The Option Block 1433: 2025 Was a Wild Year for Options and Volatility

In this year-end finale, the All-Star panel gathers for a definitive look back at a historic 2025. From the "Tariff Tantrum" of April that sent the VIX screaming to 60, to the S&P 500 hitting all-time highs on Christmas Eve, Mark Longo and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management break down the trends, the traps, and the massive volume records that redefined the options market this year. Plus, a solo trivia battle for the ages and a deep dive into why 2025 was truly the "Year of the Collar."

Episode Highlights

• The Trading Block: A comprehensive 2025 post-mortem. The panel discusses the S&P's 1,000-point climb, the volatility spikes that caught traders off guard, and why hedged equity strategies became the essential tool for navigating the year's "madness."

• The 15 Billion Milestone: Mark breaks down the staggering 15,000,000,000 contracts traded in 2025—a 3x explosion since 2019—highlighting October 10th as the single busiest trading day in history.

• The Metals Mania: Uncle Mike reflects on Silver ($SLV) becoming the "meme stock of precious metals" and explains why he's finally fading the shiny stuff after a 50% gold rally.

• Odd Block: Reviewing the best "rolls of the bones" from the year, including activity in Bath & Body Works ($BBWI), steel rebar bets in Commercial Metals ($CMC), and e-commerce plays in VIP Shop ($VIPS).

• Strategy Block: Uncle Mike invokes "Miller Time"—explaining why the smartest move for the final week of the year is to "take the money and run" to get some much-needed rest before 2026 kicks off.

• Trivia Challenge: Uncle Mike faces off in a solo quest to defend his crown while the Rock Lobster remains MIA on vacation.

Resources & Links

• Options Insider Pro: Join the community for exclusive live streams and Q&As at theoptionsinsider.com/pro .

• Broker Spotlight: Find out why Investopedia named Tastytrade the Best Broker for Options in 2024: tastytrade.com/podcasts .

• Follow the Network: Search "Options Insider Radio Network" on your favorite podcast platform.