The StockTwits® Edge: 40 Actionable Trade Set-Ups from Real Market Pros

CHAPTER 30

There Is Always an Option

Steven Place, @stevenplace

Steven is a StockTwits veteran. He is only 12. I'm kidding. But young Steven is far too wise for his age. Options can be simple or complex. Steven is working hard daily to make them simple and profitable for people. His readers are loyal and love him. You will, too.

Enhance returns, reduce risk, print money.

—Steven Place

LEARNING THE RULES OF THE GAME

While I've always had a passion for finance and markets, my focus of study was electrical engineering. I developed a proficiency in software, statistics, and stochastics; these disciplines helped me to find my edge in the markets from both a quantitative and a perceptual aspect.

During my time at college, I developed a self-study of finance. While interning at a major defense contractor, I would be plugged in to Bloomberg Radio. In between being president of a fraternity and my other coursework, I would head to the library and read trade and business magazines like the Harvard Business Review. I went through dozens of finance books and began taking a special interest in equity options. The pricing and behavior of options resonated strongly with me and grew out of my expertise in statistics and probabilities. As I had a full ride to university, the college fund became my initial trading capital.

Postcollege, I was living in Orlando, Florida, during the real estate boom. My friends were getting real estate licenses, pricing for single-family units was absurd, and I ...