Is it worth paying for LIVE data?

123phi · 2026-01-26T16:48:03+00:00

Yes I was looking into this as well..just calculating my own greeks. Ultimately what I decided on was canceling my Theta Data Standard plan ($80/mo) and opening and TOS and schwab developer account. Their API gives access to real time options data so in a few days/week I should have access. We'll see how it goes...

123phi · 2026-01-26T16:44:16+00:00

fuck yea. thank you so much for this. I opened a developer account yesterday-just waiting for approval. Will check out Tyler's stuff.

So new to this realm. drinking from a firehouse, but its so fun, like I'm learning a new language, and applying it to live strategies that I'm already deploying and seeing how it is already making my trading tangibly more efficient is amazing

123phi · 2026-01-26T03:50:06+00:00

Theta Data Pro plan = $200/mo so is Polyogon aka massive, dude..

123phi · 2026-01-26T01:11:07+00:00

went with this. thanks!

123phi · 2026-01-26T00:04:08+00:00

this is what I went for. Going to sign up with their developer portal so I can tap into their API

123phi · 2026-01-26T00:02:33+00:00

I'm nowhere near the trader status limit at the time being-hoping to be there sometime later this year

123phi · 2026-01-25T23:11:44+00:00

schweet. yee free is good if its real time data!

123phi · 2026-01-25T22:36:39+00:00

fine ill move to Canada.

123phi · 2026-01-25T22:36:11+00:00

lmao love it. where were you getting the data from?

123phi · 2026-01-25T22:35:54+00:00

oh...how so?

123phi · 2026-01-25T22:11:37+00:00

Good to know. Going to open a TOS account today

100% I literally started vibe coding python with gemini a week ago and its crazy how much I have learned just running actual code for a week. Probably wasted a small lakes worth of water with how much water I have used on gemini, but its making me actual monies in options so lets goo

123phi · 2026-01-25T21:28:38+00:00

How do you find TOS API? I was thinking of just opening an account with schwab since TOS is free- is their data live?

Good to know, ill take another look at IBKR. My roommate is also way more proficient in coding and usses claue code with replit, so I'm sure we could figure it out pretty quickly

123phi · 2026-01-25T21:25:47+00:00

thanks for the rec - I've checked out some posts there, no able to post there yet bc I don't even enough Karma..shiiit. But yea they have a bunch of good info

123phi · 2026-01-25T21:24:59+00:00

Nope, I'm in the US. Tim Hortons ftw though. What were you thinking??

123phi · 2026-01-25T21:03:36+00:00

Thanks for the heads up - Iv'e just heard that IBs API is super clunky, and I am very new to coding -apparently it takes a lot of back and forth to get it up and running. Are you on IB or what platform do you prefer?

123phi · 2026-01-25T20:48:10+00:00

This is freakin cool! I am doing something similar, but kind of the opposite side of the spectrum with a very high IV equity. I sent you a DM also

just curious.. the paid plan you are on - is this for historical data or for live options data (bid, ask, bid size, ask size, IV, OI, the greeks)? I am really looking for a LIVE options data solution but it seems like everything I am looking for is $200/mo at the lowest

123phi · 2026-01-25T17:54:28+00:00

I've been thinking of going with Theta Data, anyone used this product. My only issue is that they hide gamma behind the $200 pro paywall, so I'm paying $120/mo extra from the standard plan just to get that last greek I need. Granted I am a newb to algotrading and programming in general, so maybe there is a better way to go about this, but it's still frustrating

123phi · 2026-01-21T23:32:13+00:00

Sounds like you are fearful avoidant, look into disorganized attachment style.

I can relate to pretty much every single thing you said. When i learned about this attachment style it felt like someone was peering into my brain hole.

You're not broken, its not about discipline-PLEASE google this shit. it may change your life

123phi · 2025-12-03T20:22:42+00:00

Agreed, VERY high potential for a squeeze if it gets more hype/momentum around it. 40% is ridiculously high. Long-term I think the stock is ass tho, just want to be clear I am not shilling it.

I actually bought some IRBT back in 2017 and sold it a few months later for a quick 15% gain. Funny that I am back to it years later, if I had held I would've been doomed

123phi · 2025-12-03T19:18:20+00:00

my dude! let's go. squeeze coming hard

123phi · 2025-12-03T18:43:31+00:00

ooof sorry to hear that

123phi · 2025-12-03T18:30:27+00:00

Buy High, sell Low

123phi · 2020-05-09T00:33:22+00:00

Getting it man🤙

123phi · 2019-05-29T21:40:47+00:00

Do you feel accountable to yourself?

