How to Avoid FOMO and Still Profit in a Market That Won’t Stop Climbing

by | Jan 31, 2025

Every trader knows the feeling — watching a stock rip higher while you’re sitting on the sidelines, questioning every decision that kept you out of it.

Let’s use Palantir (PLTR) as an example. It ran 300%, 400%, even 500% at times last year, and if you weren’t in it from the start, you might have felt like you missed the trade of a lifetime.

But here’s the reality — you can’t build a strategy around catching the next Palantir. If you’re constantly chasing the next parabolic stock, you’re going to lose money more often than not.

The real key to long-term success is avoiding FOMO and focusing on trades that make sense in your specific trading plan.

The Trap of Chasing Winners

Stocks that go straight up feel like easy money, but they rarely give you a clean entry once they’re already running. You either hesitate and miss the move, or you jump in too late and end up holding the bag when momentum reverses.

I refused to chase Palantir when it kept hitting higher highs last year. Instead, I looked for pullbacks and used options strategies — selling put spreads to generate consistent income without taking on unnecessary risk.

That’s the difference between gambling on a stock and having a repeatable process.

Income Trades Over FOMO Trades

Most traders think they need to own the next high-flyer to make money. But I’ll take a high-probability options trade over a lottery ticket any day. Selling put spreads, covered calls and ratio spreads can generate steady income — even if the stock keeps running without you.

For example, instead of dumping capital into an overextended stock, I structure trades that allow me to profit from time decay and implied volatility. I don’t have to be right about the stock doubling again — I just need it to hold a range or drift higher.

And if I do want to buy? I wait for a dip. With Palantir, I’d gladly scoop up shares if it comes back to $50 or lower, where the valuation makes more sense.

A Market That Won’t Stop Climbing

The broader market is near all-time highs, and there’s a lot of noise about whether this rally can last. But instead of trying to predict the next move, I focus on what I can control — my risk, my entries and my trade structure.

I don’t need to guess if the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) will keep running, or if the S&P 500 (SPY) is topping out. I just need to put on trades that align with my strategy and avoid the FOMO trap.

There will always be another trade. The key is making sure it’s one worth taking.

I’ll see you in the markets.

Chris Pulver

Chris Pulver Trading

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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk. 

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