Young Trader’s Journey from School to Success

Lander Schlesinger, a high schooler, once amassed such significant wealth from trading options that he whimsically speculated his father might be in the drug trade.

A New Jersey resident, Schlesinger began with penny stocks and transitioned to the more volatile options market at 17. A look at his brokerage account shows his profits exceeded $1 million in 2025, though he cherishes the smaller milestones more. “Hitting 100,000 points felt monumental to me because of the effort it took,” he shared. “Reaching that milestone made me realize I could truly earn a lot from this.”

Thanks to a flexible schedule at his vocational school, he was able to trade in the early mornings while pursuing business and finance classes. The COVID-19 pandemic further allowed for more adaptable trading hours during lockdowns.

Now 23, he still actively trades options, but restricts it to a few hours daily, starting at 9 a.m. to gauge pre-market activity before the main trading session begins. Although he doesn’t engage in popular trading forums like r/WallStreetBets, he runs an active Discord group through his education venture, Stock Method LLC. He acknowledges the isolation that can come with this lifestyle and the importance of fostering a trader community.

During a recent discussion led by retail trading platforms MooMoo and WallStreetBets, Schlesinger revealed he typically focuses on options related to four main tickers: Tesla, Nvidia, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, and the Invesco Nasdaq Future Generation 200 ETF. His strategy involves trading 0DTE (zero days to expiry) option contracts, which are known for their high stakes.

However, rather than divulging specific trading tactics, Schlesinger stressed that consistent success in options trading revolves around following a plan and managing one’s emotions. “Many fail to make money over time because they allow emotions to interfere and struggle to stick to a plan for more than a week,” he remarked. “Money brings on emotions, and that can complicate things.”

He noted that his journey wasn’t without its challenges, taking him six to eight months of steady trading before seeing consistent profits.

Initially, he kept comprehensive spreadsheets to track his progress, which helped him adhere to his strategies and recognize patterns. “It’s mentally taxing,” he explained, adding that formulating and executing plans requires deep focus, often making it the toughest hurdle for many traders.

Schlesinger attributes a significant portion of his success to his passion for trading and financial markets, while also cautioning aspiring traders not to let that passion turn into burnout. “You have to stick with your chosen path. I’m still figuring out if it’s a blessing or a curse, but I know it pays off where it counts,” he said. “In the end, I just love to trade.”