Happy New Year!

2026 has begun

Happy 2026 everyone! Now that we’re two full weeks of trading into the new year, I figured I’d check in with recent market conditions, events, and some plans for myself to start the year.

Over the past year, I’ve shared a lot about how I generate income using options, specifically through a disciplined Wheel Strategy. I’ve written about returns, risk management, capital allocation, mindset, and what it looks like to run this like a real business. I’ve shared this with audience members online as well as colleagues, friends, and family, and I’ve realized one thing, this might be completely new to a lot of you! A lot of you may also be finding this blog mid-journey. Some questions I’ve received:

• “How are you executing your strategy exactly?”

• “Where do I start similar to you?”

• “What are options? What’s the difference between a put and call?”

• “Are you just day trading?”

All fair questions! Most of my posts assume a baseline understanding of stocks, trading, and options. That works well if you’ve been around markets for a while — but it can feel overwhelming if you’re just starting or coming from traditional investing.

So the idea about starting a complete beginner series came to mind! When to better start than at the start of the new year!

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Current Market Update

With two weeks into the new year, the market that feels both familiar and uneasy at the same time.

AI continues to dominate headlines, valuations, and capital flows. Expectations are high, positioning is crowded, and even good news now has to clear a higher bar. That alone increases volatility, regardless of whether the long-term story plays out.

At the same time, tariffs and trade policy are back in focus, reintroducing uncertainty around costs, margins, and inflation — even before anything materially changes.

And politics is very much back in the picture. Between renewed global posturing and increasingly aggressive rhetoric — including headlines around Donald Trump and renewed discussion of U.S. influence over places like Greenland — markets are being reminded that geopolitics can shift sentiment quickly, often without warning.

The one thing that always holds true, headlines do move markets, uncertainty raises volatility, and volatility changes how risk is priced.

And this is exactly why I focus on defined risk and repeatable income structure rather than trading predictions. When narratives get louder, structure matters more.

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Why I’m Starting a Beginner Series

Simply: I want everyone to succeed! All of this uncertainty, headlines, and uneasiness used to get to me, but now with the Wheel structure and selling options, I no longer fear the uncertainty. In fact, I welcome it, knowing that it can provide more opportunity!

You also don’t need to be an expert trader to use options responsibly. But, for a lot of us, there is a tuition you have to pay, and that can be expensive. I for sure have, and even afterwards, some never find the success they are searching for. With the right structure, hopefully I can help someone avoid my mistakes.

Most people’s exposure to options comes from:

• screenshots of massive wins

• TikTok-style “strategies”

• or warnings that options are basically gambling

None of that is helpful.

So I’m starting a beginner-focused series that explains:

• what options actually are

• how I use them

• what I don’t do

• and who this approach is (and isn’t) for

This won’t be theory-heavy or academic. This won’t even be new information, but hopefully I can share it in a way that’s relatable, understandable, and it’ll be grounded in real trades, real numbers, and real constraints — the same way I run my own account.

If you’re experienced, this series will still be useful as a refresher or something you can share with friends who keep asking, “How does this work?”

If you’re new, this will give you a clean on-ramp without trying to sell you anything or rush you into trades you don’t understand.

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Wrapping Up

So that’s the plan for 2026 and hoping it provides some clarity and insight!

None of this came quickly for me. It took years of trial, expensive mistakes, and learning the hard way that consistency matters more than anything. If these posts can help shorten that learning curve for someone else, it’s worth going back to the basics.

Thanks for being here! I’m looking forward to sharing the next set of posts with you and starting the year off right.

Here’s to a great 2026!

-HL Financial Strategies