Options Insider Special Events

Is the energy market preparing for a $20 crude oil "washout"? In this episode, we tackle the geopolitical chaos in Venezuela and why the energy tape isn't reacting the way the headlines suggested it would. Join host Mark Longo along with Dan Gramza (Gramza Capital Management) and Carley Garner (DeCarley Trading) for a deep dive into the energy complex. We break down the reality of Venezuela's deteriorating infrastructure, the "capitulation" patterns in WTI crude oil, and Dan Gramza's incredible victory in our 2025 VIX Crystal Ball contest. The Venezuela "Oil Spigot" Myth: Why Dan Gramza believes it will take 5–7 years to rebuild Venezuela's energy infrastructure despite the current political shift. Crude Oil Capitulation: Carley Garner explains why WTI crude never bottoms out quietly and why the $55 support level is the "danger zone" for a potential plunge into the $40s or $20s. WTI Options Analysis: Tracking the massive flow in the Feb contract—specifically the 55-strike "double puts" and the disappearance of the geopolitical call skew. Energy Skew & Volatility: Why the initial "tariff tantrum" and supply headlines have left the energy market in a state of neutral indecision.  

It's time for our 2025 Year-End Spectacular! Join us as we look back on everything that lit up our tape in 2025 including: Wild options trades, spicy VIX prints, Metals madness, tariff tantrums and crypto craziness plus we take your pulse on hot topics like Prediction Markets, Strategic Crypto Reserves and...cranberry sauce?

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider CO-HOST: Brian Overby, Options Playbook The hosts dive into the mid-season drama of the inaugural Options Insider Fantasy Football League. Mark defends his first-place spot after a Week 9 loss, while Brian celebrates a much-needed win to climb out of the basement. The discussion covers devastating injuries, questionable draft strategies, surprise player finds, and what the future holds for the league. Key Highlights: Rivalry & Standings: Mark falls to 6-3 and is now tied for first. Brian secures a tight win (176.0 to 172.6) to move to 3-6. The Injury Crisis: A brutal season for injuries affecting top players, highlighting the importance of deep benches and constant management. Running Back Woes: Discussing the high-risk nature of early-round RBs (e.g., Saquon Barkley) and the bleak running back options on the current waiver wire (e.g., Devin Singletary). Surprise Sleeper Finds: Highlighting successful mid-season pickups like Khyani Vidal and Rico Dowdle that have been saving struggling teams. Waiver & Draft Strategy: Reviewing the ideal league size (consensus is 12) and the pros and cons of using unconventional draft strategies. Future League Format: Discussing the possibility of expanding the league next year and the appeal of the high-stakes Guillotine League format (where the lowest scorer is eliminated weekly). Favorite Players: Brian names Amari Cooper and the ever-reliable Josh Jacobs as his favorite players this season.    

Future Forward: Embedded Optionality in Market Innovation As technology, regulatory changes and market dynamics continue to evolve, the options market is on the brink of significant transformation. This panel will explore how new innovations - from AI and automation to regulatory changes - are reshaping trading behavior, risk management, and market structure. Moderator: Tommy Martin, Chief Strategy Officer, Dash Financial Technologies Panelists: Annabelle Baldwin, Chief Revenue Officer, SpiderRock Shawn Cruz, Business Development Lead, IMC Geralyn Endo, Head of Options Business Development, MEMX

In the ever-evolving world of financial markets, options trading has experienced rapid growth among retail and institutional investors alike. Examining new educational mediums and methodologies is at the heart of this discussion as we present multiple perspectives on how education in the options space is happening now and how it may transform in the future. This panel will dive into the latest developments in options education, highlighting the strategies, tools and platforms that are empowering the next generation of traders. Moderator: Jessica Inskip, Director of Investor Research, StockBrokers.com Panelists: Mark Benzaquen, Principal, Investor Education, OCC Jermal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy, tastytrade Brent Kochuba, Founder, SpotGamma

