One of the key methods to partially automate our covered call writing exit strategy arsenal is to place buy-to-close (BTC), good until cancelled (GTC) limit orders to close our short calls based on our BCI 20%/10% guidelines. We instruct our broker to buy back the short call if the value reaches 20% (in the 1st […]

Application of the 20%/10% Guidelines for ITM & OTM Strikes + Registration Form for Thursday’s Webinar
Posted on May 5, 2023 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exchange-Traded Funds, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies

Understanding the Math When Rolling ITM Covered Calls Out-And-Up: A Real-Life Example with Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE: XLU) + Save the Date May 11th
Posted on April 15, 2023 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exchange-Traded Funds, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution
All strategies, including covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts, have their pros and cons. The same holds true for the exit strategies associated with them. Several of our members have written to me over the years regarding a “can’t lose” portfolio overwriting strategy that will return 1% – 2% per-month by selling out-of-the-money (OTM) […]

Reverse Covered Call Writing: A Reasonable Bear Market Strategy? A Real-Life Example with SPDR S&P ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY)
Posted on December 3, 2022 by Alan Ellman in Exchange-Traded Funds, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing is defined as first purchasing or already owning the underlying security and then selling the corresponding call option. By doing so, we are protected; we know our cost-basis. A BCI member proposed to me an extreme bear market strategy where a deep out-of-the-money (OTM) call is sold first and if the stock […]

Comparing Nasdaq 100 ETFs: Real-Life Examples with QQQ & QQQM
Posted on August 27, 2022 by Alan Ellman in Exchange-Traded Funds, Fundamental Analysis, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Over the years, the most frequently used ETF in my portfolios has been Invesco QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQ). Premium members have noticed that, lately, a relatively new eligible security in our Premium Members ETF Reports has been QQQM (Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF). Both are based on the Nasdaq 100 Index. This article will highlight the […]

Hitting a Double: The BCI Trade Management Calculator in Action + Final Chance to Register for Tuesday’s Webinar
Posted on July 9, 2022 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exchange-Traded Funds, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
“Hitting a double” involves buying back the short call using our 20%/10% guidelines and then re-selling that same option when share price recovers. On 3/13/2019, Mario was kind enough to share with us his trades with SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSE: XBI) where he astutely applied this exit strategy. Hitting a double trade overview 2/26/2019: […]

Mitigating Losses by Rolling-Down During a Severe Market Decline: The BCI Trade Management Calculator in Action + Free Webinar Registration Link
Posted on June 25, 2022 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exchange-Traded Funds, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Rolling-down is one of our frequently used covered call writing exit strategies. During the January 2022 contracts, there was a 5% market decline due to COVD-19, inflation and interest rate concerns. This article will highlight a rolling-down strategy I implemented with Healthcare Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLV) in one of my portfolios where a 4.68% […]

The Poor Man’s Covered Call LEAPS Selection: A Real-Life Example with SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY)
Posted on February 12, 2022 by Alan Ellman in Exchange-Traded Funds, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Before initiating a poor man’s covered call trade (PMCC), we must first master all aspects of the strategy including understanding the pros and cons inherent in this system. Once we have made a decision that this strategy is appropriate for our portfolios, the next step is to analyze our initial trade structuring calculations. We want […]

Collar Strategy Using Weekly Calls and Monthly Puts: A Real-Life Example with LABU
Posted on January 1, 2022 by Alan Ellman in Exchange-Traded Funds, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
The collar strategy is a covered call writing-like strategy where protective puts are added to our covered call trades. This creates a ceiling (the short call) and a floor (the long put). Typically, the expiration dates of the calls and puts are the same. We must also ensure that the call credit and put debit […]

Best Technology ETFs for Our Option-Selling Portfolios: QQQ and XLK
Posted on October 9, 2021 by Alan Ellman in Exchange-Traded Funds, Fundamental Analysis, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Stock Option Strategies, Technical Analysis
When seeking to add a technology presence to our covered call writing and put-selling portfolios, we can do so by using exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on technology benchmarks. Two such reliable ETFs are Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE: XLK) and Invesco QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQ). This article will compare the 2 funds to assist […]

Exit Strategies for Covered Call Writing: “Hitting a Triple” with XLU
Posted on October 2, 2021 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exchange-Traded Funds, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Benefitting from exit strategies, in our covered call writing and put-selling portfolios, is the result of preparation and opportunity. Our 20%/10% guidelines for covered call writing protects us when share price declines and guides us as when to close the short calls. This allows us take further action including selling the stock, waiting to “hit […]
Podcast
- 104. Special 1 Time Dividends and Contract Adjustments
- 103. The Collar Strategy Using Long-Term Put Expirations
- 102. Analyzing Market Assessment Based on Portfolio Setup
- 101. Covered Call Writing: "Hitting a Double" on the Last day of a Contract
- 100. Analyzing LEAPS for The Poor Man's Covered call Strategy (PMCC)
- 99. Anatomy of a Reverse Stock Split
- 98. Analyzing LEAPS Options for the Poor Man's Covered Call
- 97. Managing Our Poor Man's Covered Call Trades When Share Price Drops Substantially
- 96. Protecting Our Covered Call Trades: Protective Puts and In-the-Money Strikes
- 95. Covered Call Writing to Generate Premium and Dividend Income
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