Spartan Trading
Overview
Spartan Trading, led by David Moadel, provides options and ETF alerts focused on income-generation strategies. Moadel's approach combines options selling (covered calls, cash-secured puts) with ETF portfolio positioning, targeting consistent income rather than aggressive growth. The service includes published results and a YouTube presence that serves as both marketing and education. At $97/month, it competes with other mid-range options alert services but targets a specific niche: conservative income-oriented traders.
How It Works
The signal format covers two categories. Options alerts focus on income strategies: covered calls on stocks already held, cash-secured puts to acquire stocks at lower prices, and occasional spread trades. ETF alerts position subscribers in sector or thematic ETFs based on Moadel's macro analysis.
Signals arrive via email and a members' portal. Each alert includes the specific trade (underlying, strike, expiration, direction), entry price, and a brief rationale. The educational component comes primarily through Moadel's YouTube channel, where he discusses market analysis, options concepts, and trade reasoning.
The approach is deliberately conservative — Moadel emphasises not losing money over maximising returns, targeting a steady income stream rather than home-run trades. This appeals to retirees and income-focused investors but frustrates traders looking for aggressive returns.
Signal frequency varies — typically 3-6 alerts per week covering both options and ETF positions. The published results track the outcome of each alert, providing some accountability though without independent auditing.
Performance Analysis
Spartan Trading's verification level is "published results" — the service shares its trade history, but the results are self-reported without independent auditing or broker verification. This is better than services that show no results but below Myfxbook-connected or competition-audited services.
The published results show the expected profile of an options income strategy: frequent small wins from premium collection, occasional larger losses when sold options go against the position, and overall modest net positive returns. This is consistent and unsurprising — options income strategies have a well-understood payoff profile.
Subscriber feedback focuses on the income consistency. Those who follow the covered call and cash-secured put strategies report steady small income from premium collection. The complaints centre on two areas: occasional large losses that erase weeks of income (the inherent tail risk in options selling), and a feeling that the returns don't justify $97/month given the conservative approach.
The YouTube presence adds an indirect form of verification — Moadel's market commentary is publicly available, and viewers can assess his analysis quality over time even without subscribing. This transparency, while not formal verification, does provide insight into the analytical thinking behind the signals.
Strengths
- Conservative income-focused approach suits retirees and capital preservation-minded traders
- Extensive free YouTube content lets subscribers evaluate analysis quality before committing
- Options and ETF dual coverage provides both income generation and portfolio positioning
- David Moadel's teaching style is accessible and jargon-free — good for intermediate options traders
- Published results provide some accountability, showing both winners and losers
- Signal rationale is included — not just levels but reasoning behind each trade
Weaknesses
- $97/month is expensive for conservative strategies that generate modest returns — subscription cost eats significantly into profits
- Published results are self-reported with no independent auditing or broker verification
- Risk management scores low because options selling carries inherent tail risk that the conservative framing may understate
- Returns are modest by design — traders expecting aggressive gains will be disappointed
- Subscriber experience is basic — email and portal delivery without a dedicated app or real-time dashboard
- Limited to options and ETFs — no forex, futures, crypto, or individual equity momentum coverage
Pricing & Value
At $97/month, Spartan Trading sits at the same price point as 1000pip Builder and below Minervini's premium service, but above budget options services like The Trading Analyst ($28/month) and Options Alpha's free education tier.
For conservative options income strategies, $97/month is a meaningful cost. If a subscriber's options income portfolio generates $300/month in premium, the subscription eats one-third of the profit. The math only works with sufficient capital — generally $50K+ to run enough covered call and cash-secured put positions to generate meaningful income.
The YouTube content is free and substantial, which creates an interesting dynamic: prospective subscribers can evaluate Moadel's analysis quality extensively before paying. This is a genuine advantage over services that hide their methodology behind a paywall.
How It Compares
Against Options Alpha (#6), Spartan Trading is less sophisticated but more personal. OA offers automated bots backed by statistical backtesting; Spartan Trading offers a human trader's discretionary income-focused signals. If you prefer automation and probability math, choose OA. If you prefer a personal touch and simpler options income strategies, Spartan Trading is more accessible.
Against The Trading Analyst (#9), both provide options alerts but target different styles. TTA focuses on swing-trade directional options bets; Spartan Trading focuses on income-generation options strategies (selling premium). They're complementary rather than competitive.
Against tastytrade (#8), the options selling philosophy is similar but delivery differs completely. Tastytrade provides free education through live shows; Spartan Trading provides paid alerts. Tastytrade is better for learning; Spartan Trading is better for those who want someone to tell them exactly what to trade.
The honest positioning: Spartan Trading is a reliable, conservative options income service for traders who want simple alerts without complexity. It's not innovative, not aggressively profitable, and not independently verified — but it serves its target market competently.
Who Is This For?
Conservative, income-focused options traders with $50K+ portfolios who want straightforward covered call and cash-secured put alerts. Ideal for retirees or near-retirees who prioritise capital preservation and steady income over aggressive growth. Also suitable for intermediate options traders who understand the basics and want a second opinion on income trades.
Not ideal for aggressive traders seeking high returns, anyone with a small account where $97/month is a significant cost, traders wanting sophisticated automated strategies, or those looking for multi-asset coverage.
Our Verdict
Spartan Trading earns #16 as a competent, conservative options income service that serves its niche well. David Moadel's accessible teaching style and extensive free YouTube content give prospective subscribers an unusual level of pre-commitment insight into the analytical approach.
The limitations are the limitations of conservative options income strategies in general: modest returns that can be erased by occasional large losses, and a subscription cost that represents a meaningful percentage of the income generated. At $97/month, the service needs to demonstrate clear value above what a trader could achieve independently by selling covered calls on their own research.
For its target market — conservative income seekers who want someone else to identify the options trades — Spartan Trading delivers. For anyone else, the providers ranked above offer better verification, broader coverage, or more aggressive return potential.