As we start 2026, I want to share a few very personal market views and investment ideas I'm going to actively explore this year. This is not a recommendation and not a directional forecast. It's simply how I currently see market structure, volatility, and opportunity from the perspective of an active options seller and short-volatility hedge fund advisor. 1) Metals: the parabolic move may be behind, but volatility lingers Gold and silver already had their most emotional, parabolic phase. The important nuance is that implied volatility rarely normalizes as fast as price action does, and that lag is where options sellers get paid. So, I'll be very active in GLD, SLV, PALL, and URA, both in my personal portfolio and in our hedge fund. The specific edge I'm watching is post-spike IV that stays sticky after the trend fades, especially when the surface flips into volatility backwardation. That's a perfect setup for short-dated and 0-DTE premium harvesting. 2) Crypto: stagnation is the edge My base case for crypto is not another explosive trend, but prolonged consolidation. That's exactly why IBIT, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF with liquid options, is so interesting. Implied volatility remains structurally rich, often well above realized volatility. I don't trade crypto directionally, but I sell premium strategically. Compared to the industry's obsession with upside narratives, this approach is far less exciting, but it creates a much more consistent income engine. 3) Rate cuts shift income opportunities If rate cuts continue, my famous "yield engineering" trades like SPX box spreads and risk-free butterflies become less attractive. At the same time, they open a different door. Lower rates support REITs (Realty Income - O - remains my personal favorite), utilities (XLU), healthcare (XLV, UNH), and dividend growth ETFs (SCHD). I consistently combine these with aggressive call writing, creating my Triple Income Strategy. This approach targets an additional 11-18% per annum, with extremely low volatility and zero vega risk!