When you begin trading options you’ll spend part of your research scanning for the right options to buy. When you find a list of options, then you’ll need to learn how to read the quotes to pick the right one. Quotes on stocks are simple. They involve entering the ticker symbol of the stock into […]
Category: Options Coach
Sell Puts the Smart Way: Get Out Before Expiration Nears
Selling put options can be a great way to help increase the value of your portfolio without taking on too much risk. At its core, a put sale allows investors to get paid to potentially buy shares of a company they like at a price they like. But what if you have no interest in […]
Two Measures of Options Volatility That Matter
Most people often have a notion of what volatility means. They understand, at least conceptually, that it has to do with data of situations that vary over time. Weather is one example. Investments are another. Volatility when applied to the stock market is a fuzzier concept to many. It is one of the main factors […]
Yes, Options Contracts Are Tradeable. Here’s Why That Matters.
You may have heard it before. When you buy an options contract, you obtain the right to buy (for calls) or sell (for puts) shares of stocks before a predetermined period. You are not required to buy or sell, however. The price that you buy and sell is known as the strike price. The predetermined […]
Options Strategy: Get Paid to Buy Stocks You Want to Own Anyway
“I’ll buy it when it’s a little cheaper.” It’s a common statement made by investors. Unfortunately, for those on the fence about buying shares, that day rarely comes. When a stock does get cheap enough, markets may be in selloff mode, and then the potential buyer still sits on the sidelines. But there’s a way […]
Intro to Trading: Understanding the Options Greeks
At some point in your options trading experiences, you’re likely to read or hear about “Greeks.” You may think that someone is referring to what type of food they want for lunch. However, in options trading it has to do with indicators on options prices. This article will help you get up to speed with […]
Don’t Buy Stocks, Sell Puts
Most investors have heard horror stories about buying and selling options. And they are all true! Some of those stories are when someone has placed all their investment capital into one stock and prayed that it will go up. This isn’t investing. It’s rolling the dice at a casino. The house always comes out ahead. Let’s […]
Long Gold or Silver? Watch This Indicator As a Sign of a Peak
Gold and silver have been on tremendous runs lately. Gold is up over 40% from its March low while silver has more than doubled. If you are long precious metals stocks, metals ETFs, or the metals themselves, congratulations on your gains. At this point, however, you might be asking yourself it’s time to look at […]
How Stock Market Volatility (VIX) Can Help You Determine When to Use Options
Options investors should take the time to learn about market volatility. This measure can help investors with decisions about the overall trend of the market. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) created an indicator that helps investors keep track of volatility. Appropriately, this index is named the Volatility Index or VIX. If you point your […]
Can the Put-Call Ratio Predict Market Direction?
What if there was an indicator that can help you determine the tops or the bottoms of a market? That indicator would seem like a worthy inclusion in your trading tools, right? Many traders feel that the Put-Call Ratio (PCR) is just the indicator for the job of predicting the direction of the market. Before […]










