Early experiments: options, selling and losses

🔍 Get Your Free Month of Deepvue Here: https://deepvue.com/podcast/📚 Order The Trader's Handbook Here: https://go.traderlion.com/uilGP📘 Get your FREE 115-page Ultimate Trading Guide: https://go.traderlion.com/uihtcTito Adhikary is a Harvard-trained cancer biologist and scientist turned options trader who returned 2,115% in the 2025 US Investing Championships Enhanced Growth division — turning $48K into just over $1 million. In this episode, Tito shares the full journey from his first brokerage account during the COVID crash to becoming one of the top-performing traders in the country.Tito's path wasn't smooth. He grew up in India, moved to the US in 2015 for a PhD at Harvard, and started trading in March 2020 with $80K in blue chips. By early 2021 he'd grown that to $200K — then watched it crumble through the ARK bubble, revenge trading, and a devastating $33K single-day loss while earning a $40K grad student stipend. In 2022, he grew a $15K account to $90K only to give it all back in two days around FOMC.The turning point? Sizing down to a $5K account in 2023 to rebuild his mental equity curve. Tito breaks down his three-pillar methodology — right stock, right sector, right market — and walks through his full options framework: strike selection, IV awareness, debit spreads vs. naked calls, and his scaling rules (25% off at 50%, 50% off at 100%, trail the rest).He walks through seven real trades in detail: the Tesla September setup that went from his biggest loss to his biggest win ($3 calls to $40), the APP post-earnings IV flush ($2 calls to $20 same day), RKLB LEAPs (5x in three weeks), the QCOM/ARM sympathy play that became his best P&L day ever, and three losing trades — MSTR, COIN, and a biotech gap-down on CURE.🔥 What You'll Learn:✅ How Tito turned $48K into $1M+ in one year trading options✅ His three-pillar framework: right stock, right sector, right market✅ Options structure: when to buy naked calls vs. debit spreads✅ The post-earnings IV flush strategy (APP trade: $2 → $20 same day)✅ How he uses a cash account as a psychological guardrail✅ Why he sized down to $5K after major losses to rebuild confidence✅ His daily circuit breaker, wiring-out strategy, and weekend review process✅ How his science background (hypothesis → experiment → results) shaped his trading processWhether you trade options, swing trade stocks, or are just getting started, Tito's story is a masterclass in risk management, self-awareness, and the discipline it takes to compound capital.Enjoy!– The TraderLion TeamTimestamps:0:00 - Tito Adhikary Intro4:36 - Growing Up in India & Harvard PhD9:28 - First Trades During the COVID Crash12:15 - ARK Bubble & First Major Losses16:49 - Learning Resources: Market Wizards & More22:27 - Science to Trading Parallels30:18 - Losing $33K in One Day as a Grad Student36:23 - $15K to $90K, Then Giving It All Back40:27 - Rebuilding on a $5K Account43:50 - Methodology: Right Stock, Sector & Market50:53 - Options Framework: Strikes, IV & Spreads59:03 - Risk Management & Circuit Breakers1:06:17 - 2025: $48K to $1M+ in One Year1:17:37 - Wiring Out Profits & Buying His First Home1:22:22 - Trade Breakdown: Tesla $3 Calls → $401:28:51 - Trade Breakdown: APP IV Flush ($2 → $20)1:36:19 - Trade Breakdown: RKLB LEAPs (5x in 3 Weeks)1:42:24 - Trade Breakdown: QCOM/ARM Best Day Ever1:56:54 - Losing Trades: MSTR, COIN & CURE2:09:35 - Adapting to Choppy Markets2:17:29 - Advice for Struggling Traders