Glossary & FAQs

Auto-Trading

A setup where strategy-generated trades may be copied or routed to a subscriber's own brokerage account through a compatible platform.

Strategy Subscription

A subscription arrangement where a visitor may follow or simulate a published strategy through a compatible platform and broker setup.

Model Account

The reference account used to show the strategy's trades, results, or trade sizing.

Subscriber Account

The subscriber's own brokerage account where copied or routed trades may be placed.

Scaling

A setting that adjusts the size of trades sent to the subscriber account compared with the model strategy.

20% Scale

The minimum scaling level used by all CRESCOZ strategies.

100% Scale

A full reference scaling level representing 1:1 model exposure.

EVEN Days

The E in E - MICRO means the strategy trades on EVEN days.

ODD Days

The O in O - MICRO means the strategy trades on ODD days.

10x Scale

A higher scaling level that may represent up to ten times the reference exposure, subject to platform, broker, capital, and risk constraints.

Lot

For CRESCOZ educational examples, one lot normally means 5 micro futures contracts or 5 options contracts.

Index

A benchmark that tracks a selected group of stocks.

S&P 500

A broad U.S. large-company stock market index.

Nasdaq 100

An index of large non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq, with significant technology and growth exposure.

Futures

Standardized exchange-traded contracts linked to an underlying market.

Micro Futures

Smaller futures contracts such as MNQ and MES.

E-mini Futures

Larger futures contracts such as NQ and ES.

MNQ

Micro E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures.

MES

Micro E-mini S&P 500 futures.

NQ

E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures.

ES

E-mini S&P 500 futures.

ETF

An exchange-traded fund that trades like a stock and may track an index or basket of assets.

SPY

An ETF linked to the S&P 500.

QQQ

An ETF linked to the Nasdaq 100.

Leveraged ETF

An ETF designed to seek a multiple of the daily return of an index.

Inverse ETF

An ETF designed to seek movement opposite to the daily movement of an index.

TQQQ

A leveraged ETF linked to Nasdaq 100-related exposure.

SQQQ

An inverse leveraged ETF linked to Nasdaq 100-related exposure.

Option

A contract linked to an underlying instrument, such as SPY or QQQ.

Call Option

An option that generally benefits from upward movement in the underlying instrument, subject to time, volatility, strike, and expiry.

Put Option

An option that generally benefits from downward movement in the underlying instrument, subject to time, volatility, strike, and expiry.

Premium

The price paid to buy an option.

Strike Price

The price level used to define an option contract.

Expiry

The date when an option contract expires.

Time Decay

The reduction in option value that can occur as expiry approaches.

Volatility

A measure of how much the price of an instrument moves.

Margin

Capital required by a broker to open or maintain a leveraged position.

Day-Trading Margin

Reduced margin that some futures brokers may offer for eligible intraday futures trading.

Overnight Margin

Higher margin that may be required to hold positions outside day-trading margin periods.

Drawdown

A decline from a previous account high.

Slippage

The difference between expected trade price and actual execution price.

Broker Permissions

Approvals required by a broker to trade products such as futures, options, or margin instruments.

Product Approval

Broker permission to trade a particular product class.

Traditional IRA

An individually owned retirement account that may offer tax-deferred treatment, subject to IRS rules and account restrictions.

Roth IRA

An individually owned retirement account funded with after-tax contributions, subject to IRS rules and account restrictions.

Rollover IRA

An IRA that may receive assets rolled over from a previous employer retirement plan, subject to IRS rules and account restrictions.

SEP IRA

A retirement account often used by self-employed individuals or small business owners, subject to custodian and account rules.

SIMPLE IRA

A retirement account used by some small businesses, subject to plan, custodian, and account rules.

Employer 401(k)

A workplace retirement plan usually controlled by the employer plan's investment menu and plan rules.

Roth 401(k)

A Roth-style account inside an employer 401(k) plan, subject to the employer plan's rules.

401(k) Brokerage Window

A feature in some 401(k) plans that may allow access to investments beyond the standard plan menu, subject to plan and broker restrictions.

Solo 401(k)

A 401(k)-type retirement plan often used by self-employed individuals, subject to plan document, custodian, broker, and tax rules.

