Schaeffer's Investment Research

What Schaeffer's Investment Research does

Schaeffer's Investment Research, Inc. is a privately held, founder-controlled financial media and research firm founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company operates a direct-to-consumer subscription business targeting individual investors and active retail options traders, delivering trade alerts, market commentary, and educational content primarily through email, SMS, its e-commerce website (store.schaeffersresearch.com), and a weekly podcast (Market Mashup).

The product portfolio spans five pillars: (1) 18 real-time alert services covering directional trades, short-dated and weekly options, volatility/straddle strategies, event-driven trades, and day trading signals; (2) 10 weekly and monthly newsletters including the flagship Option Advisor (in publication since 1981), Daily Bulletin, Master Portfolio, and multiple "Countdown" series timed to options expiration cycles; (3) six free newsletters (Opening View, Midday Market Check, Market Recap, Monday Morning Outlook, Chart of the Week, 5-Minute Market Rundown) used as top-of-funnel lead magnets; (4) three education products (Getting Started with Options at $795, Options Academy: Straddles at $995, and the live Playbook of the Week series); and (5) the proprietary Volatility Scorecard analytical tool. All recommendations are grounded in the firm's proprietary Expectational Analysis methodology, a registered framework combining technical, fundamental, and investor sentiment indicators.

The business model is overwhelmingly recurring subscription revenue, with monthly pricing tiers ranging from $99 to $1,495, quarterly and annual billing available with auto-renewal, plus one-time course fees and SMS add-ons. The firm claims the "#1 Options Trade Alert Publisher" position since 1981 and highlights founder Bernie Schaeffer's recognition in the Trader's Library Trader's Hall of Fame, three Wall Street Journal stock-picking contest wins, and consistent Timer Digest top-10 market-timing rankings as the principal competitive differentiators. No external funding, parent company, acquisitions, or institutional investors are disclosed.

Name

Schaeffer's Investment Research

Legal name

Schaeffer's Investment Research, Inc.

Website

https://schaeffersresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schaeffer's Investment Research is a privately held, founder-controlled financial research firm founded in 1981 that delivers options trade alerts, market commentary, and education directly to individual investors and active retail traders via subscription-based email, SMS, and web channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Research & Options Trading Analytics

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Investor Education, Research & Portfolio Analytics Services (Retail) (FSAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Options trading research
• Investment research services
• Stock market newsletters
• Trading alert services
• Options education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Subscription Services - Real-Time Alert Services: Monthly, quarterly, and annual subscription plans for real-time options trading alerts across multiple service tiers (Elite Trader, Quick-Hit Trader, Lightning Trader, Ultimate Trader, and more). Auto-renewal subscriptions deliver recurring revenue.
2. Subscription Services - Newsletter Publications: Weekly and monthly newsletter subscriptions including Option Advisor, Master Portfolio, Daily Bulletin, Weekend Trader, and various countdown services.
3. Educational Courses: One-time purchase courses including Getting Started with Options ($795), Options Academy: Straddles ($995), and Playbook of the Week live education program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schaeffer's Investment Research delivers subscription-based stock and options trading recommendations, real-time trade alerts, newsletters, and educational content built on its proprietary Expectational Analysis methodology. The company distributes more than 35 distinct paid products across real-time alert services, weekly/monthly newsletters, countdown trading series, and education courses, supported by free daily newsletters that serve as acquisition funnels into paid subscriptions.

Product overview

Schaeffer's Investment Research is a financial media and analytics company founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981, offering a multi-tiered portfolio of stock market and options trading services. The platform operates across five core pillars: (1) Real-Time Alert Services (18 distinct products including Elite Trader, Lightning Trader, Volatility Trader, Super Trader, and more) delivering live options trade recommendations during market hours; (2) Weekly/Monthly Newsletters (10 products including The Option Advisor flagship publication, Daily Bulletin, Weekend series, and Countdown series) providing periodic trading guidance; (3) Free Tools and Newsletters (Opening View, Midday Market Check, Market Recap, Monday Morning Outlook, Chart of the Week, and 5-Minute Market Rundown) offering free market intelligence; (4) Education Courses (Getting Started with Options, Options Academy: Straddles, Playbook of the Week) for options trading education; and (5) Analytical Tools including the proprietary Volatility Scorecard. The services are built on the proprietary Expectational Analysis methodology combining technical, fundamental, and sentiment indicators. The company also publishes a weekly podcast (Market Mashup) and serves subscribers via SMS text alerts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expectational Analysis: Proprietary analytical methodology combining technical, fundamental, and sentiment indicators for market analysis.
• Bernie's Expectational Analysis