Emerging Technologies, Advanced Analytics and Automation in Options Trading: Transforming Strategies and Market Dynamics Cutting edge technologies are reshaping the landscape of options trading, enhancing decision-making processes and driving innovation in trading strategies. This panel will explore how market participants leverage sophisticated modeling techniques to identify opportunites, optimize trade execution, and navigate the ethical challenges associated with increased reliance on automation in financial markets. Moderator: Ivan Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Options, IEX Panelists: Steve Crutchfield, Head of Business Development, Chicago Trading Company Joe Mazzola, Director, Trading & Education, Charles Schwab & Co Nate Pomeroy, Principal, Wolverine Trading

Navigating Market Trends: Buyside Perspectives in Options Trading Moderator: Joe Lewis, Head of Corporate Hedging and FX Solutions, Jefferies Financial Group Panelists: Rachna Mathur, Head of Equities, Americas, EUREX Eric Metz, Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer & Head of SpiderRock Advisors John Smollen, Executive Vice President, Exchange Traded Products, MIAX

Defined outcome ETFs are redefining how investors manage risk and achieve targeted outcomes in their portfolios. This panel will delve into how these ETFs use options to mitigate risk, their role in managing market volatility, and the ripple effects they are creating across the options and futures markets. Moderator: Geoff Gaiss, Vice President, Global Deriviatives, TRAFiX Panelists: John DiBacco, Global Head of Derivatives, Clear Street Brian Gilbart, Head of Options Market Development, NYSE Sara Levin, Director, ETF and Derivative Trading, WallachBeth Capital Matt McFarland, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets, Vest Financial

As we look into the future of options trading, several transformative factors are reshaping the market. This session will explore the implication of Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) on trading volumes and market liquidity, alongside the evolving landscape of risk management practices. We will discuss the changing profile of the modern investor, one increasingly influenced by technological advancements, educational resources, and AI-driven strategies and how they are revolutionizing trade execution and portfolio management. Moderator: JJ Kinahan, Chief Executive Officer, IG North America Panelists: Christopher Larkin, Managing Director, Head of Trading & Investing, E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Tanya Patwa, Head U.S. Options Sales, Nasdaq Tony Zhang, Chief Strategist, OptionsPlay Patrick Zielinski, Chief Executive Officer, Box Options Market

In an increasingly data-driven world, this panel will explore how market participants are leveraging big data, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics to inform trading strategies, manage risk, and predict market trends. As technology evolves, so do the ways in which we interact with the markets. Moderator: Henry Schwartz, Vice President, Market Intelligence, Cboe Global Markets Panelists: Arianne Adams, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Derivatives, Webull Matt Amberson, Principal, ORATS Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist, Interactive Brokers

Dan Busby, Chief Operating Officer, OCC leads a fireside chat with The Honorable Hester M. Peirce, Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Did our audience have their fingers on the pulse of the options market in 2024? Tune in to find out as we review the results of all of our audience sentiment polls for 2024 and beyond!

Join us for our 2024 Election Night Spectacular as we break down all the action with a variety of special guests (HINT: LISTEN UNTIL THE END) including: Dr. VIX - aka Russell Rhoads Aash Vyas Scott Bauer Matt Amberson Bill Uliveri Dan Gramza Dan Passarelli Uncle Mike Tosaw The Rock Lobster Andrew Giovinazzi John Smollen and more...

Industry panelists will discuss exchange operations, the state of competition, the return of floor trading and resiliency for the next 50 years. Moderator: Paul Jiganti, Managing Director, Business Development & Market Structure Strategy, IMC Panelists: Andrej Bolkovic, Chief Executive Officer, OCC Shelly Brown, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Development, MIAX Sean Feeney, Head of US Options, Nasdaq Kevin McCarthy, Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Clearing, Clear Street

