Danielle Shay

VP of Options

Danielle Shay

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.”
- Rutherford B. Hayes

Who is Danielle?

Danielle Shay is a self-made trader, market analyst, and expert commentator. She originally got into trading on a quest for financial freedom, with the goal of living wherever she pleased and taking care of her young son. She is now the VP of Options at Simpler Trading where she trades, runs analysis in the trading room, teaches classes and webinars, and writes on a weekly basis. As a former teacher with a passion for trading, it’s her goal is to help traders grasp the basics that make trading simpler — no matter their skill level.

Danielle is a frequent expert guest in the media, on CNBC, Fox News, Nasdaq TradeTalks, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Cheddar, StockCharts.com, and more. You can find her story and key focus of analysis, the Five Star Setup, in her contributing chapters in John Carter’s 3rd Edition of Mastering the Trade. As a momentum trader, her primary focus is identifying relative strength trading setups, and trading them using equity options, stocks, and ETFs. Using her step-by-step, top-down approach, it’s her goal as a former teacher, to help traders go from zero to trading — just like she once did. Her motto is, “If I can do it, you can do it!”.

For education and trades, you can find her daily in the Simpler Central Room at Simpler Trading in addition to her weekly Five Star Trader newsletter. She also teaches classes in which she teaches her methods to others. She connects directly with her traders via her free newsletter at www.FiveStarTrader.com, and on her social media channels where she shares tips, tricks and trades!

Where can I find Danielle at Simpler?

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Danielle’s Courses

Exploit Every Earnings Season With ‘Quarterly Profits Formula’

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Make consistent, profitable picks in less time. Learn how Danielle finds hot picks for explosive moves

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Ignite Your Trading Portfolio By Revealing The Most Profitable Stocks

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How to Make Extraordinary Gains from All-Time Highs

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Danielle’s Trading Plan

I’m trading for financial independence. Having a method of building wealth, both by trading and by investing, is a critical life skill. I want the peace of mind of knowing that whatever happens, I know I can invest my own money in the stock market. I don’t want to depend on a job, a partner, or anything else in this life. I know as long as I have an internet connection, I can use my skills to improve my future.

I approach investing on a regular basis. I continually add long term stock picks to my portfolios to grow them over time.

For my options accounts, I look for high probability moments in time where I have an edge. I only trade setups in which I have an edge.

I don’t have specific goals. I can only trade and I can only make what the market can give me. Sometimes the market has a ton of momentum – other times it lingers for weeks or months. Giving yourself monthly or quarterly goals is a poor idea as it becomes a mental game and can really become a blocker.

My goal is to identify high probability setups and trade them with precision. If you focus on being a better trader, the profits will come. If you focus on making money, that’s when you get in trouble.

But, that being said, usually I can 3-5x an account relatively easily when the market conditions are right, so that’s what I aim for. The time frame though, varies.

My objective is to continue growing as a trader and educator. I strive to constantly learn, as well as teach new methods and strategies, while maintaining the foundation I’ve built. I strive to continue to grow my investment and trading accounts overtime.

​I trade US equities and commodities. I trade stocks, options, and futures.

  • For investments, these are long term – I plan to hold them for 5-10 years or more.
  • For options trades, typically I trade between 1-30 DTE or less.
  • When trading futures, these are day trades

I trade a variety of setups. I trade: Finding Phoenix (identifying relative strength buys after a dip), the Run into Earnings (pre-earnings momentum), the Short Squeeze (an explosion at the highs), Earnings trades (trading the actual earnings report), the Squeeze (multi-time frame, combo with any other trades, triple squeeze), and intraday futures setups.

The rules are different for each setup, but overall I prefer to enter on pullbacks to the 34 EMA on the daily chart. I like to see confirmation of a shift in momentum to the upside, such as a high volume move, VZO buy, or moving average cross to confirm the direction.

On trades below a certain risk level, I don’t use stops, especially with butterflies. On more expensive trades, I’ll use either a 50% stop or a stop below the 50 SMA on the daily chart.

I like to scale out on the way up. I like to take profits at resistance levels, then new high, and then at the Fibonacci extension targets. Sometimes I take profits based on percentage gains.

  • Risk less on lower probability trades; risk more on higher probability trades in a strong market. Risk less when the market’s shaky or extended. Risk more when the market pulls back into support.
  • Risk per position fluctuates between 1-5% on a trade.

Read the news. See what happened overnight around the world. Check on any earnings reports that happened before the close, the night before, or before the open that day. Check to see what’s moving. Look at the indexes. How are they trading? Is there a gap from the night before? Is the gap up or down? What’s the current market condition? How do my trades look?

My post market activity is to relax. When the market’s closed, it’s time to spend time with my family.

What Tools will I use for my trading business? ​I use a combination of trading tools that are absolutely necessary: SqueezePro, TurboVZO, Phoenix Finder, Index Grid, TrendStrength Turbo Candles.

I have a variety of subscription services: Chaikin Analytics, Likefolio, CML Viz.

I also use paid news sources: Wall Street Journal, Barrons, New York Times, LA Times, MarketWatch, and more.

