How a Stock Market Algorithm Outsmarted a Trader

Steady Wealth Podcast

How a Stock Market Algorithm Outsmarted a Trader

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline."

These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

In the newest episode of The Steady Wealth Podcast, hosted by Serge Berger, he reflects on how his own indicator and algorithmic process outperformed him in the first half of 2023.

Serge admits to his own mistakes and explains how his indicators work effectively in the markets. He discusses the benefits of using indicators and algorithmic processes, such as speed, efficiency, and the elimination of biases.

Serge emphasizes the importance of respecting moves in different timeframes and shares examples of how his algorithm correctly identified bullish trends in stocks like Nvidia, Oracle, and Microsoft.

He also explores the drawbacks and limitations of relying solely on automated analysis, stressing the need to consider unknown events and market reactions.

Serge concludes by highlighting the power of combining qualitative and quantitative analysis for better decision-making.

Listeners are encouraged to explore the Market Rover tool on thesteadysteadytrader.com

Let’s Talk 0DTE Options!

Steady Wealth Podcast

Let's Talk 0DTE Options!

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline."

These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

In the latest episode of The Steady Wealth Podcast, host Serge Berger dives into the world of zero DTE (days to expiration) options.

He explores the risks and benefits associated with these options, which have gained popularity in recent months.

Berger discusses how zero DTE options are contracts that expire on the same day they are traded and explains how the introduction of options expiring on Tuesdays and Thursdays led to a surge in volume.

He highlights the impact of these options on market volatility and the potential risks they pose to portfolios.

Whether you're a seasoned options trader or just getting started, this episode provides valuable insights into the world of zero DTE options.

The Sector Rotation Strategy Explained!

Steady Wealth Podcast

The Sector Rotation Strategy Explained!

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline."

These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

Welcome to the newest episode of The Steady Wealth Podcast with your host, Serge Berger.

In this episode, Serge discusses the strategy of sector and group rotation, which has gained significant interest among investors.

He shares insights from his conversations with clients at Blue Marlin Advisors and the Steady Trader, where sector and group rotation consistently emerges as a top priority.

Serge recounts a recent encounter with a billionaire who showed great enthusiasm for this strategy, highlighting the importance of being allocated to certain stocks or asset classes during favorable market conditions.

Serge walks listeners through the concept of sector and group rotation, emphasizing the need to adapt portfolios throughout the economic cycle.

By the end of the episode, listeners will gain a clear understanding of sector and group rotation and its potential benefits for their investments.

Whether seeking professional management at Blue Marlin Advisors or trade alerts on the Steady Trader, listeners can find ways to implement this strategy and optimize their portfolios.

An Options Trader’s Take On Market Risk This Summer

Steady Wealth Podcast

An Options Trader's Take On Market Risk This Summer

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline."

These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

Welcome to this week's episode of The Steady Wealth Podcast with your host, Serge Berger.

In this episode, Serge takes a deep dive into the options market, sharing his insights on its significance and how it impacts trading strategies and investment portfolios. He discusses the recent market rally and provides analysis on what the summer months may have in store for investors.

Serge emphasizes the importance of considering the macroeconomic environment, which is often overlooked by many traders. He acknowledges the concerns surrounding the macro environment and highlights the role it plays in shaping market trends. Serge reflects on his own trading experiences over the past few months, particularly in relation to the counter trend rally he observed.

Drawing from his expertise, Serge explains the distinction between macro environments and fund flows, highlighting how the latter dominates in the multi-week and multi-month timeframes. He shares valuable insights obtained from the options market and its role in understanding investor sentiment.

Serge presents various statistics and indicators to support his analysis. He discusses the heightened call buying activity, increasing implied volatility, and extreme market moves. He provides visual representations of market trends and discusses the implications of extended market conditions and their potential impact on volatility.

Additionally, Serge examines the relationship between options market behavior and the broader equity market, discussing the nuances of the VIX and the importance of monitoring the implied volatility of different strikes and expiration points.

Serge concludes by addressing concerns about liquidity in the market, highlighting factors such as the Treasury general account, student loans, jobless claims, and interest rates that contribute to potential liquidity constraints. He emphasizes the need for cautious investment strategies given the current market conditions.

Where is The Recession?

Steady Wealth Podcast

Where is The Recession?

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline." These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

In the latest episode of The Steady Wealth Podcast, host Serge Berger dives into the topic of the economic recession.

Frustration is growing among investors due to the lack of a noticeable economic downturn, especially in the equity market.

Serge focuses primarily on the United States economy but also touches on Europe and China due to their interconnectedness.

He discusses the performance of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100, noting significant gains year-to-date.

Serge presents two different camps of thought: the bullish camp, which believes the market won't go much lower due to extreme negativity and a strong consumer, and the bearish camp, which looks at interest rates and the potential impact on economic growth.

He discusses the timing of a recession and highlights problems in regional banking and commercial real estate.

Serge concludes by stating that an economic recession is imminent and advises investors to prepare for a potential downturn.

Can AI Push the Nasdaq To All Time Highs?

Steady Wealth Podcast

Can AI Push the Nasdaq To All Time Highs?

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline." These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

In this episode of The Steady Wealth Podcast, host Serge Berger discusses the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the market.

He begins by emphasizing that risk assets, including AI-related stocks, don't move in a straight line but experience pauses and corrections along the way.

Berger shares his personal experience of using AI and how it has improved operational efficiency and cost savings for his business.

He then discusses the phenomenon of companies mentioning AI in their conference calls, which triggers algorithmic trading and drives up stock prices.

