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Having backtested with Optionvue extensively in the pre-mentor era, I have only 3 observations: 1. Backtesting is an excellent tool for learning to make adjustments in a strategy as volatility and price action change, and seeing how they "work out". 2. It has limited use in predicting eventual...

Be prepared to be "picked off" and set your stops accordingly.

ES options (and other futures options) trade in the extended session. Make sure that you have your "Settings" configured so that "Show Extended-Hours Trading Session" is checked. This will enable options prices to show on the chart.

True, futures trading is not for the faint of heart. It requires good chart reading skills in terms of directionality, recognition of strong support and resistance levels, nimble fingers, quick reaction times, and rigid adherence to risk management protocols. I always recommend paper trading...

Futures options are difficult to trade successfully, and the commissions are expensive. The futures contracts are much more liquid.

I guess the "amount of movement" is relative. Since I only trade 2 or 3 contracts (day trades only), I am only seeking relatively small movements and returns to supplement my other day trade strategy and Boxcar. For example, in the last 3 trading days, my approach has yielded: +$230, +$65...

Strikes which are 2 points OTM definitely do not have the same movement as the ATM strike. Yes, I believe that the LAST is plotted rather than the MARK. In any event, I have not had any problems with visualizing price movement and patterns when I use a 1 or 2 minute chart of the ATM strike...

Yes, you can copy/paste the option OPRA code into a chart window in TOS (not the Risk Profile window in the Analyze Tab). Then, you can use Active Trader to trade directly from the chart window. I utilize this technique daily using SPY ATM or near-the-money options. These highly liquid...

Hi Kobus. My Boxcar trade is monitored nearly entirely on my enhanced spreadsheet rather than the risk graph, which does not provide sufficient detail with respect to the interplay between the credit spreads (PCS) and the debit spread (PDS). My spreadsheet highlights the debit spread component...

Yes, I am here. I am not as active as I once was (retired), but I still join TG1 periodically. My most recent contribution is the Boxcar strategy.

I did not include the adjustment columns. They were "off the screen". You may have more success by building your own sheet from scratch using the principles I outlined rather than trying to drill down into my calculations which may not reflect your approach. If you chose to make your own...

Good observation regarding the spreadsheet. The cells in the columns mentioned above do not contain errors (to the best of my knowledge) , but could be represented differently (see below). I create my rudimentary sheets "on the fly", and often do not "make them pretty" once they have become...

Good observation, Michael. I have noticed the same error. My general approach is to view the hypothetical P/L curve in day steps of 3 day increments, so I am not particularly troubled by this error. Also, I set up 2 or 3 price levels at selected intervals and observe the greeks and T+0 curve...

The YTD P/L on Jan 1 is always zero since that is when TOS starts the clock assuming the trade is not held over from the previous calendar year. If so, then I think that the YTD P/L is zero, but the P/L Open will reflect the held over trade. If your Current P/L shown on the sheet matches the...

The P/L Open shown by TOS is not the actual position P/L once an adjustment has been made. As you know, TOS does not keep track of previous adjustments in the Analyze Tab, but it does account for all previously closed trades (such as adjustments) as well as the Open position in the YTD P/L...

This is just a template. I might have made up that value.

Hi status1. Yes, you must keep up with the YTD P/L of a specific underlying AFTER you close the trade. I maintain this value in my spreadsheet so that I have it handy when I launch a new trade in the same underlying. Alternatively, if you forget to do this, you can do simple arithmetic using...

I got tired of bringing in and saving the Simulated trades in order to calculate my P/L. For me, the easiest, simplest, and, perhaps most accurate method to acquire real-time P/L of a position (without ONE or OV) is simply to bring the current P/L YTD from TOS into my spreadsheet with an RTD...

Hi Michael. Here are my thoughts on your questions: 1. Yes, a key benefit is greater flexibility if adjustments are necessary 2. I don't have precise metrics on this version. The only required parameter is that the entire trade must be launched with a net credit 3. A negative...

Keanan, you might wish to try setups with highly liquid ETFs for the 1 3 2 fly. If you launch on a down day you should have small risk with decent premiums. I have this set up on Power Options (poweropt.com) to find them easily. Best of luck to you.