The Skew Signal I've Been Quietly Using for Years

October 21, 2025   |   Read Online Don Kaufman here.  Look, I need to tell you about something I've been sitting on. For the better part of a decade at thinkorswim and TD Ameritrade, I had access to order flow data that most retail traders never see. Billions in institutional positioning. The real money moves before they hit the headlines. One indicator stood out above everything else: volatility skew. While retail traders chase momentum and headlines, institutions telegraph their moves through options pricing.  When they're genuinely worried, they bid up put protection. When they're positioned for chaos, the skew numbers don't lie. The CBOE SKEW Index just spiked to 151.31 - well into extreme fear territory above the normal 120 baseline.  Put/call skew is showing a 6% premium on downside protection. Translation: Institutions are in full panic mode, but retail hasn't caught on yet. Nevertheless, this creates the exact setup I've been waiting for. SKEW just spiked to 151.31 — institutions are in panic mode. But your portfolio probably doesn't know how to profit from it. Here's the problem: 👇 Most traders fear volatility spikes instead of exploiting them. • Missing the 98% win rate setups that pros use • Getting whipsawed by tweet risk • Flying blind without forward-looking edge Wednesday at 1pm ET: I'm revealing the exact skew-based strategy that turned recent chaos into: $1,000... $1,186... $1,445 profits While everyone else got crushed. Chaos Cashflow — Register Free   Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2025 Disclaimer: Neither TheoTrade or any of its officers, directors, employees, other personnel, representatives, agents or independent contractors is, in such capacities, a licensed financial adviser, registered investment adviser, registered broker-dealer or FINRA|SIPC|NFA-member firm. TheoTrade does not provide investment or financial advice or make investment recommendations. TheoTrade is not in the business of transacting trades, nor does TheoTrade agree to direct your brokerage accounts or give trading advice tailored to your particular situation. Nothing contained in our content constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, promotion, or endorsement of any particular security, other investment product, transaction or investment.Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Past Performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. PO Box 24790 Christiansted, Virgin Islands 00824, Virgin Islands, U.S. Terms of Service