Nate | Stock & Options trader | Stocks since ‘07 | Options since ‘12 | Tweets are my own thoughts & not investment advice | USMC Veteran 0861 2004-2008
Joined March 2015
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No alerts and no trades today for the first day of the challenge. Reminder that no trades will be taken on Friday's. Back at it on Monday and hope to get the account going. There is no rush and I am going to be sticking to the rules I previously outlined.
Options List for 10/1/26
Today is the day we start our challenge!
Calls: tos.mx/!ml9MvcVw
Puts: tos.mx/!00p1nZHe
🚨 THE $500 OPTIONS CHALLENGE 🚨
On October 1, 2026, I’m officially starting a live options trading challenge using the automated strategy I’ve been developing, testing, and posting here each week.
Full disclosure: the current account balance is $515.30, and that will be the official starting balance for the challenge.
The strategy has produced a 75–80% win rate in the data I trust most so far. However, the dataset is still limited, and historical performance does not guarantee future results. This challenge is about documenting how the system performs under actual market conditions.
Weekly recaps will include the account balance, trades taken, wins, losses, win rate, average ladder lock, and drawdowns.
No cherry-picking. Losing trades and difficult periods will be documented alongside the winners.
The goal is not to turn $515.30 into a fantasy number overnight. The goal is to determine whether a defined edge, controlled risk, and disciplined execution can hold up under live conditions through December 31, 2027.
Discipline over speed. Process over hype.
This challenge is being shared for transparency and educational purposes only. It is not financial advice or a promise of returns. Options involve substantial risk, including the possible loss of the entire investment.
#OptionsTrading #AlgoTrading #TradingChallenge #500DollarChallenge #AutomatedTrading #RiskManagement #OptionsLocator
Weekly Review: Sep 21–24
10 alerts: 3 wins, 5 losses, 2 scratches and still a green week. That's the system, not luck.
The math: three winners banked +$1.50 ($GOOGL), +$2.00 ($GOOGL), +$1.25 ($AMZN) = +$4.75. Five losers all capped at −$0.50 = −$2.50. Two scratches ($QQQ, $AAPL) tagged breakeven and cost nothing. Net +$2.25/share. More red than green on the board, still positive on the P&L.
The theme of the week: getting stopped, then watching it run. $QQQ scratched me at breakeven Monday, then ran to $15. $TSLA and $QQQ both stopped me −$0.50 and ripped after. That's the tradeoff of tight risk; I give up the runners to make sure the losers never hurt. I'll take that trade every time.
Net on the week (ladder-locked):
1 contract: +$225
5 contracts: +$1,125
10 contracts: +$2,250
Not every green week has a winning record. This one didn't, 3 and 5. Small losses, protected winners, breakevens that cost nothing. You don't have to be right more than half the time; you have to be small when you're wrong. On to next week.
My own trades & opinions, not financial advice. #OptionsTrading #OptionsLocator