Dive into an insightful exploration of the distinctions between the US and European options markets in this engaging session. Delve into the repercussions and investment prospects stemming from the escalating trading activity flowing from Europe to the US. Uncover the driving forces behind the burgeoning retail sector in Europe and gain valuable forsight into forthcoming market trends. Moderator: David Cross, Co-Head of Options, DASH Financial Technologies Panelists: Lauren Arbid, Director, US Head of Relationship Management, ABN AMRO Clearing USA LLC Mathieu Boivin-Carrier, Director, All Options USA James Putra, Vice President and Head of Product Strategy, TradeStation Dr. Randolf Roth, Member of the Executive Boards, Eurex

The 2024 election season could dramatically impact finance and investing. This session will cover what is known - and how to prepare for the unknowns. Moderator: Ellen Greene, Managing Director, Equity and Options Market Structure, SIFMA Panelists: Dennis Davitt, Chief Investment Officer, Millbank Dartmoor Portsmouth Geoff Gaiss, Vice President, Global Derivatives, TRAFiX Jim Toes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Security Traders Association  

In the derivatives space, the ability to innovate is non-negotiable. Learn what new paths are being forged in equities, ETFs and digital transformation. Moderator: Lule Demmissie, Chief Executive Officer US, eToro  Panelists: Geralyn Endo, Relationship Manager, Options Lead, MEMX Kevin "Lex" Luthringshausen, Senior Vice President, Chief Content Officer, Tradier Inc, Tradier Hub Laura Morrison, ETF/Investment Industry Advisor, Former Chief Revenue Officer, Direxion

Hear directly from top investment managers about their worries, their views on where the growth is, and whether they're putting listed options, including 0DTEs, to work. Moderator: Joe Lewis, Head Corporate Hedging & FX Solutions, Jefferies Panelists: Eric McArdle, Managing Director, Advisor Solutions, Simplify Blake Dinger, Portfolio Manager, SpiderRock Advisors Megan Morgan, Head of Market Structure, Belvedere Trading

Welcome  Ed Modla, Executive Director, Investor Education, OCC Mat Cashman, Principal, Investor Education, OCC Virtual Welcome The Honorable Patrick McHenry (R-NC) Chairman, U.S. House Financial Services Committee

This session will center on how the market may be affected by regulatory developments and Federal Reserve decisions. Moderator: Steve Luparello, Principal, Gaillard Group LLC Panelists: Gregg Berman, Managing Director, Market Analytics and Regulatory Structure, Citadel Mark Davies, Chief Executive Officer, S3 Jill Sommers, Chair of the Derivatives Practice Group, Patomak Global Partners

Keynote Speaker: Rorke Denver, Navy SEAL Commander (Ret.), Leadership & Peak Performance Specialist Throughout his action-packed, hair-raising combat career, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver successfully led his troops through unforgiving special forces missions in challenging, do-or-die environments in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and other international hot spots. Having overseen every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs, Denver has lived what it takes to succeed in fast-moving environments where chaos is all around you and there's no guarantee that you'll live to fight another day. Denver's own experiences provide the basis for the sought-after lessons he shares with audiences as he helps teams and individuals live and perform at their highest level, even when it seems like everything is working against them. 

The investor paradigm is shifting. To meet buyers and sellers where they are, the markets and exchanges have to adapt. Moderator: JJ Kinahan, Chief Executive Officer, IG North America Panelists: Johnathan Hampton, Director of New Sales and Partnerships, Exegy Jessica Inskip, Director of Education and Product, Options Play Steve Quirk, Chief Brokerage Officer, Robinhood Markets, Inc

Amid the ongoing increase in options volume, a host of issues and opportunities remain, including the potential for international growth, educating investors and questions about the role of AI. Moderator: Steve Crutchfield, Head of Business Development, Chicago Trading Company Panelists: Chris Larkin, Managing Director, Head of Trading and Investing, E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Joe Mazzola, Director, Trading & Education, Charles Schwab & Co Greg Stevens, Vice President, Fidelity Investments

