Risk of Ruin Trading Games
85 snips
Oct 17, 2025 
Kris Abdelmessih is an experienced options trader, former portfolio manager, and author of the Moontower newsletter, known for his insights into volatility trading. He shares his journey from Susquehanna, discussing the unique training environment and how game-playing skills translate to trading success. Kris explains the intricacies of options trading, the importance of volatility over direction, and the challenges retail traders face. He also emphasizes the benefits of teaching kids trading as a way to develop critical life skills through decision-making games.
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Learn Options By Total Immersion
- Immerse yourself intensely to learn options; treat it like a new language requiring total immersion for months.
- Use simulation, repeated mock trading, and timed reps to internalize chains and market mechanics.
Reinvest In Tech And Education
- Firms that reinvested trading profits into technology captured outsized returns over decades.
- Education-heavy firms like SIG and Jane Street treated traders as long-term human capital investments.
Losing Lessons From A Meme-Stock Bet
- Chris lost paper money on a Krispy Kreme trade and paid up by taking colleagues to an expensive dinner instead of cash settlement.
- The episode taught him how emotional attachment and doubling down ruin otherwise rational trades.
