Lots of great discussions during our April meetup. Certainly, relevant discussions around the market's response to the Middle East conflict. The theme during the meetup was certainly around futures trading, "prop firms" and options.
I shared a trade in the NQ (Nasdaq) futures that I got into at the end of the trading day and was able to take advantage of a 156 point move in 1 minute. I normally don't trade futures but on this day, my $TICK indicator was screaming that a bottom may be near. Trading futures can be an adrenaline rush, when you're right!
Our "prop firm" SME, Bryan, shared a lot of tips on how to get into prop trading and how to get paid using their money. I love it when people share what is working for them. If you don't have a lot of capital, prop firms might be the way to go for some people.
There were also discussions about options and why options are so awesome. Yes, I'm biased. Nataliya shared that she liked Covered Calls the best. That is when you sell 1 call contract against 100 shares of a stock that you own, for a premium. If the contract expires worthless, you get to keep the premium. Great strategy if you believe a stock will continue to trend up.
Trading can be isolating. Community reminds you that you're not alone in the struggle. Join other Knoxville Traders for our May 2026 Meetup! Whether you're new to trading or looking to enhance your strategy, this meetup is perfect for all levels of expertise.
Do you trade stocks? Options? Futures? Connect with fellow traders, share insights, and gain valuable knowledge to improve your trading skills. Don't miss this opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and take your trading game to the next level!
Whatever you trade, whatever your time frame, whatever your experience, we all benefit from each other's ideas and perspectives. It is a great time to get together and chat about the markets, right?
If you plan on attending the next meetup, please RSVP via Meetup so we can reserve the right sized table(s).
My advice to everyone is to keep learning everyday! Read books/ articles, and watch YouTube videos. At some point, you will learn what you are comfortable with and what helps you make money consistently.
Come on out to Abridged Beer, 320 N Peters Rd in
Knoxville, TN. They have great drinks and good food!
See you there!
Jason
For those getting started with trading, below are some things to consider:
Charting Platforms - Check out TradingView, thinkorswim or Tradestation. TradingView is probably best if you are new to charting. I love their VWAP indicator!
Brokers - Check out Charles Schwab, tastytrade (great for options), E*Trade, Robinhood (great for mobile). If you want to trade stocks 24 hours a day, ensure your broker supports that. Take advantage of the free education/training they offer.
Research - Check out https://www.allstarcharts.com and https://www.stockmarkettv.com/. Lots of great ideas, both free and paid. YouTube has a lot of content but be careful as there are many people who just want you to pay for their content.
Bonus - Check out http://finviz.com and http://www.koyfin.com