The macroenvironment and the state of the U.S. economy will be among the key topics in this overview of both the current market and what may be on the horizon. Moderator: Stacey Gilbert, Chief Investment Officer, Glenmede Investment Management Panelists: Meaghan Dugan, Head of Options, NYSE Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist, Interactive Brokers Patrick Zielinski, Chief Executive Officer, BOX Options Exchange

Presenter: Henry Schwartz, Vice President, Global Head of Client Engagement, Cboe Global Markets

Moderator: Geralyn Endo, Member Experience, MEMX Panelists: David Cross, Co-Head of Options, Dash Geoff Gaiss, Vice President, Global Derivatives, Trafix Jim Hyde, Senior Director, Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, ICE/NYSE Kevin "Lex" Luthringshausen, Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Tradier, Inc.

Moderator: Walton Liles, Principal, Blue Ridge Law and Policy Panelists: Ellen Greene, Managing Director, Equity and Options Market Structure, SIFMA Jim Hall, Executive Director, Government Relations, OCC Jim Toes, President and Chief Executive Officer, STA

Moderator: Pat Hickey, Managing Director, Participant Services and Solutions, OCC Panelists: Megan Morgan, Head of Market Structure, Belvedere Sean Truett, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, BOX Options Market LLC Matt Weinstein, Senior Derivatives Salesperson, Citadel Securities

Moderator: Paul Jiganti, Managing Director, Business Development and Market Structure Strategy, IMC Panelists: Andrej Bolkovic, Chief Executive Officer, OCC Nick LaMaina, Global Head of Broker Dealer Solutions, eToro Tony Zhang, Chief Strategy Officer, OptionsPlay

Fireside Chat: Jill Sommers, Chair, Derivatives Practice Group, Patomak Global Partners: Lule Demmissie, U.S. Chief Executive Officer, eToro

Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Summer K. Mersinger, Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Moderator: Julie Bauer, Chief External Relations Officer, OCC

Moderator: Annabelle Baldwin, Chief Revenue Officer, SpiderRock Panelists: Arianne Adams, Senior Vice President, Head of Derivatives, Cboe Global Markets Kevin McCarthy, Managing Director, Head of Financing and Clearing, B of A Securities Tanya Patwa, Managing Director, Head of U.S. Options Sales, Nasdaq

Moderator: JJ Kinahan, Chief Executive Officer, IG North America, tastytrade/tastylive Panelists: Joe Bracco, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales, MIAX Jason Hedberg, Global Head of Equity Derivatives and Flow Distribution, UBS Henry Schwartz, Vice President, Global Head of Client Engagement, Cboe Global Markets

Keynote Speaker: Greg Williams, Editor, WIRED

Moderator: Steve Luparello, Former Director, Division of Trading and Markets, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Panelists: Gregg Berman, Managing Director, Market Analytics and Regulatory Structure, Citadel Mark Davies, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, S3 Meaghan Dugan, Head of Options, NYSE

Moderator: Greg Stevens, Vice President, Fidelity Investments Panelists: Sean Feeney, Head of Options, Nasdaq Ravi Jain, Chief Product Officer, Sterling Trading Tech Ming Zhao, Chief Executive Officer, Atomic Vaults

On this special 100th Episode Spectacular we are joined in the Hot Seat by Matt Amberson, Founder & CEO - ORATS aka The Oracle of New Hampshire Matt answers your questions about: The best way to trade 0DTE options. The optimal way to structure your covered call trades.  His thoughts on 1-Day VIX. Options secrets that he's discovered from years of backtesting. The proper way to trade options during earnings season.  How to construct "garbage" VIX and SPY trades. and much more...