Products and services

• Elite Trader Premium real-time options alert service for aggressive traders, delivering up to 2 options trade alerts per week targeting fast-moving intraday opportunities.
• Quick-Hit Trader Rapid-response real-time options alert service delivering quick-turnaround trade opportunities for short-term traders.
• Lightning Trader High-speed real-time options alert service focused on fast-moving market opportunities with quick entry and exit parameters.
• Ultimate Trader Comprehensive real-time options alert service offering the full spectrum of Schaeffer's trading strategies and recommendations.
• Options Under $5 Real-time alert service focused on low-priced options (under $5 premium, under $500 per contract) targeting 100%+ gains with 2-4 recommendations monthly.
• Leverage Conservative real-time alert service using in-the-money options with short holding periods of 14-45 days targeting gains of 100%+ per trade.
• Weekly Options Trader Real-time alert service leveraging weekly options (7-day expiration) targeting 100%+ gains with 2-4 monthly recommendations.
• Event Trader Real-time alert service focused on event-driven options trading (earnings, upgrades, management changes) targeting 200%+ gains.
• PowerTrend Momentum-based real-time alert service targeting 2-4 trades monthly with up to 150% profit potential using proprietary equity trackers.
• Schaeffer's Players Aggressive short-term options alert service for traders seeking home-run gains, targeting 200%+ returns with 2-4 monthly recommendations and holding periods of 30 days or less.
• Overnight Trader Short-term options alert service with holding periods of 8 trading hours to 1 week targeting 100%+ gains from overnight price gaps.
• Wealthbuilder Conservative credit spread strategy service with a 79% win rate since 1993, targeting 12-18% average returns per trade with holding periods of 1-6 weeks.
• Premium Trader (Champion Trader) Premium options service combining credit spreads and put selling strategies, targeting 10-20% gains with 5-7 monthly recommendations.
• Hedge Hunter Paired-trading options alert service following a hedge fund strategy, buying a call and put in the same sector for three-way profit potential.
• Volatility Trader Straddle-based real-time alert service profiting from big market moves in either direction, with 3-4 monthly recommendations and unlimited profit potential.
• Weekly Volatility Trader Short-term straddle strategy service using weekly options (7-day or less expiration) targeting 100% gains from volatility.
• Super Trader Comprehensive all-inclusive alert service combining every Schaeffer's strategy, delivering at least 60 profit opportunities monthly with gains ranging from 10% to 300%.
• Dynamite Day Trading Signals Day trading signal service providing 2 options day trading opportunities per week with same-day profit targets of up to 50%, with maximum 5.5-hour holding periods.
• The Option Advisor Flagship options newsletter since 1981, delivering market commentary and 10 new option trades per issue with sentiment trading tools.
• Schaeffer's Daily Bulletin Daily stock trading newsletter delivered each trading day featuring a featured stock pick with target and stop-loss levels, plus daily bull and bear watchlists averaging 8-12 recommendations monthly.
• Master Portfolio Long-term stock portfolio mirroring service following Bernie Schaeffer's actual trades on Marketocracy.com, with real-time notifications and complete portfolio transparency.
• Weekend Trader Sunday evening (7 pm ET) weekly options newsletter delivering 1-2 trades targeting 100%+ gains with holding periods of 1-4 months, focusing on low-cost options under $20.
• Expiration Week Countdown Expiration-focused newsletter delivering 6 trades the Sunday before expiration Friday, all expiring within 5 days, targeting 100-200% gains.
• Weekly Options Countdown Weekly options newsletter delivering 6 trades the Sunday before the first weekly options expiration, targeting 100-200% gains in 5 days or less.
• Weekend Elite Comprehensive weekend service bundling Weekend Trader, Weekend Trader Alert, Weekend Player, and Expiration Week Countdown with an average of 17 option recommendations monthly.
• Countdown to Profits All-inclusive options package combining In-The-Money Countdown, Expiration Week Countdown, Grand Slam Countdown, and Weekly Options Countdown, delivering up to 24 monthly trades.
• Getting Started with Options Interactive online home study course covering option basics, trade mechanics, money management, Expectational Analysis methodology, and case studies with 180 interactive quiz questions ($795).
• Options Academy: Straddles E-learning course focusing on straddle strategies for profiting from market volatility, including implied volatility insights, strike/expiration selection, and trade management guidelines ($995).
• Playbook of the Week Live Monday morning (8:30 am EST) trading education series with 52 annual sessions covering prior week review, market outlook, Expectational Analysis primer, and deep-dive stock analysis with Q&A.
• Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard Proprietary volatility analysis tool tracking unusual options activity, VIX dynamics, and market sentiment indicators to identify trading opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wealthbuilder service achieved 623.55% return from 1993 to present for $20,000 starting portfolio
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Motley Fool: Subscription-based retail investment research and stock recommendation service with similar D2C model, premium tiers, and product breadth spanning stocks and options; comparable in targeting self-directed retail investors.
• Seeking Alpha: Retail-focused investment research platform with premium subscription tiers (Seeking Alpha Premium, PRO) offering stock and ETF analysis, quant ratings, and author-driven content; directly competes for the same retail subscriber wallet.
• Zacks Investment Research: Long-established (founded 1978) subscription-based equity research and ranking service for retail investors, with proprietary Zacks Rank system and stock screening tools; highly comparable in offering model and target customer.
• MarketWise: Public holding company (formerly NASDAQ-listed) aggregating multiple retail subscription research brands including The Motley Fool, TradeSmith, and Raging Bull; competes head-to-head with Schaeffer's via scaled marketing and bundle offerings.
• TradeSmith: Subscription-based retail investing platform offering stock and options research with proprietary analytics; comparable in targeting options-active retail traders with D2C subscriptions.
• InvestorsPlace: Retail investment advisory and newsletter publisher offering stock picks, options trade ideas, and premium subscription services; directly comparable product mix and audience overlap.
• Banyan Hill Publishing: Subscription-based financial research publisher offering multiple expert-led newsletters and trading advisories; comparable in multi-product D2C subscription model targeting self-directed retail investors.
• StreetAuthority: Retail investment research and options advisory subscription service offering trade alerts and model portfolios; directly comparable in options-focused alert service category.
• tastytrade: Options-focused retail trading media and education platform (owned by IG Group) producing research content, volatility analysis, and educational programming; comparable in options-centric retail content and education focus.
• Cabot Wealth Network: Long-standing (founded 1970) subscription-based investment advisory and newsletter publisher serving retail investors with stock and options recommendations; comparable in D2C advisory subscription model and multi-decade brand positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Schaeffers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Schaeffers
• Facebookfacebook.com/schaeffersresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/35223
• Instagraminstagram.com/schaeffers_research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schaeffer's Investment Research