James Cordier is the founder and principal of OptionSpreaders.com, based in Tampa, Florida. With 40 years of experience in the futures and options markets, he specializes in option selling strategies for high-net-worth client portfolios.
Throughout his career, James has been featured by CNBC, Bloomberg Television, Fox Business, The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Forbes, Barron’s, and other major financial media outlets. His insights into global commodities have also been published in Futures Magazine (U.S.), Energy Risk (U.K.), Your Trading Edge (Australia), and MoneyWorks (Dubai).
He is the author of The Complete Guide to Option Selling, now in its third edition with McGraw-Hill, with a fourth edition planned for 2026. He is also the author of Reflections of an Option Seller, published by Forbes Books.
James began his career in 1984 as a commodities broker in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, gaining early experience working with agricultural producers and end users across corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, and coffee markets. After several years working directly with physical producers, he developed a deep understanding of commodity market fundamentals.
After nearly a decade in the industry, James observed that many investors who bought options often saw them expire worthless. Seeking to manage the time-decay element of options, he shifted focus to institutional trading strategies, specifically, selling options rather than buying them. By the late 1990s, he was implementing option selling strategies for clients across multiple commodity markets.
During this period, James became a sought-after source for national financial media covering commodities such as gold, oil, natural gas, and agricultural products.
In recent years, he has continued to refine his approach to option selling, an evolution that led to the creation of OptionSpreaders.com and his new trading program he calls The Ultimate Evolution of Option Selling, a methodology emphasizing credit spreads and defined risk parameters.
James remains actively involved in client portfolio management and works directly with clients on strategy and positioning.
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Media Appearances:
James resides in Tampa, Florida, where he is active in community causes and enjoys boating and fitness.
Complete background information, including career history and material events, is provided in our Account Information Pack available to all prospective clients.
