Steve Henry

Steve Henry

Content Director

About

Steve is Option Alpha's content director and is dedicated to helping educate others as they learn about options and automated trading. Steve has been actively trading options and future full-time for more than eight years.

Education

References

Experience

  • Published 200+ options trading, trading education, and automated trading articles
  • Experienced options trader
  • Experienced futures trader
  • Options fundamentals (calls, puts, writing options, etc.)
  • Options pricing models (Black-Scholes model, etc.)
  • Option strategies (spreads, straddles, condors, etc.)
  • Greeks in options trading (Delta, Theta, Gamma, Vega)
  • Risk management in options
  • Expiration cycles, option settlement, and assignment risk
  • Automated Trading
  • Algorithmic trading strategies
  • Building trading bots
  • Backtesting strategies
  • Market order types (limit orders, stop orders, etc.)
  • Bull and bear markets strategies
  • Options Trading Platforms & Tools
How to Automate a Bollinger Band Strategy
Bot Inspiration

How to Automate a Bollinger Band Strategy

Learn how to build an automated Bollinger Band bot using debit and credit spreads to trade breakouts.
We Analyzed 20,000 Options Trades: Here’s What We Learned About Position Swings
Research Insights

We Analyzed 20,000 Options Trades: Here’s What We Learned About Position Swings

We studied over 20,000 trades to measure the average time between return extremes over the life of a trade. From all that data and research, see what stands out.
3 AAPL Bullish Options Strategies Backtested
Research Insights

3 AAPL Bullish Options Strategies Backtested

Bullish on AAPL stock? Use Option Alpha to backtest three bullish strategies and compare the results, or search a database of AAPL options strategies.
Enhanced Bot Performance Stats
Platform Updates

Enhanced Bot Performance Stats

We’ve improved the bot dashboard significantly in the latest platform update. The equity P/L graph is enhanced so you can now view more detailed bot performance stats. Plus, you can edit your closed positions and order history.
New Community Groups For Targeted Conversations
Platform Updates

New Community Groups For Targeted Conversations

Easily discover and explore targeted Community conversations on specific topics in four main categories.
Master Your Decision Timing With These Automation Sequencing Improvements
Platform Updates

Master Your Decision Timing With These Automation Sequencing Improvements

Two new updates improve sequencing so you have more control. Bots now have more intelligent decision timing when looping symbols and running automations.
Standard Deviation Decisions Improved to Decimal Precision
Platform Updates

Standard Deviation Decisions Improved to Decimal Precision

We’ve upgraded standard deviation properties so you can use decimal precision for pinpoint accuracy.
Expanded Strike Selections Give You Even More Control
Platform Updates

Expanded Strike Selections Give You Even More Control

We’ve expanded the way you can select strike prices. There are now four options for choosing a strike price, so you always have pinpoint accuracy and control of your positions.
Easily Edit Automation Paths With Negated Decisions
Platform Updates

Easily Edit Automation Paths With Negated Decisions

Edit automation paths with negated decisions to save time and increase flexibility.
Manage Your Positions with Return on Risk
Platform Updates

Manage Your Positions with Return on Risk

Intelligently manage your positions with this new decision recipe that evaluates return on risk to exit positions at defined targets.
Now You Can Schedule Automations to Run After Market Open & Before Market Close
Platform Updates

Now You Can Schedule Automations to Run After Market Open & Before Market Close

With this platform update, you have even more control of your bots' event automations. You can now automatically check in on your automations and positions at the beginning and end of every trading day.
Increased Automation Flexibility With "Stock or ETF" Decision Recipe
Platform Updates

Increased Automation Flexibility With "Stock or ETF" Decision Recipe

Now you can split automation decisions using a recipe to evaluate if the underlying ticker symbol is a stock or an ETF.
Rising Interest Rates: Taper Tantrum or Opportunity?
Research Insights

Rising Interest Rates: Taper Tantrum or Opportunity?

Investors expect interest rates to rise this year. We studied four similar environments to deliver the context you need for today’s market.
Is the “Golden Bull Market” Finally Ending?
Research Insights

Is the “Golden Bull Market” Finally Ending?

