Latest Insights in Stock Market Investing
Converting Non-Dividend Stocks Into Dividend Stocks
Generating a consistent cash flow from stock dividends is an appealing benefit from owning shares for many investors. Stock ownership, in these scenarios, can create two income streams, one from price appreciation and the other from quarterly dividends. However, not...
Why Covered Call Writing Outperforms the Overall Market
Why should we spend the time to educate ourselves on how to implement and manage covered call writing trades? The answer is simple: Once the 3 required skills (stock selection, option selection and position management) are mastered, we will put ourselves in a position...
“Hitting a Double” Calculations with The Ellman Calculator
One of the BCI exit strategies that helps distinguish us from all other covered call writers is known as "hitting a double" We use this position management technique when share value declines such that option value drops to 20% (in the first half of a monthly...
Managing Earnings Reports on Long-Term Holdings
Never sell a covered call or put option when there is an earnings report due to be reported prior to contract expiration. I have repeated this rule so many times over the years because I want our members to avoid the losses I incurred back in the 1990s before I...
What Covered Call Writing Has Meant To Me: A Financial Advisor’s Perspective by Guest Author Kevin Crowe
In June 2018 I had the pleasure of having dinner with Kevin, a long-time BCI member and retired financial advisor. His story reminded me of how option-selling not only impacts the investor but also so many of those close to us. In Kevin's case, it touched members of...
Protective Puts and the Collar Strategy: Selecting the Best Strike Prices/ Last Chance for Holiday Orders
Covered call writing, when combined with protective puts, is known as the collar strategy. The maximum gain is established by the short call strike while the maximum loss is defined by the long put strike. For example, if a stock is purchased for $48.00 per share and...
Understanding the “Paid-Up” Risk When Rolling Out-And-Up: A Real-Life Example with FIVE
One of our covered call writing exit strategies when the strike is in-the-money on expiration Friday is rolling out-and-up. This is when we buy back the near-month call (buy-to-close) and sell the next month's higher strike. There are times when share appreciation has...
“Hitting a Double” Using a Lower Strike Price
One of the exit strategies for covered call writing that allows us to enhance portfolio returns is known in the BCI community as "hitting a double". We implement this position management technique when option value meets our 20%/10% guidelines. The initial short call...
Multi-Leg Option Trades: Understanding Calculations and Results
Covered call writing involves a minimum of 2 legs: we are long the stock (own the stock) and short the option (sold the option). There are many times when we employ the position management skill and options are bought back and new options sold or our underlyings are...
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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.