We've all heard of the "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade, but there's a new, more powerful government-driven strategy in play. This episode reveals a simple yet potent playbook for what we're calling:

The New Trump Trade (Not TACO).

We explore the simple thesis: when the U.S. administration takes a direct ownership stake in a company, we should consider trading right alongside them. This isn't just a theory; we're seeing the results in real-time. We'll look at the government's involvement with Intel (INTC) and how that stock has nearly doubled, and then dive into a watch list of rare earth and materials companies like MP Materials (MP), Lithium Americas (LAC), and Trilogy Metals (TMQ) that have seen explosive returns since the government stepped in.

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• The New "Trump Trade" Thesis: The core idea is simple: if the U.S. government takes an ownership stake in a public company, investors should consider "following the smart money" and buying shares or long-term options, as the company is now a strategic national asset.

• The Intel (INTC) Example: The playbook started with Intel, which the government partnered with to secure the U.S. chip supply. Since the government's involvement, the stock has nearly doubled, proving the thesis that these companies "are not going to fail."

• The Rare Earth Materials Watch List: The strategy has expanded as the government seeks to secure domestic supplies of rare earth metals. A watch list of companies the government has already bought into includes:

  • MP Materials (MP): Up from ~$30 to ~$89.

  • Lithium Americas (LAC): Up ~66% in two weeks.

  • Trilogy Metals (TMQ): Up from ~$2 to ~$8 in two weeks.

• The Government Will Set Price Floors: The administration has announced it will buy more companies in other industries and, significantly, will set price floors for these commodities. This is great for company profits (though not capitalism at its best) and provides a strong tailwind for the stocks.

• How to Play It: Stocks or LEAPS: Investors can trade these companies by either buying the stock outright for a long-term hold (aiming for 3x, 5x, or 10x returns) or by buying long-dated LEAP options (6+ months out) to control the position with less capital.

"The Trump trade that I'm discussing... is that the companies that the administration buys or takes a piece of are could be very excellent traits... we should be trading right alongside the government."

• (00:40) The Old "TACO" Trade: A quick review of the old "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade, which was based on him bluffing about tariffs.

• (03:52) The Fed Playbook (Market Context): A brief look at the current market environment, with the Fed signaling rate cuts, which provides a bullish tailwind for the stock market into the end of the year.

• (04:48) The New Trump Trade Explained (Intel): The episode reveals the new playbook: follow the government's investments. It starts with the Intel (INTC) deal, which has seen the stock nearly double.

• (08:23) The Rare Earths Watch List: The host unveils the new watch list of materials and mining companies the government is investing in, including MP, LAC, and TMQ, and their explosive returns.

• (14:52) How to Trade These Stocks: A discussion on the best ways to play this trend, such as buying the stock for a long-term hold or using long-dated LEAP options for a cheaper entry.

What do you think of this 'New Trump Trade' playbook? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you found this insight valuable, share this episode with a friend who is looking for new trade ideas.

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You can't trade without a broker, but having the wrong one is like trading with one hand tied behind your back. With all the consolidation and new players in the industry, how do you choose the right one for your options strategy? This episode is a complete review of the current landscape. We're talking about:

Option Trading Brokers Reviewed.

We'll break down the pros and cons of the biggest names in the game, from the undisputed champion of platforms, Thinkorswim (now at Schwab), to the pro-level (but difficult) Interactive Brokers. Learn why tastytrade's value may have changed since its acquisition and discover some lesser-known, low-cost brokers like eOption and TradeStation. We also discuss the rise of Robinhood and why, for serious options sellers, a desktop platform is still king.

Don't just pick the first broker you see. This is your guide to finding the right fit for your trading style. Did you know your commissions are almost always negotiable? Subscribe for more essential trading tips.

• Best Overall Platform: Schwab (for Thinkorswim): Despite a potentially slow setup process, Schwab is rated #1 primarily because it offers the Thinkorswim (TOS) platform, which is considered the most powerful and comprehensive tool for options analysis.

• Best for Professionals & Low Cost: Interactive Brokers (IBKR): IBKR offers the best fill prices and is the only major broker that does not use "payment for order flow." It's also the best choice for international traders. However, its software is notoriously difficult to learn, and customer service is lacking.

• The "Trader-Focused" Brokers (tastytrade, TradeStation, eOption):

  • tastytrade: Built for options sellers but has seen a decline in value since being acquired by a private equity firm and the original founders departed.

  • eOption: A great, low-cost "no-fluff" broker with excellent customer service, ideal for traders who use separate charting software.

  • TradeStation: A new player with an interesting monthly membership fee model for commission-free trading, but its different platforms are still being integrated.

