Option Chain Masterclass – Learn to Trade Options Like a Pro

In this in-depth episode of the How to Trade Stocks and Options Podcast, host Chris welcomes Lex, SVP of Partner Relationships and Chief Trading Strategist at Tradier, for a masterclass on options trading. Lex shares decades of experience from his time on the trading floor, explaining how market makers create liquidity and how the modern electronic market has evolved from thousands of firms to just a handful of massive entities like Citadel and Susquehanna. He dives into key concepts such as bid-ask spreads, open interest vs. volume, implied volatility, and the importance of using limit orders over market orders—especially during volatile events like the Trump tweets that caused massive spread widening. The episode also highlights Lex’s upcoming Tradier Live Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 7th–8th, where Chris and Lex will be in person, offering exclusive access for the first 15 attendees who receive full reimbursement for their hotel and ticket. The event will feature panels on new options products, prediction markets, and interactive discussions, with no live stream or replay available—making it a premium, invite-only experience. Throughout the conversation, Lex emphasizes practical tools like the Rule of 16 for estimating daily expected moves and the strategic use of midpoint pricing, while cautioning against automated stop orders that can trigger during wide markets. The episode concludes with a warm invitation to female traders, spotlighting successful women like Emanuela Elias, and reinforcing the community-driven mission of Team Outlier.