Market Outlook 2022 Moderator: Kaitlin Meyer, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, MIAX Panelists: Shawn Cruz, Director of Derivative Strategy and Trading, TD Ameritrade Ravi Jain, Chief Product Officer, Sterling Trading Tech Tommy Martin, Co-Head of Options, Dash (an ION Company) Patrick Zielinski, Interim Chief Executive Officer, BOX Options

Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Dawn DeBerry Stump Former Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission The Honorable Dawn DeBerry Stump was nominated by President Trump to serve as a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on June 12, 2017. She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 28, 2018 and sworn into office on September 5, 2018 for the remainder of a five-year term that expired in April 2022. Moderator: Julie Bauer, Chief External Relations Officer, OCC

Washington Perspectives Moderator: Jim Toes, President & CEO, Security Traders Association Panelists: Jameel Aalim-Johnson, Vice President of Government Relations, Nasdaq Gene DeMaio, Executive Vice President, Options Regulation & Trading Execution, FINRA Ellen Greene, Managing Director, Equity and Options Market Structure, SIFMA

Secure Markets: Tackling Cybersecurity Challenges Moderator: John P. Davidson, Chief Executive Officer, OCC Panelists: Andrew Derboben, AVP, Global Security Operations and Incident Response, Nasdaq Erik Dries, Executive Director Cyber Defense, OCC David Harris, Co-Founder, Manetu, Inc.

New Frontiers: Innovations Changing the Industry Moderator: Paul Jiganti, Managing Director, Business Development and Market Structure Strategy, IMC Panelists: Thomas Gallagher, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, MIAX Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, Chief Executive Officer, Atomyze Steve Quirk, Chief Brokerage Officer, Robinhood

Institutional Perspectives on Today's Options Markets Moderator: Jason Roelker, Head of Institutional Equity Derivative Sales, Citadel Securities Panelists: Arianne Adams, Senior Vice President, Head of Derivatives & Global Client Services, Cboe Meaghan Dugan, Head of Product & Competitive Strategy, NYSE Jason Hedberg, Global Head of Equity Derivatives Flow Distribution, UBS

Current Issues in Market Structure Moderator: Alicia Crighton, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Panelists: Steve Luparello, Former Director of Trading and Markets, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Scot Warren, Chief Operating Officer, OCC Slade Winchester, Director, Derivatives Trading Platforms, Citigroup Global Markets

On this episode, we are joined by: John Davidson, CEO - The Options Clearing Corporation Mark and John discuss: Looking back on the meme stock palooza? Are we pricing calls wrong? Will we ever see extended hours trading in options? Why does open interest only update once a day? What is the OCC Ovation technology overhaul? Can the Options volume party continue in 2022? Will we see daily expirations in single-name options in the near future? and much more...

Rise of Retail: What's Next? Moderator: JJ Kinahan, Vice President and Chief Market Strategist, tastytrade Panelists: Greg Ferrari, Head of U.S. Options, Nasdaq Ovidio Montemayor, Managing Director, Trading Operations, Charles Schwab Greg Stevens, Vice President, Options Experience Independent Investing, Fidelity Investments

State of The Industry Moderator: Henry Schwartz, Senior Director, Head of Product Intelligence, Cboe Panelists: Annabelle Baldwin, Chief Revenue Officer, SpiderRock Jeff Chiappetta, Managing Director, Digital Investor Services, Charles Schwab Antonio Goncalves, Senior Vice President Americas, Board Advisor Devexperts and dxFeed Data Solutions, Devexperts, Inc.

Our Founder Mark Longo hosted the options panel at this year's Securities Traders Association of Chicago (STAC) conference. Joining mark on the panel were: Henry Schwartz - Sr. Director, Head of Product Intelligence, Data & Access Solutions, Cboe Global Markets Bill Looney - Managing Director - Head of Global Business Development, XFA Jordan Naylor - CEO, Matrix Executions Greg Magadini - Co-Founder and CEO, Genesis Volatility   They discuss: The insane year that was 2021.  Can the volume continue in 2022? The impact of the retail trading tsunami The impact of so many call buyers on volatility skew The growing wave of crypto options traders and much more...

OIC 2021 Exclusive Panel Audio: Market Outlook

The Honorable Randal Quarles, Vice Chair for Supervision at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is the keynote speaker at this year's virtual conference.