Latest Insights in Stock Market Investing
Investor Psychology and the Need for Structured Plans
We just can’t sell our losers! Some will actually buy more shares to average down the cost basis. Why is that? If sticking your index finger into an outlet resulted in an uncomfortable shock would you then try it with your other fingers? After you dipped your hand in...
Dollar-Cost Averaging- An Investment Technique for You?
One of the most common questions asked of me is: “How do I get started if I don’t have a lot of money to invest?” Another is “What is the most conservative way to start selling covered calls?” These questions evoke the same sentiments I had when I first began...
Stock Splits and their Impact on our Option Contracts
Definition A stock split is a change in the number of shares outstanding (in circulation). The number of shares is adjusted by the split ratio, e.g. 3 to 1. In this case, 100 shares splits to 300 shares, however the share price is cut in third. Thus, the cost and...
Penny Stocks: I’ll Have the Salad
You’re out for dinner in your favorite restaurant. The waiter hands you a menu and you immediately focus in on the salad column looking for a healthy meal. Hmmm….broiled salmon on the house salad….looks good. As you continue to study your choices you notice the young...
How to Read an Option Chain
So how much cash can we generate selling options on the stocks that have passed our fundamental and technical screens? The answer lies in the option chain. This is a list that quotes option prices for a given security. For each underlying security, the option chain...
Margin Accounts and Covered Call Writing
In real estate investing, the concept of leveraged investing is well known and documented in such best-sellers as Robert G. Allen’s Nothing Down for the 2000s and Michael A. Lechter’s OPM (Other People’s Money). The idea of generating profit while using little or none...
Setting Up Your Portfolio Using the Ellman Calculator and the Premium Report
It's been a while since we talked math. What's with all the frowns? Mastering and understanding the calculations (my calculator will do all the work!) will enhance our bottom lines...more cash in our pockets. With that in mind, let's set up a hypothetical portfolio of...
LEAPS and Covered Call Writing
Wait a minute! What if I buy a call option instead of the stock and then sell a call option on that option? I’ll be spending less money than outright purchase of the equity and still generate cash from the sale of the call option! This idea has come to many of you and...
The Case for 1-Month Options
I sell predominantly 1-month options. This decision was NOT based on anything I read or was told, but rather on experience and common sense. Most stocks with options have at least four expiration cycles affiliated with them at any point in time...the current month,...
Podcast
- 126. Analyzing the Status of a Rolling-Down Trade
- 124. Dividends and After-Hours News Causing Exercise of OTM Call Strikes
- 123. Implied Volatility, IV Rank and IV Percentile Defined and Practical Applications
- BCI PODCAST 122: Should I Roll-Out My Deep In-The-Money Call Option Mid-Contract?
- BCI PODCAST 121: What is a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company)?
- 120. Using the Nasdaq-100 Volatility Index (VOLQ) in Covered Call Writing Decisions
- 119. Establishing Our Cost-Basis for Long-Term Holdings
- 118. Adjusting Our Portfolio Mix to Achieve Diversification and Cash Allocation
- 117. When a Covered Call Strike Moves $1000.00 In-The-Money
- 116. How to Execute a Covered Call Trade with a Buy/Write Combination Form
Explore Investment Topics
Covered Call Exit Strategies
Exit Strategies
Our Journey and Mission
The Blue Collar Investor was founded with a simple mission: to empower everyday individuals with the knowledge to invest wisely in the stock market. Our blog focuses on demystifying stock options, providing readers with the tools they need to succeed. We believe that anyone can learn to invest effectively, regardless of their background or experience.
Our story began when our founder Dr. Alan Ellman, realized the lack of accessible resources for average investors. Determined to bridge this gap, we created a platform that offers comprehensive guides, expert tips, and real-world strategies. Today, The Blue Collar Investor is a trusted resource for thousands of readers seeking to enhance their financial literacy and achieve their investment goals.