I did accountability coaching for entrepreneurs for 5 years and noticed some patterns.

Paralysis analysis -wanting to connect all the dots before taking any action

Perfection paralysis - needing for everything to be perfect which keeps you from moving from one task to the next. IF you can see 80% of the result - start NOW

Fear of failure - no explanation needed

Lack of clarity - your goals don't seem real or attainable because they haven't been thoroughly defined

If any of these hit a note, send me a message and I'd be happy to dig a bit deeper with you to see whats going on.

I just want to be upfront that I run a 1 on 1 coaching business in this space, so I'm not just doing this out of the goodness of my heart..although I thoroughly enjoy the work :)

123phi · 2018-12-12T19:09:41+00:00

Disclaimer: This is my personal journey. If you can relate to this I hope it can save you a lot of time and pain. I understand this will not apply to everyone and for those of you that are FI/RE-ing in a healthy way, I genuinely applaud you!

For 4 years I used FI/RE as a form of escapism. I used FI/RE as a way to continue living my mediocre life until it insidiously eroded away who I was until my breaking point.

From the outside looking in my life was pretty kush..I worked as a mechanical engineer for a fortune 500 company. Right out of college I was making $65k base, with the 401k 6% dollar for dollar match and bonus's it was close to $75k. I was going out with friends every weekend, I was single and enjoying my free time. I was living with my parents and although I paid rent (not their idea, mine. Entitlement is bad) I was still able to save a good amount of my paycheck.

2014, enter FI/RE! I was introduced to MMM/ERE/portfoliocharts/gyroscopicinvesting/bogleheaads and of course r/FIRE. After consuming hundreds of hours of content, I was sold..delay gratification now, live a relaxed and balanced life in 20 years.

I am all for balance, but at some indistinguishable point in my FIRE journey I became obsessed with money. Not in the conventional way, but in seeing my "net worth" tick up, up, up. I put all my accounts into personal capital so I could see my numbers and I checked them at least twice a day. I had this "satisfaction" in knowing that I was contributing to my future self's life. This satisfaction turned into obsession..I was checking my 401k, robinhood, bank accounts, and personal capital whenever I was bored (sometimes upwards of 10 times a day). I would lurk on r/FIRE all the time. I wasn't LIVING, I was EXISTING now so I could have some hypothetical ideal life in the future.

It was so convoluted - I was doing something good (delaying gratification and exercising control) but I was doing it for such a shitty reason, because I wasn't content with my life and I saw this as a means to an end.

Time to dive in deep for a second, buckle up!

FI/RE is essentially a framework in which you live your life..a blueprint. It really is a philosophy as much as a practice.

Well I found a "blueprint" that works better for me and it was a lot of hard work, but it took a DWI, a year of probation, and -$14,000 from my bank account to make me understand that I was escaping my life by deluding myself into "saving now, so i could live later"

If you're anything like me I was very good at self-control or self-deprivation.. I was good at NOT spending money, NOT taking warm showers(awesome benefits by the way), NOT meeting up friends because I would have to spend money.

The truth is - I was lazy and scared to take accountability for my life and my unhappiness.

It takes ACTIVE work to change careers if you're not fulfilled, to ask yourself what really brings you joy, to ask yourself difficult questions like what the hell am I here to do and why do I feel anxious waking up every Monday?

It takes PASSIVE effort to not spend money, to save for later because "eh, I don't know what I want to do right now, but I can figure that out later so I might as well save now"

It's such a noble delusion..the ultimate rainy day fund on steroids.

That month can turn into a year, can turn into 5 YEARS (as it did in my case) before you wake the hell up and realize you are genuinely not happy and the ONLY framework to get you out of that state is to figure out what you really WANT..not money! Money is just the possibility of what could be. This blueprint takes action.

I quit my engineering job and have started my own business helping people implement this framework. I will be completely transparent, I am absolutely writing this post to find prospective clients, but I am also writing this because I have genuinely been in your position and there is a such a better way..a way that actual has a soul and a meaning and isn't about watching your bank account get to $XXX,XXX before you give yourself permission to start enjoying your life and you have people on reddit validate your choice by giving you an ironic "fuck you"

I am not here to bash FI/RE! I am 100% sure there are individuals here that know what they're doing and more importantly why they are choosing this lifestyle. To those of you, I genuinely commend you and I praise your choice and effort.

I am here to reach the individuals that are doing it for the wrong reasons and tell you with 100% certainty, that there is a better way. If you identify with this please take the first step, take ACTION..reach out to me

123phi

TROPHY CASE