Per trade:

I review trades every Tuesday on my newsletter at www.Fivestartrader.com. I look at the entry and exit, my targets, if I managed the trade correctly, and if I could’ve made improvements.

Per year:

I do an overview every year in December to look for key themes. I want to know what I did best, what I did worst, and how I can adjust what I’m doing to maximize my potential for the next year.

I read for about 4-5 hours every day, at least. I’m always looking for new ideas, new collaborators, and ways in which to improve my methods.

My biggest challenge, and also one of the most important aspects in trading, is to continue to fit your trading into your life. When I do that, I can be disciplined. When I don’t, my discipline slips. In order to trade, you must be calm and at peace, and that’s something you can’t do when you can’t focus.

Ensuring that I build my life to fit within my trading career is critical for me.

1. I’ll be disciplined every day, and in every trade.

2. I’ll be my own trading “self”, never trading another’s plan.

3. I love taking small losses.

4. I’ll always earn the right to trade bigger.

5. I’m not addicted to trading just to see what happens.

6. I’ll only trade high reward setups that have the probabilities in their favor.

7. I’ll be a bricklayer – making the same types of trades over and over again.

8. Once I find a setup, I don’t hesitate; once in a trade, I don’t overanalyze.

9. I’ll always keep a detailed trading log/journal and will act upon what it tells me.

10. I’ll review my work and shift over time to adjust for what’s working and what isn’t.

Everything I do will be for the success of my trading business.

NEVER FORGET: This is the “You Are Screwed” Trading Mindset

1. You have no trading plan.

2. You have no money management rules.

3. You’re prone to emotional swings.

4. You’re nervous when in a trade.

5. You try to predict rather than react.

6. You revenge trade.

7. You don’t cut your losses fast enough.

8. You watch every tick.

9. You never review your trades.

10. You’re losing MONEY!

Trading Platforms Used by Danielle:


Danielle’s Must Read Books:

Fibonacci Trading

Carolyn Boroden shows you how Fibonacci patterns studies can be used as an extremely effective method for achieving greater profitability.

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3rd Edition: Mastering the Trade

One of today’s most successful traders, John F. Carter has made his popular guide more relevant and effective than ever.

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Follow The Smart Money

Jon and Pete give you and inside look at their proprietary Heat Seeker algorithm, which sorts through all option trades looking for trades that are unusually large.

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Trading in the Zone

Douglas uncovers the underlying reasons for lack of consistency and helps traders overcome the ingrained mental habits that cost them money.

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Business Leaders and Success

Discover what it takes to become a global business leader and the success secrets you can use on your own road to the top.

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Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class

Is it possible for a person of average intelligence and modest means to ascend to the throne of the world class? YES! Not only is it possible - it’s being done everyday.

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Here are some of Danielle’s favorite products:

Adjustable Computer Desk

Adjustable Electric Desk allows you to find that needed healthy balance between sitting and standing up throughout the day.

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Under Desk Electric Treadmill

Helps to improve your cardiovascular fitness, boost your health, and burn fat, and regulate lower body muscles. This is a great way to exercise and relax.

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Anti Fatigue Balance Board

Fortify Core Strength and Stability – This stand-on wobble board keeps your legs, core, and body active to help improve focus, reduce fatigue, and relieve foot tension.

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Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

Condenser microphone with USB output for digital recording and high quality A/D converter with 16 bit, 44.1/48 kilohertz sampling rate for superb audio

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Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Oiamik blue light glasses with resin lens coated green film defend your eyes against the harmful blue light from digital screen, so that you can enjoy your game, drama and work time without eye fatigue and headaches.

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Sensyne LED Circle Lights with Phone Holder

Sensyne selfie ring light features a high sensitivity touch panel design that has a longer life than traditional mechanical buttons.

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Media Appearances

Earnings Trading Checklist

February 13, 2023

Danielle joined Fox Business’s Charles Payne on “Making Money” to review her “Earnings Checklist” for investing during the Earnings season.

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Tech Earnings in Focus

January 30, 2023

Danielle joined Fox Business’s, Charles Payne on “Making Money” to discuss her thoughts on this week’s tech earnings on large names such as Google(GOOGL), Amazon(AMZN), and Apple(AAPL).

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Thoughts on Tesla Earnings

January 23, 2023

Danielle returned from maternity leave to join Charles Payne on Fox Business, where she discusses Tesla (TSLA) and her thoughts on their earnings.

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Inflation & the economy

September 12, 2022

Danielle joined Fox Business to discuss how the market will react to Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. She also discussed how she thinks inflation is embedded in the economy.

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CRM Earnings & Thoughts on TSLA

August 25, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss her thoughts on earnings for SalesForce(CRM), her direction on the energy sector (XLE), and key levels on Tesla(TSLA). A special guest also appears to give additional input on his favorite stock!

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Options Ideas on WMT & LOW

August 18, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss the choppy market conditions and her thoughts on Walmart(WLMT) recent news prior to earnings. She also discusses her thoughts on next weeks earnings.

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Big Tech Earnings Post Fed

July 28, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss post-fed and earnings on tech names like Google (GOOGL) and Apple (AAPL).

