Latest Insights in Stock Market Investing
Comparing Weekly, Monthly and Longer-Term Covered Call Expirations Using the Same Strike Price
click ↑ 4 Featured A common misconception made by many retail investors is that they make more money selling longer-dated options because the dollar amount is so much greater than shorter-dated choices. This article will provide an analysis to refute this fallacy. A...
BCI PODCAST 157: When to Roll Options on Successful Trades
When we have a successful covered call trade with the option about to expire in-the-money (with intrinsic-value), we can retain the underlying shares by rolling the option to a later expiration date. We can also roll that option up to a higher strike price. This...
A Defensive 4-Day Cash-Secured Put Trade Start-to-Finish
click ↑ 4 Featured Cash-secured put trades can be crafted conservatively by using deep out-of-the-money (OTM) strikes. On 5/27/2025, I executed such a 4-day trade with NetEase Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES), a stock on our premium member watch list at the time. This article will...
Using Both ITM & OTM Covered Calls to Align with Current Market Conditions
click ↑ 4 Featured When establishing our covered call portfolios (cash-secured puts, too), our strike selection is influenced by current market conditions. In normal-to-bull markets, we favor out-of-the-money (OTM) strikes which allow for a 2-income stream potential...
BCI PODCAST 156: Was I correct to Close My Successful Covered Call Trade?
When a stock price accelerates exponentially after entering a covered call trade, the short call strike moves deep in-the-money. Does it make sense to close both legs of the covered call trade or continue to manage through expiration? This podcast will run the...
Rolling-Up a Weekly Defensive Cash-Secured Put Trade
click ↑ 4 Featured When a cash-secured put is sold, we agree to buy the shares at the strike price by the expiration date. We, the option-sellers, determine those 2 parameters. In our BCI methodology, we favor out-of-the-money (OTM) put strikes. In bear and volatile...
What is Quantifying Risk: Part II- Using Implied Volatility (IV)
click ↑ 4 Featured In a recent article titled What is Quantifying Risk: Part I- Using Delta, one methodology of measuring the risk of our covered call writing and cash-secured put trades was analyzed. In this article, implied volatility (IV) will be investigated as...
BCI PODCAST 155: Holding a Stock Through an Earnings Report Can Result in Impressive Returns
One of the BCI golden rules for covered call writing or selling cash-secured puts is: never sell an option with an upcoming earnings report due prior to contract expiration. Our choices are to avoid the stock completely or own it through the report and write the...
What is Quantifying Risk: Part I- Using Delta
click ↑ 4 Featured When analyzing the risk of our covered call writing or cash-secured put trades, we typically are referring to the exposure of losing capital. However, there is also the risk of exercise, which we may want to avoid. In the case of calls, it is the...
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
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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.