading consistency and straightforward options strategies. Her unique skill set, including her Masters of Education allows her clients to learn about trading markets and market analysis in a clear and understandable way. Sarah Potter has both written for, and been featured in: Forbes.com, Tradestation, All Stars of Options, Traders Expo, Scotia iTrade, TheStreet.com, Yahoo Finance, AOL Daily Finance, Active Trader Magazine and more.

Traders who have been trading options for a long time will accumulate starategies, indicators, charts and watch lists. Some items will be used and some will be forgotten about. Traders can make sure they are focusing on the important items by decluttering and removing items that they are not using or that are not working any longer. I always find that this helps me focus on what's working and removes the distractions from my trading. In this podcast we discuss what TJ and I do to declutter our trading and some tips that you can use to make your trading more efficient.  

In this episode of the SCT Podcast we discuss taking a vacation or break from trading to reset and make sure we stay fresh all year. Trading is a mentally tough activity, you are always managing trades and looking for the next options trade to place. This means that at some point you will feel warn out and exhausted from what you are doing. Taking a break is essential to staying sharp all year.

In this episode of the SCT podcast we discuss three of our top tips to improving your trading. These tips are simple and straight forward, yet very powerful. These are tips based on how we trade each and every day, just some simple steps that you can use to make improvements in your trading right away.  

When buying calls is it better to buy at the money or out of the money. There is not a one size fits all answer to this question. There are many considerations on both sides, and each strategy has it's benefits and drawbacks. In this podcast we discuss the pros and cons of trading calls out of the money vs in the money.