Mid-month Sept update 📊

Sharing my experience this month, the FOMC pivot created volatility that rewarded tech bulls but also demanded cautious trading. Instead of impulsively chasing price surges, I prioritized closing profitable short puts to lock in returns and reduce exposure. Taking gains on LEAPS options helped me capitalize on long-term growth while freeing up capital. Scaling out into strength rather than chasing weak signals was key to preserving gains and controlling risk. Trading nearly 50 times this month was active but disciplined, underscoring the importance of responding to market changes without overtrading. The year-to-date 41.8% return reflects the balance between aggressive growth and capital protection. In my view, protecting capital must come first; gains will follow from consistent risk management and strategic trade adjustments. For investors navigating the FOMC aftermath, consider whether to buy dips, take profits early, or remain on the sidelines based on your portfolio goals and risk tolerance. Personally, I lean towards methodical profit-taking and avoiding chasing rallies in overheated segments, especially tech stocks. Using tools for trade filters and monitoring realized P&L helped maintain clarity on performance. My advice for traders is to stay informed, keep risk parameters strict, and be ready to adjust position sizes dynamically during market pivots like the recent FOMC meeting. This approach, blending options strategies like short puts and LEAPS with disciplined trade management, proved effective this September. The journey reminds me that markets can quickly humble or elevate traders — maintaining capital first is the true winning strategy.