The market moved against him slightly, but the math held. Time decayed, volatility reverted to the mean, and for the first time in his career, Lawrence didn't need a miracle to make a profit. He just needed the clock to keep ticking.
The next morning, Lawrence didn't rush into the pit. He sat on the periphery, watching the VIX—the "fear gauge" McMillan had helped popularize. He saw a massive spike in implied volatility. The old Lawrence would have bought expensive calls, hoping for a moonshot. The new Lawrence, mentored by the ink on the page, saw the overpricing. He sold a credit spread, leaning into the high premiums. McMillan on options
AI responses may include mistakes. For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more The market moved against him slightly, but the math held
Lawrence was a "smart" trader—or so he thought. He understood the basic math of a call and a put, but he was playing checkers while the market was playing three-dimensional chess. He’d been bleeding capital for six months, caught in the "volatility crush" of earnings season without ever knowing what to call it. The next morning, Lawrence didn't rush into the pit