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Opportunity in Microsoft

July 26, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss long-term investment plays on Tech names that recently had earnings.

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3 Diamond In The Rough

July 14, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss three “Diamonds in the rough” like Netflix (NFLX) and United Health (UNH), and one name with a potential short squeeze.

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Bank Earnings Options Ideas

July 14, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTv Live to discuss why she was bearish on bank earnings and her thoughts on JP Morgan (JPM) and Goldman Sachs (GS). She also discusses the Energy Sector (XLE) and important levels in the overall market.

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Breaking down Consumer Staples

June 28, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss Consumer Staples which ones are buys, and which one to stay clear of in this volatile market.

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Thoughts on TSLA

June 23, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss options ideas on Tesla (TSLA) as well as her thoughts on the recent news from Elon. She also covers potential opportunities in FedEx (FDX) and Snowflake (SNOW).

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KBH Earnings giving us Short Opportunities.

June 22, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss potential opportunities to short Kb Home (KBH) and Darden Restaurants (DRI) during their earnings.

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Heading back to 2020 levels?

June 16, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss why I think the NASDAQ will hit previous 2020 levels and which names she is looking to short/trade during this sell-off.

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GME earnings worth the hype?

June 16, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss the Fed rally, her thoughts on Teladoc (TDOC), and Post Fed Options Wrap-up.

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Retail Earnings and Scalping Options

May 19, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss retail earnings on Target (TGT), Apple (AAPL), and AMD(AMD). She also talked about what to look forward to in the upcoming earnings season.

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The slow bleed of Apple and Microsoft

May 18, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC to discuss the market plunge and her thoughts on Microsoft(MSFT) and Apple (AAPL).

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Continued potential in the former “Covid Darlings”

May 6, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss her take on potential setups on the “Covid Darlings” such as Teladoc(TDOC) and Roku(ROKU). Also what she is looking for in this upcoming Earnings Season, Scalping Options, and the FED Rally.

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Options Ideas: RIVN, QQQ, and MSFT Earnings

March 11, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to talk about which stocks she is looking at for the upcoming quarter’s earnings season and also discuss important technical levels the overall market needs to hold.

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3 long term buys & a bail: MSFT, LOW, and more

January 28, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC to discuss her favorite strong companies that are supported not just by technicals, but also fundamentals and the macro story as well on CNBC The Exchange.

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Options Ideas: TSLA, MSFT, and AAPL

January 28, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss trade ideas on MSFT, TSLA, and AAPL during the Q4 earnings season, and go over technical levels on the overall market.

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Three Stocks to buy at a discount

January 26, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to go over the three stocks to buy at a discount right now, including MSFT and COST.

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Rapid Fire: Cruise Stocks, PYPL, CROX

January 21, 2022

Danielle joined TraderTV Live to discuss what she is looking forward to in the upcoming earnings season such as NFLX earnings, Airlines, and more.

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Rapid Fire: Cruise Stocks, PYPL, CROX

January 12, 2022

Danielle joined CNBC’s The Exchange to talk about the cruise stocks, like CCL, RCL, and NCLH, as spending slows down. She also discusses PYPL and CROX.

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Options Ideas for 2022

January 7, 2022

Danielle joins TraderTV to discuss her approach to trading in 2022 and what she’s looking forward to in the upcoming earnings season among other topics.

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Afternoon Action: INTC, T, BYND

January 5, 2022

Danielle joins CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss some potential trade setups. “INTC is interesting if it can get above $56. Avoid T as there are too many bag holders. If BYND can break prior highs, I’m interested in a short squeeze.”

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Rapid Fire: HOG, NDX, PTON

December 14, 2021

Danielle joined CNBC’s “The Exchange” to discuss Harley-Davidson (HOG) spinning out its EV unit via SPAC, the Nasdaq (NDX) 100 rebalancing, and Peleton (PTON) firing back with its own ad.

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Momentum trading creates oversold conditions, money-making opportunities

April 6, 2021

FOX Business’ Charles Payne, TJM Institutional Services Director Jim Luorio, Belpointe Chief Strategist David Nelson, and Simpler Trading Director of Options Danielle Shay discuss momentum trading and today’s markets.

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Strategist predicts bull market despite stock gyrations

March 8, 2021

BMO Capital Markets chief strategist Brian Belski, Simpler Trading Director of options Danielle Shay and Peapack Private Wealth Management managing principal David Dietze provide insight into market movements, the Federal Reserve, inflation and promising stocks.

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Recent market rebound is a little ‘suspicious’: Trader

March 1, 2021

Simpler Trading director of options Danielle Shay provides insights into recent market moves, earnings and which stocks are ‘hot’ right now.

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SPACs have taken Wall Street by storm: Payne

February 23, 2021

FOX Business’ Charles Payne discusses special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and investing with Simpler Trading director of options Danielle Shay.

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Options Ideas: RIVN, QQQ, and MSFT Earnings

March 11, 2022

I joined TraderTVLive to talk about which stocks I’m looking at for the upcoming quarter’s earnings season and also discuss important technical levels the overall market needs to hold.

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