Hey Traders,
I spend my summers up in Colorado — the Florida humidity just kills me.
A couple of summers ago, I’m sitting out at the cabin, enjoying the quiet, and one of the neighbors finds out I’m a trader.
Next thing I know, he starts going off about all these wild trades he’s doing — complicated strangles, iron condors, some kind of delta-neutral calendar swap thing I didn’t even recognize.
I tuned out, quite honestly.
It happens more than you’d think. When people find out I’m in the markets, they start trying to show off. Like they need to prove something or impress me.
But here’s the thing: that’s not smart. That’s stupid.
Let me ask you something…
Do you churn your own butter?
I’m guessing the answer is no. Because it’s not worth the time. You can walk into a grocery store and buy the best butter you’ve ever tasted for a few bucks — and save yourself hours of work.
It’s the same thing with trading.
Why would I sit there all day baby-sitting a fragile iron butterfly combo trade or something that’s got 11 moving parts… when I can just sell a naked put on a solid stock in an uptrend and collect income week after week?
Or buy the stock and sell covered calls against it?
I don’t trade to feel smart. I trade to make money.
And in my experience, the guys who are constantly building little science experiments in their brokerage accounts? They’re not making steady income.
They’re hoping to be right. I’d rather stack the odds.
And right now, even in this news-driven market with stocks jumping and dipping all over the place — I’m still sitting here on cruise control.
That’s the difference.
So next time someone starts throwing around fancy jargon to try and impress you, just smile and nod.
And remember: you don’t have to churn your own butter to enjoy the profit.
Trade well,
Jack Carter
P.S. Here’s another dead simple strategy using one of the most volatile tickers in the market!
