InvestingWithBrandon

Retail investor: I trade way more since switching apps. The confetti when a trade fills... it just feels good man.
Me: You know why the confetti's there, right?
Retail investor: ...because it's fun?
Me: Because they get paid on every trade you make. The app is DESIGNED to make you trade more. Confetti, streaks, notifications... same tricks as a slot machine.
Retail investor: So my broker is playing me?
Me: Your broker is a casino floor with a stock ticker. Every buzz on your phone is them pulling you back to the tables.
Retail investor: I do check it like 40 times a day...
Me: I make maybe 2-3

Everyone that wanted a dip got a tiny one today.
Are you going to allocate to elite companies when they are on sale?
Or are you going to find a reason to justify not… like many do every dip…

Retail investor: Market dipped so I took out a margin loan & bought the dip. Bold, right?
Me: You paid interest to buy the dip. I got PAID to buy the same dip.
Retail investor: ...what?
Me: You borrowed at 10%+ & bought shares, praying the bounce outruns the interest. I sold 1+ year portfolio secured puts... collected cash that day... & my base secured it. No loan. No interest. Zero.
Retail investor: But if it bounces hard, I make more than you.
Me: Not true... I have no cash drag like a cash secured put. I am fully invested and paying no interest like you. This is a portfolio secured put, rem

Retail investor: I've got puts sold on 6 different stocks & I check all of them every morning before work.
Me: Why?
Retail investor: ...to see how they're doing?
Me: & what have you ever done with that information at 7am?
Retail investor: Honestly? Panicked a couple times. Closed one I shouldn't have.
Me: So the daily check has cost you money & given you nothing.
Retail investor: When you put it that way...
Me: The trades are a year out on companies below fair value with the strikes 10% under. What exactly is Tuesday morning going to change?
Retail investor: So how often do YOU look?
Me: Few t

THE STOCK MARKET WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO DO THE WRONG THING AT THE WORST TIME.
(this crushes most people)
When stocks are expensive and ripping, you feel like buying everything. (usually more risky)
When stocks are cheap and everyone is scared, you feel like selling everything. (usually a better deal)
When a great stock goes sideways, you feel like replacing it. (a big upside move could be close)
When your plan is finally about to work, you mess it up...
The market is not just testing your research/thesis.
It is testing your patience, discipline, & emotions.
Most people do not lose because they

9/10 times owning a home that you live in is a terrible investment.
Most people will say oh I bought it for 400 and sold for 500.
Yet they don’t add up what they paid in taxes, interest, HOA, insurance, etc over the hold period. Plus RE commissions to sell.
The stock market will VERY likely outperform your RE appreciation for a home you personally live in.
Yes... I know it's unpopular... but it's the facts.

Retail investor: I looked at your strategy. Selling puts without the cash sitting there?? That's uncovered. That's how people blow up.
Me: You have a HELOC on your house?
Retail investor: ...yeah, actually. Never used it though.
Me: So you have access to money, secured by an asset, that costs you NOTHING until you draw it. Reckless?
Retail investor: No... it's just sitting there as a backstop.
Me: That's exactly what this is. My base portfolio is the house. The puts are secured by it. I pay zero margin interest because I'm not borrowing anything... I'm COLLECTING premium.
Retail investor: But

Retail investor: My shares ran up huge & honestly I think it's a bubble. So I'm selling calls against them to protect myself.
Me: If you think it's a bubble... why do you still own the shares?
Retail investor: I mean... I don't want to miss more upside if I'm wrong.
Me: So you're bearish enough to want "protection" but bullish enough to hold? Pick one.
Retail investor: The calls give me SOME cushion at least...
Me: Run the numbers. The call pays you maybe 1%. If your bubble call is right & it drops 50%... you're down 49% holding a bag with a 1% consolation prize.
Retail investor: ...that math

Retail investor: When stocks get cheap I sell 1 month puts. Grab the premium while the fear's hot.
Me: How much you collect on the last one?
Retail investor: About $1,000. Not bad for a month.
Me: Same stock, same fear, same dip... a 12 month put was paying ~$10,000. You took a tenth of the paycheck.
Retail investor: But then I'm stuck in it for a year, right?
Me: no.. I sold 1 year put when it was compelling & closed them 4 months later... at 75% profit. Sentiment flipped, contract collapsed in value, I took the win & redeployed.
Retail investor: Wait... so you collect 10x the premium & STILL

Retail investor: My neighbor's got the boat, the truck, the pool going in. Meanwhile I'm over here investing & driving a 2016 Camry. Feels like I'm losing.
Me: You know what the boat payment is?
Retail investor: ...like $800 a month probably?
Me: & the truck's another $1,100, & the pool's on a loan too. You're not looking at wealth. You're looking at PAYMENTS.
Retail investor: I mean... he might just make good money?
Me: Maybe. But most of the driveway flexes you envy are financed to the eyeballs. Negative net worth with great landscaping...
Retail investor: So the scoreboard I'm losing on...

It's now JULY of 2026.
For 95%+ of retail investors:
- Day trading still doesn't work.
- Swing trading still doesn't work.
- Cash secured puts still suck.
- Covered calls still suck.
- Spreads still suck.
The problem for retail "investors"?
They will continue to do the same thing & expect a different result.
Me?
- I will continue to build my base portfolio
- Sell portfolio secured puts (not cash secured)
- Buy leap calls when it makes sense
- Keep ratios in check
- Do all 1+ year option contracts
- Continue to capitalize in volatility
- Be patient & outperform 95% of all retail investors in th