Latest Insights in Stock Market Investing
Open Interest: How it’s Calculated and Why it’s Important
When selling call and put options, the liquidity of these securities must be evaluated to determine their eligibility. There are two measures of investor interest in options, Vol(ume) and Open Interest (OI). Vol represents the number of times a particular contract is...
Generating Income on Stocks Already Owned
Covered call writing is a low-risk option-selling strategy that allows us to generate monthly cash flow in sheltered and non-sheltered accounts. One of the main reasons this has been the go-to strategy in the stock portion of my portfolio is related to the fact that...
Rolling Options Using the Ellman Calculator
Covered call writing and put-selling are strategies that require us to master three skills: stock selection, option selection and position management or the use of exit strategies. One of the exit strategies available to us as expiration approaches is rolling options...
Protective Puts and Earnings Reports
Never sell a covered call or a cash-secured put if there is an upcoming earnings report. I will continue to repeat this mandate to ensure that new members will not suffer the financial fallout from a disappointing earnings report. There are times, however, when we...
Setting the 20%/10% Guidelines After Rolling out-And-Up
Exit strategies for covered call writing are critical to the ultimate success we achieve when selling covered call options or cash-secured puts. One of the prime strategies associated with covered call writing when share price declines is the 20%/10% guideline. This...
GAAP versus Non-GAAP Earnings: Challenges of Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis is the first step when screening stocks for covered call writing and put-selling. Years ago I actually read the financial statements of companies I was interested in. I eventually came to the conclusion that this was an exercise in futility as it...
Why and When We are NOT Losing Money If We Buy Back an Option for More Money than We Received
Exit strategies for covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts all start with buying back the option. Frequently, the cost to close our short option positions will be less than the premium generated initially from the option sale. This is because of the impact...
The Relationship Between Delta and the Time Value of our Options
Covered call writers and put-sellers are always looking for an edge. Some may wonder which option Delta would make the best option-selling candidate. Intuitively or from experience we know that at-the-money strikes (Deltas near 0.50) generate the highest initial...
Rolling Up When Selling Puts To Buy A Stock At A Discount
Selling out-of-the-money cash-secured puts is a fantastic way to buy a stock at a discount. It can be used in lieu of setting limit orders. If exercised, our cost basis is the put strike minus the put premium generated. If unexercised, we get paid not to buy the...
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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.