About Us
optionMONSTER® is a leading provider of market intelligence and analytical commentary on the options markets. Our vision is to empower retail traders by narrowing the information gap between individuals and professionals. Founded in 2006 and based in Chicago, the heart of the options industry, optionMONSTER®'s unique perspective marries high-tech analysis of the day's market activity to the traditional floor trader's savvy. We deliver an online suite of subscription products, educational resources, and free content to our base of paying clients and registered users, and specialize in spotting unusual trading opportunities before others have even spotted the trend. Our leadership team begins with two highly regarded trading professionals, Pete and Jon ('DRJ') Najarian, and includes seasoned executives from the fields of banking, finance, and online media.
Leadership
Jon 'DRJ' Najarian is a professional investor, noted media analyst and speaker, and cofounder of optionMONSTER®. Following a brief stint as a Chicago Bears linebacker, Jon launched his financial career at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) in 1981, trading in the pits for some 25 years. In 1989 he founded Mercury Trading, running the company for 15 years until 2004, when he sold his floor-trading operations to Citadel, one of the world's largest hedge funds. More recently, Jon - often known after his CBOE floor call letters 'DRJ' - has developed and patented trading applications used to identify unusual activity in stock, options, and futures markets, notably the Heat Seeker® program, which uncovers extraordinary buying patterns from among the 180,000 quotes per second that stream from America's stock, options, and futures exchanges. In addition to optionMONSTER.com, Jon's research and analysis is widely cited by leading financial media including the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Reuters, Bloomberg, Dow Jones, FOX News Channel, CBS Radio, and CNBC. Jon is a CNBC contributor, hosts a CBS Radio show, and webcasts twice daily on CBOE-TV.
Pete Najarian is a professional investor, noted media analyst, and cofounder of optionMONSTER®. After a football career that included several seasons with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings, Pete took up trading in 1992 at Mercury Trading. Two years later, he assumed responsibility for Mercury's risk and arbitrage and later led its entry onto the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). He also led Mercury's joint venture with M.J. Meehan, the third largest specialist firm on the NYSE. From 2000 to 2004, he served as president of Mercury, and helped execute its sale to Citadel, one of the world's largest hedge funds. He is the co-founder of Hedgehog stock, options, and futures trading platform and together with brother Jon ('DRJ'), co-developer of the Heat Seeker® and complementary programs for tracking unusual buying activity in stocks, options, and futures. Pete is a cast member of CNBC's nightly 'Fast Money' program.
Dirk Mueller-Ingrand is a cofounder and chief executive of optionMONSTER®. With a background of more than 20 years' experience in global banking, corporate finance, and technology, Dirk has previously co-founded and/or served as chief executive of several startup companies. An active investor, he is executive chairman of LTR Ltd., a UK-based consultancy focused on the financial services industry. Dirk's career also includes representing a major activist investor in public shareholder disputes.
Kurt Oeler is vice president and general manager of optionMONSTER.com. Previously he was night editor and then director of editorial operations at CNET News.com, an award-winning technology news service, before starting a management consulting practice in online media. He sits on the Advisory Board of Knowledge@Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania's business review, and keeps up with one of his favorite sports at Gainline.us.
Mike Bourdos is account executive extraordinaire. Mike worked as a loan officer in the mortgage business before moving into consumer banking as a branch manager. A longtime options trader, Mike helped Jon and Pete launch the InsideOptions™ service in 2003 and is responsible for all aspects of trader support.
Michael Graf is manager of business development. Michael joined optionMONSTER® from Sapient, a leading marketing and technology consultancy, where he specialized in financial services practice. Prior to Sapient, Michael served as vice president for business development activities at Web Street, an online brokerage firm that was bought by E*Trade. Michael began his career in the financial services industry as a full-service broker.
Using optionMONSTER.com
We're obliged to tell you, in case you don't already know, that the content on this site is for educational and informational purposes only, and never constitutes a recommendation to enter in any of the securities transactions or to engage in any of the investment strategies presented in such content. Also, for reference purposes we link to other sites because that's how the web should work, but we have no control over these sites and their presence does not imply any association with or any endorsement or approval of the services, merchandise, materials or contents available from or on these sites.
Before using this site, please carefully read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Something wrong? Something you like? Let us know. Or call us at (312) 253-4207.
optionMONSTER® is based in Chicago, Illinois.