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
Capped Call - An Exotic Option Type
As an exotic type of option strategy, a capped call is designed to limit potential gains while managing risk. But what is a capped call, and how do capped call transactions work? From capped calls...
Exotic Options - What Are They and How Do They Work?
Exotic options are not your typical financial tools. These customized derivatives offer unique payment structures, flexible expiration terms, and distinct activation mechanisms. Primarily traded...
Can You Buy Options on Margin? A Look at the Main Rules Involved
Can you buy options on margin, and what rules apply? Understanding whether options are marginable and if you need margin to trade options can clarify your choices. This article breaks down key...
The Best Indicators for Option Trading
Choosing the best indicator for option trading can make a big difference in your success. Whether you're a beginner or experienced trader, identifying the best indicators for option trading helps...
Options Arbitrage Strategies Explained (Low-Risk Trading Insights)
Options arbitrage offers traders a way to profit from market inefficiencies with minimal risk. But how do arbitrage option trading strategies actually work? This article deals with key options...
Stop Losing Money on Options with These 3 Tips
Losing money on options? You are not alone. Many traders struggle with this, often asking, “Why do I keep losing money on options?” The reasons often boil down to poor planning, weak strategies,...
Option Leverage - How It Works and Why You Should Know About It
Option leverage lets traders amplify potential gains while using less capital. By paying a small premium, you can control 100 shares—something that isn’t possible with stocks alone. This article...
Trade Idea - Bull Put Spread on REGN
Disclaimer: The trades discussed in this blog reflect the author's personal strategies and decisions. These are not financial advice and should not be considered recommendations to buy, sell, or...
Time Decay in Options - Does It Help or Harm Your Trades?
Time decay in options is a concept that you certainly don't want to ignore. The whole concept is rather intuitive (the closer you get to the expiry date, the more value your option loses), but...
Qualified Covered Calls: Simplifying Tax Rules for US Traders [With Scenarios]
Qualified covered calls can offer attractive tax advantages, but the rules can get tricky. How are covered calls taxed? It depends on expiration dates, assignments, and stock holding periods. This...
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