20 years of data suggests this bull market may not be over yet, and the positive momentum could continue into the new year.
Autotrading Is Here: The Doors Are Open
Company News

Autotrading Is Here: The Doors Are Open

We are sending invites to traders on the Waitlist! Share the news, get to the front of the line, and start autotrading!
New Decisions to Check Bot Trade History & Active Orders
Platform Updates

New Decisions to Check Bot Trade History & Active Orders

Four new decision recipes help you reference a bot’s trade history and active orders. Find out what this means for you and your bots!
Bot & Position Tags: Where Precision Meets Flexibility
Platform Updates

Bot & Position Tags: Where Precision Meets Flexibility

Now you can create, add, and remove bot and position tags to take your automations to a whole new level.
Building an RSI Swing Trading Bot with Credit Spreads
Bot Inspiration

Building an RSI Swing Trading Bot with Credit Spreads

Discover how to automate a popular swing trading strategy that opens bullish and bearish credit spreads based on RSI value.
We Just Introduced Bot Warnings for Smoother Autotrading
Platform Updates

We Just Introduced Bot Warnings for Smoother Autotrading

Bot errors are divided into two categories to help you identify soft and fatal errors and troubleshoot their impact on your portfolio.
4 New Updates to Make Autotrading Easier
Platform Updates

4 New Updates to Make Autotrading Easier

Check out these new updates that are all about improving your experience.
Introducing Automation "Switches"
Platform Updates

Introducing Automation "Switches"

Bot switches make your automations more flexible by allowing you to turn parts of an automation on or off.
Automatically Scan a Watchlist of Ticker Symbols Inside Your Bots
Platform Updates

Automatically Scan a Watchlist of Ticker Symbols Inside Your Bots

You can loop through symbols to create and scan a watchlist of tickers inside your bots. Learn how this powerful feature lets you apply a single strategy to multiple ticker symbols.
Import Your Positions from Your Brokerage Account to Option Alpha
Platform Updates

Import Your Positions from Your Brokerage Account to Option Alpha

You can now import positions from your brokerage account into Option Alpha for your bots to manage!
Now Your Bots Can Make Decisions Using Market Days or Calendar Days
Platform Updates

Now Your Bots Can Make Decisions Using Market Days or Calendar Days

You can now specify market days or calendar days in an automation. This new feature gives you pinpoint accuracy and flexibility when making decisions.
3 Smart Ways to Use SmartStops
Automated Trading

3 Smart Ways to Use SmartStops

SmartStops are not your traditional trailing stop. SmartStops are a proprietary feature that can change the way you exit positions. Learn how SmartStops can be a game-changer for your portfolio.
Option Alpha Announces Tradier Integration
Company News

Option Alpha Announces Tradier Integration

Tradier is now available for live trading access! Plus, when you connect your account, you'll enjoy exclusive pricing on all trades.
All Your Automations Are Now Saved to Your Library
Platform Updates

All Your Automations Are Now Saved to Your Library

The automations library now gives you more organization and customization in your portfolio.
Create Your Own Custom In-App Notifications
Automated Trading

Create Your Own Custom In-App Notifications

Create and customize in-app notifications to alert you of specific market and bot activity in real-time.
Using Folders for Organizing and Grouping Bot Automations
Best Practices

Using Folders for Organizing and Grouping Bot Automations

We’ve made it incredibly easy for you to group all your automations inside your library. Discover how folders will help you organize your portfolio.
5-Year SPY Put Credit Spread Backtest
Research Insights

5-Year SPY Put Credit Spread Backtest

Using our Backtester, we explored the historical performance of SPY put credit spreads to help determine the entry and exit criteria that best fit your trading objectives.
The Power of Reusable Automations Across Multiple Bots
Automated Trading

The Power of Reusable Automations Across Multiple Bots

Reusable automations are a powerful tool that enables you to use a single automation across multiple bots simultaneously.
Option Alpha Announces TradeStation Integration
Company News

Option Alpha Announces TradeStation Integration

TradeStation is now available for live trading access! Plus, when you connect your account, you'll enjoy exclusive pricing on all trades.
Automated Trading Using Multiple Moving Averages
Bot Inspiration

Automated Trading Using Multiple Moving Averages

Automate your trend following strategy with these two decision recipes that reference multiple moving averages when filtering opportunities.
Leveraging the Power of Bots to Scan for Trading Opportunities
Automated Trading

Leveraging the Power of Bots to Scan for Trading Opportunities

Leverage the power of bots to automate your strategies, scan for trading opportunities based on multiple market conditions, and open new positions when your criteria are met.
Tail Risk Pricing Post-Pandemic
Research Insights

