TSME #023: Mutual Funds vs. Stocks

Some people say, “I would never put my money in the stock market because it’s too risky.” Yes there is risk, but without risk there would be no reward. There are companies in the DOW jones that are less risky because they have proven their revenue - companies like Coca Cola, Disney, Apple etc. In the Wealthy Investor Program we try to balance risk by leaning a little more conservative and having most of our money in DOW stocks. 

Today Tyrone talks with someone well versed in risk. Josh Belanger is an option trading specialist and author of the book Fearless Investing With Options. Josh began working at 19 as a pizza delivery boy. He told one of his regular customers about his dreams of becoming a stock broker, and the customer advised him to get a Series 7. While Josh studied to pass the Series 7 exam he worked on the floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange as a runner - the lowest man on the totem pole. After the test, Josh had a career as a stock broker, or financial adviser. 

After paying his dues, Josh started to see how the internet and technology was changing the industry. He also realized that he wasn’t really learning to play the game of the stock market. He got out of the finance industry and started trading options aggressively. Now Josh is the founder of www.OptionSIZZLE.com where he publishes free daily investing and trading tips and teaches struggling self directed investors how to become more profitable trading options while reducing risk, creating higher chances of success and generating better returns in any type of financial market. 

Having been on the other side, Josh believes that mutual funds are legally stealing everyone's money. The monstrous fees taken by the financial advisors and firms compared to the little amount of money they make you in return is unreasonable. Also, financial advisors are required to operate under so many legal restrictions, that there's not much they are allowed to do to grow your money.

Now trading on his own and helping others to do so, Josh has focused mainly on options trading. In Tyrone’s Wealthy Investor approach, he teaches LEAPS options trading. In a LEAP, the option has a one year expiration date. Josh’s strategy utilizes shorter time frames; his options usually expire in 30 - 50 days. Josh looks more for income generating opportunities instead of focusing on long term investing or day trading. 

Josh believes that one of the first things you need to understand is implied volatility. Ideally if you buy an option you want the implied volatility levels to be low. If you buy an option, you want to look to sell it. Your fear about what could happen is greater than what really happens in the market. Typically Josh buys an option and sells another option. He does this to reduce the overall cost and increase the probability of success. This would be considered a spread.

As Tyrone always says, "The Stock Market is a game with a hundred ways to play it." To learn how to build your strategy and get in the game visit WITradeSchool.com.