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Ask Alan

Ask Alan 204: Multiple Exit Strategies with a Weekly Put Trade

Alan answers a question posed by Bill, who asks: Alan, In the attached hypothetical example, can you explain how to enter and calculate closing a weekly put trade after rolling-up in the same week using the Trade Management Calculator? Thank you, Bill This video addresses how to enter and archive a weekly put trade which […]

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Ask Alan

Ask Alan 195: Will the Upcoming Dividend Cause My Shares to Be Sold?

Alan answers a question posed by Elliot, who asks: Hi Alan, Hi Alan, I bought SBLK and sold the 3/18/2022 $29.00 call. The stock closed today (2/26) at $31.76 and there is an upcoming ex-dividend date on 3/2/2022. Will my shares be sold on Monday, the day before the ex-date? Thanks, Bob The main cause […]

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Adjusting Our Portfolio Mix to Achieve Diversification and Cash Allocation

To decrease portfolio risk for our covered call writing and put-selling portfolios we must be well diversified and allocate a similar amount of cash per position. The allotment of cash per-position will rarely be precise but it is a goal we must incorporate into our methodology. In this article, I will describe the process for […]

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Poor Man’s Covered Call: Selecting the Best LEAPS Strike

The Poor Man’s Covered Call (PMCC) is a covered call writing-like strategy where deep in-the-money LEAPS options are used in lieu of long stock positions. Short-term out-of-the-money call options are sold against the long position. The technical term is a long call diagonal debit spread.  When setting up the initial trade, decisions must be made […]

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Creating a Portfolio of Weekly Cash-Secured Puts

Selling cash-secured puts is a strategy similar to, but not precisely the same, as covered call writing. In February 2020, Chevy wrote to me asking for an article or video addressing weekly cash-secured puts, a strategy he was using and looking to enhance.   The 3-required skills Whether we are selling calls or puts and […]

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BCI PODCAST 15. Strike Selection When Selling Puts

Watch Video: Listen To Audio Version: Identifying strategy goals, initial time-value return goal ranges, market assessment and technical analysis all go into strike price selection when selling cash-secured puts. A real-life example with WWE explores several strike choices and the pros and cons of each strike price. The BCI Put-Selling Calculator is introduced into this […]

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BCI PODCAST 13. Adding a Short Put To a Collar Trade

Watch Video: Listen To Audio Version: When we add a protective put to a covered call trade we now have a collar trade. Since that protective put costs us money, it has been suggested to fund that debit with a short put. This podcast examines the pros and cons of such a strategy approach. BECOME […]

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Automating the 20%/10% Guidelines

Position management is the 3rd required skill for achieving the highest level of option-selling success. One of the most important of the BCI protocols for covered call writing are the 20%/10% guidelines which assists us is closing short calls when those opportunities are presented. This allows us to mitigate situations when share price declines. These […]

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Market Volatility and Our Option-Selling Trades: Using the VIX to Achieve Higher Returns

Options trading basics teaches us that the VIX or CBOE Volatility Index reflects the market’s expectation of the upcoming 30-day volatility. It measures market risk and is also known as the investor fear gauge. With this in mind, option-sellers are faced with a dilemma. Increased market volatility will translate into higher option premiums because the […]

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Buyers Have Rights, Sellers Have Obligations: Covered Call Writing in a Nutshell

Covered call writers get paid cash when selling call options. Call buyers pay cash to own the options. This article will highlight the reasons options are bought and sold as it relates to covered call writing. We will use a real-life example with CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), a stock on our Premium Stock Report on […]

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