Tail Risk Pricing Post-Pandemic

VIX and SPX tail risk pricing is astronomically high compared to before the pandemic. What has happened to the price of downside protection? Find out here.
Share Bot Automations Just as Easily as Bot Templates
Automated Trading

Share Bot Automations Just as Easily as Bot Templates

Collaborating on your trading strategy has never been easier. You can now share automations in the Community, save an automation to your library, modify its decisions, and instantly add it to a bot of your choice.
How to Automatically Avoid Trading When Markets are in a Downtrend
Bot Inspiration

How to Automatically Avoid Trading When Markets are in a Downtrend

Do you want to avoid trading when certain stocks are in a downtrend? Use a simple moving average decision recipe to filter for new position opportunities.
Test Automations Directly Inside the Automation Editor
Best Practices

Test Automations Directly Inside the Automation Editor

Test your bot’s automations directly inside the automation editor to see how your logic performs in live market conditions.
Choose Your Path with these Automation Editor Improvements
Platform Updates

Choose Your Path with these Automation Editor Improvements

The Automation Editor just got a lot better. Now you can customize your automations with improved “choose your path” flexibility.
Strike Price Selection Enhancements Released
Platform Updates

Strike Price Selection Enhancements Released

Learn how the strike price selection process is enhanced with our new platform update. It’s never been easier to choose the right contract!
Use Bot-Level Decisions for Added Flexibility
Platform Updates

Use Bot-Level Decisions for Added Flexibility

New bot-level decisions give you more capital and position flexibility when building bots.
Scanner and Monitor Ordering Released
Platform Updates

Scanner and Monitor Ordering Released

New scanner and monitor automation ordering gives you even more customization options for your bots. Check it out!
Bid-Ask Spread Anomalies: 5 Questions Answered
Research Insights

Bid-Ask Spread Anomalies: 5 Questions Answered

We answer five key research questions about bid-ask spread volatility and explain how these answers can threaten or inform your trading decisions.
Account Management Improvements Released
Platform Updates

Account Management Improvements Released

We've added new platform features to enhance your account management, organization, and portfolio visibility. Check it out!
Order Controls Released
Platform Updates

Order Controls Released

Order controls got a major upgrade in our latest platform update. Keep reading to learn about all the new improvements!
SmartPricing Released
Platform Updates

SmartPricing Released

SmartPricing is Option Alpha’s proprietary technology that uses timed intervals to dynamically adjust pricing to optimize your entries and exits.
Bot Template Versioning Released
Platform Updates

Bot Template Versioning Released

The new bot template versioning update keeps your freshest ideas in the spotlight.
Bid-Ask Spread Expectations
Research Insights

Bid-Ask Spread Expectations

What is the "personality" of your favorite ticker? Do you know what the bid-ask spread of the specific underlyings you trade should resemble? Learn about bid-ask spread expectations here.
Bid-Ask Spread Anomalies: Risk and Opportunity
Research Insights

Bid-Ask Spread Anomalies: Risk and Opportunity

Learn how bid-ask spread anomalies bring unique risks and opportunities in options trading with this SPY case study.
Bid-Ask Spread Volatility Explained
Research Insights

Bid-Ask Spread Volatility Explained

This case study examines the intraday price volatility of a TLT iron condor to illustrate the forces at play beyond the options Greeks affecting a position's bid-ask spread.
Automated Trading Decisions Based on a Symbol's Price Change
Automated Trading

Automated Trading Decisions Based on a Symbol's Price Change

Do you manually check a stock's price movement before placing an order? Use this simple but powerful decision recipe to reference a symbol’s price change when making automated trading decisions inside a bot.
Automated Trading Using AND/OR Decision Criteria
Automated Trading

Automated Trading Using AND/OR Decision Criteria

Do you use multiple multiple indicators when evaluating new trading opportunities? Learn how to use And/Or decision criteria to group recipes in an automation.
Grouping and Nesting Decisions for More Powerful Automations
Best Practices

Grouping and Nesting Decisions for More Powerful Automations

Do you evaluate more than one set of market conditions before entering a new trade? This video shows how grouping and nesting decisions create flexible bots with dynamic automations.
Managing Multiple Strategy Types with Monitor Automations
Automated Trading

Managing Multiple Strategy Types with Monitor Automations

Does your portfolio have multiple strategy types? Learn how to use monitor automations to manage different positions inside a bot.
When to Group Decisions Together and When to Separate Them into Multiple Steps
Best Practices