Retirement Account Restrictions

Limitations that may apply to IRA, 401(k), and other retirement accounts, including product restrictions, margin restrictions, borrowing restrictions, options restrictions, and plan-specific rules.

Registered Investment Adviser

A regulated professional or firm that may provide investment advice, subject to applicable registration and regulatory requirements.

Qualified Tax Professional

A professional who can help evaluate tax treatment, retirement-account consequences, and reporting requirements.

Do I need to understand trading before subscribing?

Visitors should understand the basic instrument, broker requirement, capital requirement, scaling level, and risk before subscribing.

Can I start with lower scaling?

All CRESCOZ strategies may start at 20% and increase in 20% increments.

What do E and O mean in strategy names?

The E in E - MICRO means the strategy trades on EVEN days. The O in O - MICRO means the strategy trades on ODD days. Both E - MICRO and O - MICRO use MNQ & MES contracts, which are the smaller versions of NQ and ES.

Does lower broker margin mean lower risk?

No. Lower broker margin only means less capital may be required to open a position. The actual contract profit and loss risk remains the same.

Can I follow all strategies with one broker?

A full-service multi-asset broker may be required if a subscriber wants access to futures, options, and Leveraged & Inverse ETFs.

Are options riskier than futures?

They are different. Buying options has defined premium risk, but options can lose value quickly due to time decay, expiry, volatility changes, and timing. Futures have leverage and margin risk.

Are futures tax-advantaged in the U.S.?

Certain regulated futures contracts may receive Section 1256 60/40 treatment for eligible U.S. taxpayers. This should be confirmed with a qualified tax professional. This website does not provide tax advice.

Are leveraged ETFs suitable for long-term investing?

Leveraged and inverse ETFs are generally designed for short-term daily exposure and may not be suitable for long-term passive holding.

What does one lot mean on this website?

For CRESCOZ educational examples, one lot normally means 5 micro futures contracts or 5 options contracts.

Can scaling go up to 10x?

Scaling may be increased up to 10x depending on the strategy, platform limits, broker support, available capital, and subscriber risk tolerance. Higher scaling increases both potential gains and potential losses.

Why should I review Learn before reviewing strategies?

The Learn section helps visitors understand how strategy subscriptions, instruments, brokers, scaling, capital, and risk work before comparing specific strategies.

Can I use an IRA to follow CRESCOZ strategies?

Possibly, but only if the IRA broker supports the required products, the account receives the necessary approvals, the platform is compatible, and the account has sufficient capital. Futures, options, and Leveraged & Inverse ETFs may all have special restrictions in retirement accounts. Visitors should confirm with their broker, brokerage firm, registered investment adviser, and tax professional before using an IRA.

Can I use a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA may have similar product-permission possibilities and restrictions as other IRA-style brokerage accounts, depending on the broker. Visitors should confirm whether the Roth IRA can trade the relevant instruments and whether the strategy is suitable for their circumstances.

Can I use a Rollover IRA?

A Rollover IRA may be more flexible than an ordinary employer 401(k), but it is still subject to broker rules, product approvals, margin restrictions, retirement-account rules, and platform compatibility.

Can I use my employer 401(k)?

Ordinary employer 401(k) accounts are usually limited to the investment options selected by the employer plan and are usually not suitable for directly following CRESCOZ strategies. Some plans may offer brokerage windows, but product availability varies.

Can I use a 401(k) brokerage window?

Possibly, but only if the plan allows a brokerage window and the brokerage window allows the required products. Many brokerage windows may restrict futures, margin, certain options strategies, leveraged products, or third-party auto-trading.

Can I use a Solo 401(k)?

A Solo 401(k) may be more flexible in some cases, but eligibility depends on the plan document, custodian, broker, product permissions, tax rules, margin rules, and platform compatibility.

Should I speak to a professional before using retirement accounts?

Yes. Anyone considering using an IRA or 401(k)-type account to follow CRESCOZ strategies should confirm eligibility with their broker, brokerage firm, or plan administrator where applicable. It is also prudent to consult a registered investment adviser and a qualified tax professional to evaluate suitability, account restrictions, margin requirements, and tax considerations.