Slope of Hope Blog Posts
Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.
Brace for Netflix (Not)
It seems almost quaint that earnings season would be what moves markets, but it’s the classic truth. We’re fully in the heat of the Q1 2025 earnings reports now that the household name Netflix is coming out in moments.
I Am Alone
A favorite video of a favorite song from my favorite band.
Take the Pepsi Challenge
I don’t normally have a timeline in mind for my positions, but one short-sale I could anticipate holding for months is Pepsi (PEP), which is sporting a massive, well-formed topping pattern.
High Implied Volatility a Gift for Sellers
Before we dive into the details, a quick note — if you’re an options trader looking for clear, no-fluff education, I invite you to check out The Option Premium. The Option Premium is my free weekly newsletter dedicated to helping traders of all levels make smarter decisions with options. Each issue breaks down actionable strategies, market insights, volatility signals, and premium-selling setups — all through a risk-first lens. Whether you’re building your first iron condor or managing a multi-strategy options portfolio using poor man’s covered calls, you’ll find something here to add to your trading toolbox.
If you’ve been following the market lately (most at Slope have) you’ve probably noticed a key shift: implied volatility (IV) has spiked across the board. Yesterday, I touched on how this high-volatility environment presents a window of opportunity for options traders—not by buying options, but by selling them.
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