Serge highlights the rapid pace of technological adoption and the potential for volatility in the AI sector.

He cautions investors about the risks and advises them to be cautious and not underestimate market volatility.

Berger also mentions the importance of using indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) to identify overbought and oversold conditions in volatile stocks.

Overall, he acknowledges the transformative power of AI but reminds listeners to approach the market with a realistic understanding of its ups and downs.

Tales of Traders: Pushing the Boundaries!

Steady Wealth Podcast

Tales of Traders: Pushing the Boundaries!

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Welcome to the Steady Wealth Podcast, hosted by Serge Berger!

In this episode, Serge shares fascinating stories of traders taking outrageous risks.

Serge is joined by Brent, a wizard at Steady Trader, who interacts with clients and hears their unique perspectives on approaching the market.

Together, they shed light on the dangers of excessive risk-taking and the misconceptions surrounding trading.

They discuss unrealistic expectations, the allure of quick fixes, and the need for a realistic mindset when it comes to trading.

Join Serge and Brent as they unravel the entertaining yet perilous world of trading and provide valuable insights for listeners!

Why Self-Directed Investors Underperform the Indices

Steady Wealth Podcast

Why Self-Directed Investors Underperform the Indices

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"It's just not that easy to make money in the markets; it requires discipline." These words resonate with self-directed investors who often find themselves underperforming the indices. The new Steady Wealth Podcast website, available at www.steadywealthpodcast.com, delves into the heart of this issue (and others), addressing the reasons behind individual investor underperformance.

Looking at actual statistics paints a sobering picture. A staggering 70% of US equity managers underperform their respective indices on a one-year basis, and this number climbs to a disheartening 90% over a ten-year period. Over a 20-year span, the S&P 500 has returned an average of 7.5% per year, while a typical 60/40 portfolio has yielded approximately 6%. Astonishingly, the average investor lags behind at a mere 2.9% per year.

One key problem lies in the trading-centric mindset adopted by most individual investors. They fail to tap into the power of compound interest, shying away from the proven strategy of buy and hold. Diversification becomes an afterthought, and distinguishing reliable information from dubious sources becomes a daunting task. Lack of discipline further hampers their ability to adhere to a long-term investment strategy. Overconfidence bias is a common pitfall among individual investors, leading to detrimental decisions.

To combat these pitfalls, it is recommended that self-directed investors allocate only a fraction (10-20%) of their assets to a trading portfolio, while entrusting the rest to professional guidance. By taking a free 3-minute risk survey at www.bluemarlinadvisors.com, investors can gain valuable insights into their risk profile and make informed decisions to maximize their long-term wealth.

What You’ll Learn:

• What it means to be an individual investor.

• Why individual investors underperform on average.

• How to understand your risk profile and correct it.

• And much more!

Favorite Quote:

“Individual investors often exhibit an overconfidence bias.” -Serge Berger

Breaking Down the Current State of the Stock Market: What You Need to Know

Steady Wealth Podcast

Breaking Down the Current State of the Stock Market: What You Need to Know

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The current state of the market remains uncertain, with potential challenges ahead in the coming quarters. Serge is joined by Brian Terry, a colleague from The Steady Trader and Blue Marlin Advisors, to discuss the US markets slow-down. The overall sentiment is negative, as inflation is still not under control, making this year a tough one.

The looming debt ceiling debate adds further volatility, with politicians seemingly waiting for market turmoil before taking action. This situation resembles the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, where a last-minute deal is expected. However, past experiences, like the 2011 default that led to a 6% drop in the S&P, indicate that increased anxiety may occur as the deadline approaches. Failure to reach a resolution could bring short-term pain to the market.

As it is an election year, the divide in opinions is hardened, and there is mounting political pressure on the Federal Reserve (FED) to take action. The current administration seeks to instill hope in the market by urging the FED to act. Amidst these conditions, there is a significant shift towards active management funds, with a focus on longer-term investment strategies and seeking opportunities such as dividend captures or selling covered calls. It is crucial to adopt a more cautious and strategic approach after the prolonged period of essentially free money and irrational market behavior.

What You’ll Learn:

• How other countries' markets are fairing compared to the US.

• A few ways you can still make an income from this market.

• How a covered call strategy works.

• And much more!

Favorite Quote:

“Our big focus is, and should be on, our longer term investments.” -Brian Terry

I’m Shocked At People’s Attitude Towards The Markets

Steady Wealth Podcast

I’m Shocked At People’s Attitude Towards The Markets

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The attitude towards money and investing among the majority of people is concerning, according to Serge. Despite the economy being at a point where it needs a healthy slowdown, people continue to show a lack of seriousness toward their finances. Most people have forgotten that the markets go up and down, and there are economic cycles. People tend to have shameless greed and want to make as much money as quickly and as cheaply as possible. This attitude has resulted in people not taking long-term asset allocation seriously, and instead, they trade with 80% of their money while investing only 10-20%.

Serge advocates for the opposite approach, advising people to trade with only 20% of their money and invest the remaining 80%. He suggests spending more time on the long-term investment strategy instead of the short-term trading approach, which is the major fault of financial media and brokers. Serge believes that after two years of a bear market, people should not have a gambling mentality, but instead focus on the power of compound interest. He concludes that there comes a point when it's too late to fix one's portfolio for retirement, and it's essential to start taking investing seriously.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between investing and gambling.

• How different generations tend to view investing and trading.

• Ways to boost the long-term bucket when markets go sideways.

• And much more!

Favorite Quote:

“I’m truly, honestly, sincerely, shocked at people’s attitude towards the markets and more specifically, their money.” -Serge Berger