What Is An Option? DIY Investing with Brian Overby [Video]
Typically, option traders are self-directed investors, meaning they don’t work directly with a financial advisor to help manage their options trading portfolio. As a do-it-yourself (DIY) investor, you are in full control of your trading decisions and transactions. While having complete control of your investments is desirable for some, it can also be very overwhelming […]
What Is Option Trading? 8 Things to Know Before You Trade
Investing with options— an advanced trader will tell you— is all about customization. Rewards can be high — but so can the risk— and your choices are plenty. But getting started isn’t easy, and there is potential for costly mistakes. Here’s a brief overview of option trading that cuts through the jargon and gets right […]
Long Call Spread Strategies
A long call spread gives you the right to buy stock at strike price A and obligates you to sell the stock at strike price B if assigned. This strategy is an alternative to buying a long call. Selling a cheaper call with higher-strike B helps to offset the cost of the call you buy […]
Long Put Strategy
A long put gives you the right to sell the underlying stock at strike price A. If there were no such thing as puts, the only way to benefit from a downward movement in the market would be to short sell stocks . The problem with shorting stock is you’re exposed to theoretically unlimited risk […]
Short Call Strategies
Also known as a naked call, selling the short call obligates you to sell stock at strike price A if the option is assigned. When running this strategy, you want the call you sell to expire worthless. That’s why most investors sell out-of-the-money options. This strategy has a low profit potential if the stock remains […]
Understanding Cash-Secured Puts
If you keep enough cash on hand, not only are you prepared in the event of an assignment, but you’ve tapped into a method to buy stock that may also earn you a little extra income along the way. Let’s explain with an example. Imagine you like stock XYZ at $52, but you’re not looking […]
Selling Cash-Secured Puts for Income
As an option trading strategy, selling naked or short puts is highly risky and only recommended for experienced investors. There are differences between selling a cash-secured puts and selling a naked put. In either case, Ally Invest encourages you to stay mindful of the risks. What is a naked put? If you short a put, […]
Fig Leaf Strategy
The fig leaf strategy is also known as a leveraged covered call. Here’s how it works: buying a Long-term Equity AnticiPation Securities (LEAPS) call gives you the right to buy the stock at strike A. Selling the call at strike B obligates you to sell stock at that strike price if you’re assigned. This strategy […]
Short Put Spread
A short put or short vertical spread obligates you to buy the stock at strike price B if the option is assigned but gives you the right to sell stock at strike price A. A short put spread is an alternative to the short put . In addition to selling a put with strike B, […]
Back Spread with Calls
Also known as Ratio Volatility Spread or a Pay Later Call, the back spread with calls is an unusual strategy. Essentially, you’re selling an at-the-money short call spread in order to help pay for the extra out-of-the-money long call at strike B. Establish this strategy for a small net credit whenever possible. That way, if […]
