$Tiger Brokers(TIGR)$ In my observation, most retail investors who eventually adopt options do not cross that bridge overnight.

For many, there is a long “learning incubation period” — often months — because they first need to unlearn the emotional stigma attached to derivatives.

The common inflection point comes when they finally understand that:

an option is not a lottery ticket

an option is simply a contract with well-defined payoffs

risk is chosen through structure, not inherent in the instrument itself

Once that distinction is internalised, the learning curve accelerates dramatically.

For many serious retail investors, the typical pattern is roughly:

Stage Approximate duration Key learning shift

“Curiosity / fear” phase 1–3 months Options = dangerous / difficult

Study phase 2–6 weeks Greeks, payoff diagrams, assignment risk

First controlled trade 1–2 weeks after conceptual clarity Usually a covered call or cash-secured put

Actual “click moment” tends to be the first time they draw their own payoff diagram and realise risk-reward can be designed.

Thus, for most non-professional market participants:

> The time from want → first trade is commonly in the 2–4 month range, with the final step occurring surprisingly quickly once conceptual clarity forms.

In short — derivatives stop appearing mystical the moment the investor understands that options are simply structured conditional agreements.

That is the psychological unlock.