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How to Calculate Dividends into Our Covered Call Writing Calculations

Covered call writing is a low-risk, cash generating option-selling strategy. Premium is generated by undertaking the contractual obligation to sell our shares at a price (strike price) and date (expiration date) that we, the option sellers, determine. Frequently, dividend distributions represent an additional potential source of income. This article will use a real-life example with […]

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compounding option-selling profit

Compounding Our Option-Selling Profits To The Highest Levels

Covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are cash-generating strategies. These profits can be impressive as isolated events but what if we then take these proceeds and re-invest them to amplify our returns? The BCI philosophical approach to option-selling stresses the importance of re-investing our short-term premium returns whenever possible. Of course, for many of […]

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bear market strategies

Shorting a Stock: A Viable Bear-Market Strategy?

Our approach to covered call writing and put-selling in bear markets include an arsenal of trading concepts that will enhance our opportunities for successful outcomes. These include: Use of deep in-the-money calls Use of deep out-of-the-money puts Use of lower implied volatility securities Use of low-beta stocks Use of exchange-traded funds Lowering our time value […]

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tax considerations for covered call writing

Long-Term Capital Gains Enhanced with Covered Call Writing

Covered call writing can be crafted to meet a multitude of trading styles, goals and personal risk tolerances. In this article, I will highlight yet another situation where we may utilize this great strategy. In this common hypothetical, we are preparing to sell a stock that has substantially appreciated in value and represents a source […]

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Tax Implications of Writing Covered Calls against Long-Term Holdings

Covered call writing is a short-term strategy where we sell Weekly or Monthly options to generate cash flow. It is best to use this strategy in sheltered accounts to defer or eliminate tax consequences but that is not always possible. Generally, the income from covered call writing results in short-term capital gains (losses) but there […]

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actively-managed mutual funds versus Index Funds

Indexing: A Key Component to Successful Long-Term Investing

In my book, Stock Investing for Students, I develop a long-term investment plan to achieve financial independence and an early retirement. The plan is initiated by using broad market index funds. This article will highlight the reasons why I favor passively-managed mutual funds to their actively-managed counterparts. First, some definitions.   Definitions Index fund: A type […]

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timing of option-selling trades

What is the Best Time to Execute Our Trades?

Covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts involve buying and selling stocks and options. We work meticulously to do everything possible to throw the odds in our favor to result in successful trades. Achieving the highest level of returns in a low risk manner is one of our mission statements. I have frequently highlighted the three required […]

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actively managed and passively managed mutual funds

Evaluating the Performance of our Mutual Funds and Financial Advisors

Utilizing a portfolio of mutual fund investments is a topic I have addressed in my book, Stock Investing for Students. Investing with these securities represents a longer-term investment plan than covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts. A significant number of retail investors use financial advisors to select various mutual funds for their portfolios in hopes of generating the […]

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contract adjustments following reverse stock splits

Reverse Splits and Unreliable Options Chains

Stock splits are corporate events where the number of shares in circulation changes as well as the price -per-share. If we own 100 shares at $50.00 per share pre-split and the stock splits 2-for-1, then we will own 200 shares at $25.00 post-split. The value of our position ($5000.00) does not change.   What is […]

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fundamental analysis for option-selling

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 was time-consuming and, in many cases, difficult to confirm the accuracy of […]

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