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Constructing a Covered Call Portfolio Using Select Sector SPDRS

Constructing a Covered Call Portfolio Using Select Sector SPDRS

Select Sector SPDRs are unique exchange-traded funds that divide the S&P 500 into nine sector index funds.  They have the diversity of a mutual fund, the focus of a sector fund, and the tradability of a stock. Together, the nine Select Sector SPDRs represent the S&P 500 as a whole. However, each Select Sector SPDR can also [...]

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Exchange-Traded Funds- How they Operate and the Pros and Cons

Exchange-Traded Funds- How they Operate and the Pros and Cons

When we buy one share of the Qs (Powershares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust – Powershares Qqq Trust, (NASDAQ:QQQ) for $55, we are purchasing a piece of all 100 shares in the fund. So how does that work? Are we applying $0.50 towards each stock? It’s actually a bit more complicated than that.  The Mechanics of an [...]

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Inverse Exchange-Traded Funds and Covered Call Writing

Inverse Exchange-Traded Funds and Covered Call Writing

Last month I published an article titled Complex and Leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds. I discussed the goals and risks associated with many of these products. One of the topics examined was Inverse Exchange-Traded Funds. Here is a brief review: Inverse ETFs use derivatives to bet against the direction of financial markets. These are known as short or [...]

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Complex and Leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds

Complex and Leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds

With more and more Blue Collar Investors using online discount brokers as their trading platforms the need to be aware of the risks of complex and leveraged exchange-traded funds has become critical. Buyer beware! Covered calls can be written on many of these securities but is the risk justified? First let’s review some definitions previously discussed [...]

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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Covered Call Writing

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Covered Call Writing

A critical requirement of my system is to be properly diversified by stock, industry and cash allocation. No one stock or industry should represent more than 20% of your portfolio holdings. Owning five different stocks in five different industries would require you to own at least 500 shares since each options contract represents 100 shares. [...]

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Beware of Leveraged ETFs; The Changing Face of Exchange-Traded Funds

Beware of Leveraged ETFs; The Changing Face of Exchange-Traded Funds

How would you feel if your best friend and next door neighbor was metamorphasizing into a monster? A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde if you will. Could that be happening to our old friend, the Exchange Traded Fund? The historical definition of an ETF is a security that tracks an index, a commodity or a basket [...]

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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Covered Call Writing

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Covered Call Writing

Would you like a quick, easy, inexpensive and still safe way to invest with covered call writing? If so, why not consider using exchange traded funds? In chapter 14 of my first book, Cashing in on Covered Calls, I discuss diversification and dollar cost averaging as an investment strategy and how that approach can be utilized when [...]

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