Gianluca Longinotti is an experienced trader, advisor, and financial analyst with over a decade of professional experience in the banking sector, trading, and investment services. Known for his rigorous approach and deep understanding of market dynamics, Gianluca specializes in derivatives and cyclical analysis, with a strong emphasis on options trading strategies and macroeconomic frameworks.
Gianluca is the founder of Cycle Quest, a project focused on applying cyclical models to financial markets, economic indicators, and more. With an international academic background and a passion for data-driven decision-making, Gianluca empowers traders and investors with expert insights, clear strategy frameworks, and cutting-edge tools.
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from University of Brescia (Italy)
- Two Master’s Degrees in Economics and Empirical Finance from Sorbonne University (France)
References
- Founder at Cycle Quest
- Contributor at Traders Union
- Author at Tokize.com
- Author at Crypto Adventure
Experience
- Over a decade of experience trading options, with a focus on defined-risk strategies such as vertical spreads, iron condors, and diagonals
- Deep understanding of options pricing models like Black-Scholes and binomial trees, applied daily to position evaluation
- Active user of the CBOE indices as a benchmark to build and test different trading strategies with options
- Expert in managing trades using the Greeks (Delta, Theta, etc.) to dynamically adjust risk
- I regularly post live trade setups and market reads on Gianluca’s Trades via the Option Samurai blog and my personal Stocktwits profile
- Skilled in building algorithmic strategies in Python and Pine Script, with a focus on short-term price action and event-driven plays
- Creator of backtesting environments tailored to options logic using Python’s Pandas and NumPy stack
- Daily use of TradingView, Interactive Brokers, and Databento for execution, charting, and data analysis
- Developed custom automated dashboards in Plotly and Streamlit for real-time tracking of trade performance and volatility curves
- Frequently design strategies aligned with FOMC and macroeconomic indicators for directional and volatility bias
- Strong foundation in fundamental analysis, with deep dives into financial statements and earnings behavior
- Implemented statistical arbitrage and volatility modeling techniques to detect mean-reverting edges
- Experienced in handling expiration risk, assignment logic, and optimizing trade timing around options cycles
- Advocate for integrating behavioral finance principles to mitigate biases and improve trader discipline
- Regularly consult with traders on strategy design, risk control, and automation to elevate their performance across market regimes
A Backtested Approach to Using Bollinger Bands in Options Trading - Part 1
All traders know that, in general, a few rules will hold true no matter what the market climate is (especially when using the Bollinger Band indicator or similar tools). For instance, stocks move...
The Top Earnings Option Strategies for Any Market
Throughout every quarter, a good earnings option strategy can help you making sense out of the increased price volatility in the stock market. Today, we will look into four main strategies that,...
Understanding What Is an IV Crush and Its Implications for Options Traders
There are few certainties in the life of an option trader, but the fact that the implied volatility of an option will regularly crush after a major event linked to the company is among these. If...
A Comparison of Cash Secured Put vs Covered Call [P&L and Examples]
When looking at a company you like, there are different ways to invest in it other than simply buying shares. This article explores cash secured puts vs. covered calls, highlighting how the...
Reviewing the Benefits and Risks of Cash Secured Puts: What You Need to Know [For Any Investor]
Just like you would do when looking for a bargain, cash secured puts let investors buy stocks at a lower price while earning income. This article will answer the question "what is a cash secured...
How to Become an Options Trader: Essential Tips and Tricks (for Absolute Beginners)
If you're on this blog, the chances are you have been looking for information on options trading and do not quite know where to start. This guide will introduce you to how to become an options...
A Look at the Basics of a Long Put Calendar Spread [Beginner Guide]
When you have an idea of a specific market price, a long put calendar spread can be an effective strategy. By buying longer-term puts and selling shorter-term ones at the same strike price, you can...
Understanding the Long Calendar Spread - Tips and Insights
The long calendar spread is a relatively advanced strategy for traders aiming to profit from stability. Consisting of buying a longer-term call and selling a shorter-term one at the same strike...
Implied Volatility vs. Historical Volatility in Options Trading [A New Tool in Your Trading Kit]
Volatility should always be on your mind if you want to become a successful options trader. Understanding implied volatility vs. historical volatility is essential. This article breaks down the...
Short Put Calendar Spread: Taking Advantage of Volatility [Complete Guide]
If you expect a drop in implied volatility, you might want to consider the short put calendar spread strategy. In order to achieve this, you sell a longer-term put while buying a shorter-term put...
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