Covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are both outstanding low-risk strategies that can outperform the overall market on a consistent basis. I am on record as favoring covered call writing in normal to bull markets and include put-selling in bear markets. In normal to bull markets, covered call writing gives us the flexibility to […]

Comparing ITM Calls and OTM Puts in Bear Markets
Posted on February 1, 2020 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies

Blackjack and Covered Call Writing: Throwing the Odds in Our Favor with PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL)
Posted on July 27, 2019 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writers and all investors using stock options strategies have one thing in common: we all want to achieve the highest possible returns within the framework of our own personal risk tolerance. The focus of this site and The Blue Collar Investor is to provide the education and to share ideas that will help […]

Exchange-Traded Fund Option-Selling in Bear Markets
Posted on June 11, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Exchange-Traded Funds, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing and put-selling can be used in most market conditions including bear markets. In my books and DVDs, I detail the use of in-the-money call options (strikes lower than current market value), out-of-the-money put options (also lower than current market value) and securities with low-implied volatility like exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In this article […]

Defensive Call and Put Positions in Bear and Volatile Markets
Posted on April 30, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Strike price selection can be tailored to our covered call writing and put-selling trades based on overall market assessment. In bear and volatile market conditions we favor in-the-money calls and deeper out-of-the-money puts (lower than current market value). In this article, we will evaluate defensive trades for Smith & Wesson Hldg (SWHC) as of 1/11/2016, […]

Using Out-Of-The-Money Puts and In-The-Money Calls to Manage Bear Markets
Posted on January 16, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Strike price selection should be a focus when selling call and put options. With the stock market bearish and volatile at the start of 2016, this article will highlight how such choices will offer significant protection while still allowing for compelling returns. The stock I selected to demonstrate the main points is Adobe Systems, Inc., […]

How to Generate 10% Per Year in Bear Markets by Selling Stock Options
Posted on July 11, 2015 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing and put-selling generate monthly cash flow with the inherent risk of share depreciation. One of the major advantages of these conservative strategies is that they can be tailored to all market environments. In today’s article I will address one way to “stay in the game” even when market conditions are working against […]

Comparing Covered Call Writing And Put Selling In Bear Markets
Posted on December 6, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Our stock options strategies, whether writing covered calls or selling cash-secured puts (the topic on my just published book) requires us to make an overall market assessment before entering any trades. In last week’s article we evaluated bull market scenarios. In this week’s blog we will examine bear market environments. When selling covered calls we would favor in-the-money […]
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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