Tasty Options Strategies For 2025

JJ Kinahan, CEO of TastyTrade shares some tasty option strategies for 2025. JJ shares his journey from floor trader at the CBOE to CEO of TastyTrade under IG North America. He discusses the evolution of the brokerage industry—from the days of shouting in trading pits to today's retail-driven, commission-free environment—and how access to education has empowered individual investors. JJ emphasizes the importance of starting small, defining risk, and learning gradually when trading. We also talk why certain option types are miscategorized as "risky," the influence of retail investors since the meme stock era, and how futures trading offers hedging and round-the-clock opportunities. 

We discuss... 

• JJ Kinahan discusses his journey from being a floor trader on the CBOE to leading roles at ThinkorSwim and TD Ameritrade, and now serving as CEO of TastyTrade under IG North America.
• The real differentiator for traders now is education, not access, and that platforms like TastyTrade prioritize teaching users how markets actually work.
• The conversation highlights how TastyTrade continues that mission by combining content, community, and trading functionality in one ecosystem.
• JJ stresses the importance of understanding "defined risk" in options trading—knowing exactly how much you can lose before entering a trade.
• Calendar spreads can help traders take advantage of time decay and volatility differences between expiration cycles.
• JJ notes that the "meme stock" era of 2020–2021 changed market dynamics by bringing millions of new retail participants into the market.
• JJ warns that while accessibility is great, it can lead to overconfidence, so risk control and continuous learning are critical.
• JJ shares insights on how professional traders manage emotions and avoid letting losses dictate decision-making.
• Traders who survive long-term tend to manage downside risk far better than they chase upside potential.
• The conversation explores how automation and data analytics have reshaped trading, but that human intuition still matters in volatile environments.
• Building good habits—like journaling trades, reviewing setups, and setting stop levels—is key to developing consistency.
• He encourages investors to find strategies that fit their personality, risk tolerance, and time commitment rather than copying others.
• JJ leaves listeners with a simple message: focus on learning, define your risk, and don't let one trade define your trading journey.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
• Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors

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For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/tasty-options-strategies-for-2025