When to Group Decisions Together and When to Separate Them into Multiple Steps

Learn when you should use and/or functionality to group multiple decisions together, and when you should separate and analyze individual criteria before moving through an automation.
How to Setup Your Bot Automations to be Incredibly Flexible
Bot Inspiration

How to Setup Your Bot Automations to be Incredibly Flexible

You don’t need to continuously enter the same information over and over across multiple automations. Learn how to use custom inputs to add flexibility and efficiency to any bot.
Automatically Exit Your Option Trades Before Expiration
Automated Trading

Automatically Exit Your Option Trades Before Expiration

If you want to avoid expiration, automations can use a decision recipe to automatically exit an options position a defined number of days before expiration if no exit criteria have been met.
Combining Multiple Moving Averages to Trend Follow with Bots
Automated Trading

Combining Multiple Moving Averages to Trend Follow with Bots

Use bots to identify trending stocks and automate the trade entry process using multiple moving averages.
How to Add a Global VIX Filter to the Beginning of an Automation
Bot Inspiration

How to Add a Global VIX Filter to the Beginning of an Automation

Let your bot scan the market for high volatility before entering new positions. Add a global VIX filter to any automation to quickly check if market volatility is above a defined level.
4 Rules for Generating Profits During Market Declines
Strategic Thinking

4 Rules for Generating Profits During Market Declines

Covered calls can help generate income and mitigate losses when the market declines Protective puts can help protect against adverse market moves. Here are four rules to help you in a bear market.
The Three Best Option Strategies for Earnings
Strategic Thinking

The Three Best Option Strategies for Earnings

Here is everything you need to know for trading options around earnings, including what strategies to consider and how to analyze market data to help you make the best decisions.
How to Set Up a Broken-Wing Butterfly Option Strategy
Strategic Thinking

How to Set Up a Broken-Wing Butterfly Option Strategy

A broken-wing butterfly is similar to an iron butterfly in structure, with slight option leg variations to control directional risk.
Problems Getting Your Option Order Filled? Try These 3 Adjustments
Best Practices

Problems Getting Your Option Order Filled? Try These 3 Adjustments

It can be frustrating when your order isn't filled. Fortunately, there are a few strategies to improve your chances of quicker execution. Try these tips and adjustments.
Mastering the 4 Different Types of Option Orders
Strategic Thinking

Mastering the 4 Different Types of Option Orders

Master the four different option order types. Learn to use limit and market orders to open and close positions.
3 Option Strategies to Use During Low Volatility Markets
Strategic Thinking

3 Option Strategies to Use During Low Volatility Markets

Option sellers prefer high volatility. But it is important to consistently enter trades in all market conditions. Here are three (actually four!) long options strategies to use when volatility is low.
19 Top Places to Get Real-Time Stock Market Quotes and News
Best Practices

19 Top Places to Get Real-Time Stock Market Quotes and News

There are a lot of resources for real-time stock market quotes and news. Here is a list of the most reliable sources for market information.
How Can I Exit a Vertical Option Spread Without Getting Creamed?
Best Practices

How Can I Exit a Vertical Option Spread Without Getting Creamed?

If you have a vertical option spread that you need to exit but you don't want to get creamed closing the position, here are some helpful tips so you can safely look for the exit doors without watching your profits evaporate.
What Your Mother Didn’t Tell You About Trading Iron Condors
Strategic Thinking

What Your Mother Didn’t Tell You About Trading Iron Condors

Learn everything you need to know about iron condors (especially the secrets nobody tells you). Here is the essential information to help you set up the strategy and what to do if the position moves against you.
4 Must Know Options Expiration Day Traps to Avoid
Strategic Thinking

4 Must Know Options Expiration Day Traps to Avoid

Here are our Top 4 MUST-KNOW traps to avoid on options expiration day. Plus, some advice for managing tricky positions.
How Can a Call Option Decline in Value When a Stock Rises?
Strategic Thinking

How Can a Call Option Decline in Value When a Stock Rises?

Confused about why your call option has declined in value even though the stock has gone up? Understanding the factors that influence options pricing is critical.
13 Stock Chart Patterns that You Can’t Afford to Forget
Strategic Thinking

13 Stock Chart Patterns that You Can’t Afford to Forget

Stock chart patterns play an important role in technical analysis and can be a powerful asset for all traders. Learning to recognize patterns will help you profit from breakouts and reversals. Here are 13 stock chart patterns you must know.
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