Over the years, I have searched high and low to find others like me with whom to collaborate. You could say I miss my pharmacy patients and co-workers. Whatever it is, the struggle is real (see here, here, here, and here).

Since I can’t find similar traders out there, perhaps I can create my own. If you have been interested in learning to trade/invest for yourself, then my challenge is your gain.

Submitted for your approval is the Michigan Self-Directed Option Trading Syndicate (MSDOTS).

The first goal of MSDOTS is to teach option trading strategy. You can pay several [tens of] thousands of dollars on trader education programs. One thing I have learned is the most critical lessons will not be gained from any such class no matter how much they charge. I will present several commonly-employed strategies in addition to discussion about why the more exotic strategies may offer no added benefit. We certainly do not need to reinvent the wheel.

One thing we must do, however, is stick with said strategies and repeat them over and over. The second goal of MSDOTS, therefore, is to practice. I will present ideas on how we can make this happen in simulated (paper trading) accounts and collectively study the results. Working together will give you the support and accountability necessary to trade real money in your personal accounts if so desired.

The final goal of MSDOTS is to research. I want to further develop related option trading strategies. To that end, I have written an entire automated backtester research plan. In order to accomplish this, I need people with data science and/or financial engineering expertise (e.g. working with spreadsheets, programming, and statistics). I have basic skills in some of these areas, but I need more to carry it through completely.

For the initial attempt, I want to limit MSDOTS to 10 people. No experience is required as long as you are motivated and committed to learning. Advanced traders, who may be able to work with me as content contributors, are also welcome. Preferential selection will be given to those with data science/financial engineering expertise as discussed above. I strongly encourage women to join as well. Much has been written about how trading/investing has traditionally been a male-dominated endeavor (see here, here, here, here, here, here, and here), and I would like to do my part here to challenge the status quo.

If you join, then please schedule a voice call for further discussion. Once we have enough people, I will arrange the first Meetup where we will structure activities.