• Robinhood is Built for Phones, Not Complex Trading: While Robinhood is growing fast and adding features like SPX trading, its mobile-first focus makes it difficult to analyze and execute complex options strategies like iron condors. Most serious traders prefer a robust desktop platform.

• Pro-Tip: Your Commissions are Negotiable: Don't accept the default commission rate. Once you have a track record or a decent account size, call your broker and ask for a better rate. They can almost always go lower.

"When you're just starting out, I think people try to pick the perfect broker. It's like, No, don't worry about it... in the first, maybe even 50 trades or 100 trades, we're not even trying to make money... We're just trying to learn the skills."

• (01:52) #1 Broker: Schwab / Thinkorswim: A breakdown of why the Thinkorswim (TOS) platform makes Schwab the top choice, despite its overwhelming initial appearance and the fact that most traders only use 5% of its features.

• (05:13) #2 Broker: Interactive Brokers (IBKR): An overview of the pros (best pricing, no payment for order flow, international access) and cons (difficult software, poor customer service) of IBKR.

• (09:20) The tastytrade Story: The history of tastytrade, its acquisition by a private equity firm, and why the departure of its founders has led to a decline for what was once a top broker for option sellers.

• (13:28) Low-Cost & Niche Brokers (eOption / TradeStation): A look at two smaller brokers: eOption, known for low costs and great service, and TradeStation, which offers a unique monthly membership for commissions.

• (16:53) The Robinhood Factor: A discussion on Robinhood's rise, its mobile-first limitations for serious options trading, and its focus on crypto and tokenization.

Which broker do you use for options, and what's your favorite feature? Let us know in the comments.

If you know someone just starting out and looking for a broker, share this episode with them. Enjoyed this broker breakdown? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us reach and empower more traders.

The Federal Reserve has officially started a rate-cutting cycle, and Chairman Powell has telegraphed that more cuts are likely on the way. For traders, this is a time to be "licking your chops." This episode is all about:

The FED Playbook.

We dive into the historical data to see what has happened in the 11 previous times since 1980 that the Fed has cut rates multiple times in a row. Discover why, in the absence of a major recession, the market has historically seen double-digit gains 12 months later. We'll explore which sectors—from defensive stocks and small caps to banks and homebuilders—tend to perform best during these cycles.

This isn't a guess; it's a playbook based on decades of market history. Is it time to "back up the truck" and load up? Subscribe for more deep dives into the market forces that matter.

• The Fed Has Signaled a Cutting Cycle: Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has clearly telegraphed that a rate-cutting cycle has begun, with potentially one or two more cuts expected before the end of the year. This removes a significant amount of uncertainty for the market.

• History Shows Strong Market Performance: In the 11 times since 1980 that the Fed has initiated a multi-cut cycle without a recession, the S&P 500 has been up an average of 14.5% twelve months later. The market was also higher, on average, three and six months after the first cut.

• The "Goldilocks" Scenario is Here: The current environment of a stable economy, manageable inflation (around 3%), and a Fed that is actively cutting rates is what many describe as a "Goldilocks" scenario for the stock market.

• Expect Broad Market Leadership: Historically, Fed cutting cycles tend to broaden market leadership beyond just the tech sector. Defensive stocks (like consumer staples) tend to gain early, while cyclicals (like banks, homebuilders, and small caps) often perform better later in the cycle.

• The Playbook Says: Be in the Market: Based on the strong historical precedent, the playbook for this environment is to have exposure to the stock market to capitalize on the expected upward trend. While a 10% pullback is always possible and healthy, fighting the long-term trend in this environment would be a mistake.

"The Fed lowering rates multiple times in succession has happened before. History repeats itself. So what is the playbook? Well, let's take a look at what has happened before."

• (00:52) The Fed's Clear Signal: The episode kicks off with the news that Fed Chairman Powell has clearly telegraphed a rate-cutting cycle, removing market uncertainty.

• (02:30) The Historical Playbook: A deep dive into the data from the last 11 multi-cut cycles since 1980, revealing that the market is up an average of 14.5% a year later when there is no recession.

• (09:27) The "Goldilocks" Scenario: An argument for why the current combination of a stable economy, manageable inflation, and an easing Fed creates a highly favorable "Goldilocks" environment for stocks.

• (12:41) Which Sectors Perform Best?: A look at the historical data on which sectors tend to benefit most during a rate-cutting cycle, including defensive stocks, banks, small caps, and homebuilders.

• (14:30) The Bottom Line: "Back Up the Truck": The host's concluding thought that the historical playbook for this scenario is clear: it's time to have exposure to the market and "load up the truck."

Are you bullish or bearish for the rest of the year? Share your take in the comments. If this episode helped you understand the Fed's impact, share it with a friend who is new to investing.

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