Resources
Nothing here is filler. Every link was evaluated for actual usefulness. If it didn't make the cut, it's not here.
Tools & Platforms
https://www.tradingview.com
The standard charting platform for retail traders. Free tier works for most research. Pine Script lets you build or use custom indicators. Good community library — evaluate any third-party script before using it in a live trade.
https://finviz.com
Stock screener, sector heat maps, and quick market overview. Free version covers most research needs. Useful for filtering stocks by float, volume, sector, or price performance.
https://www.optionsprofitcalculator.com
Free tool that lets you visualize an option position's P&L at different prices and dates before you enter the trade. Genuinely useful for understanding how theta and IV will affect your position over time.
https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/equities.html
Official exchange source for futures contract specifications, margin requirements, and expiration calendars. If you need to know the exact spec of a futures contract, go here — not a third-party site.
https://brokercheck.finra.org
Look up any broker or financial professional's registration, licenses, and disciplinary history. Takes 30 seconds. Should be a standard step before opening any account.
YouTube — Worth Watching
Criteria: accurate, educational, no course pitch as the primary objective. These are channels that actually teach something.
https://www.youtube.com/@PBoyle
Former hedge fund manager. Covers macro, market structure, derivatives, and finance with real depth. Academic but very accessible. Good for understanding how institutional thinking differs from retail.
https://www.youtube.com/@ThePlainBagel
Finance and investing explained objectively. Particularly strong on behavioral finance and debunking common myths. Not a trading channel — but the critical thinking it models applies directly to how you evaluate strategies and sources.
https://www.youtube.com/@Investopedia
Covers mechanics of options, futures, margin, and risk clearly. Good supplemental resource for foundational concepts. Stick to the educational content, not the market commentary.
Data & Research
https://www.ssrn.com
Repository for academic finance research. Search: 'retail trader performance,' 'day trading profitability,' 'options market microstructure.' Most papers are free. The Barber & Odean studies on retail trader losses are here and worth reading.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org
Macroeconomic data from the St. Louis Fed. Interest rates, inflation, GDP, employment, money supply — the actual numbers, continuously updated. Useful for understanding the macro environment you're trading in.
https://www.cftc.gov/MarketReports/CommitmentsofTraders/index.htm
Weekly positioning data showing how commercial hedgers and large speculators are positioned in futures markets. Used by professional traders to gauge sentiment and crowding in a particular market.
Official Sources
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p550
The official IRS guide for investment income and expenses. Covers capital gains, wash sale rule, and tax treatment of various instruments. Non-optional reading if you're trading actively and want to understand your obligations.
https://www.investor.gov
Investor education from the SEC. Practical guides on brokerage accounts, margin, short selling, and avoiding fraud. Reliable, unbiased source for understanding your rights and regulations.
https://www.nfa.futures.org/basicnet
BASIC system from the NFA lets you verify any registered futures firm or individual. Check registration status and any disciplinary history before opening a futures account.