Selling cash-secured puts requires us to master the three required skills: stock (or ETF) selection, option selection and position management. This article will highlight how to select a put strike based on our overall market assessment. Market assessment data published in BCI newsletters Investor Business Daily’s market assessment Dr. Eric Wish’s GMI Index BCI […]

Selecting the Best Put Strike Based on Overall Market Assessment
Posted on September 16, 2017 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling

Comparing Similar Covered Call Writing and Put-Selling Positions
Posted on April 16, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling
Covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are similar strategies that do have certain differences. In my book, Selling Cash-Secured Puts, Figure 68 on page 214 highlights the similarities and differences between these two strategies. In this article, I will show a real-life example of how analogous positions in each strategy frequently will yield similar […]

Ellman Calculator: Enhancements Made In The 2014 Version
Posted on June 28, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Options calculations are an integral part of our BCI methodology both in guiding us in making the best investment decisions and also in determining our trading success. To assist in achieving these goals I developed the Ellman Calculator six years ago and with the benefit of your suggestions my team and I have been enhancing […]

Deep In-The-Money Strikes: A Can’t Lose Strategy?
Posted on May 24, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing is a strategy we use to generate consistent monthly cash flow, re-invest profits and ultimately to become financially independent. We strive to beat the market by using sound fundamental, technical and common sense principles. But why are we getting paid more than treasuries, CDs or money market accounts? The answer is that […]

Option Premiums: How Intrinsic Value Protects Time Value
Posted on March 22, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Meaningful option calculations are essential in determining if the premiums meet our goals. To this end, we must understand the mathematics of these calculations to become elite covered call writers. Now don’t worry…we don’t have to become Albert Einstein to be successful. But we do have to have a general understanding of the components of […]

Should I Roll My Option When The Stock Price Is DEEP In-The-Money?
Posted on May 18, 2013 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Exit strategy execution is a critical skill every covered call writer should master. In addition to managing positions where share price has decreased there are also situations where we can benefit when price has dramatically accelerated. Let’s look at a trade recently executed by one of our Premium Members: Our member generated a nice 1-month […]

Selecting The Best Strike Price
Posted on August 18, 2012 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations
In last week’s article concerning option trading basics I highlighted the in-the-money strike in our covered call writing strategy. In this article I will expand our options calculations to all three types of strike prices. First, let’s review each of these categories: Out-Of-The-Money-Strike Prices: There is a reason why these are popular strikes for many investors. […]

Covered Call Writing- Using the Multiple Tab of the Ellman Calculator
Posted on March 10, 2012 by Alan Ellman in Options Calculations
Selling stock options is all about generating a cash flow. Calculating our initial profit, the potential for more profit (upside potential) and the protection of our initial profit (downside protection as opposed to breakeven of the entire position) is critical in making the most educated investment decisions. Accessing this information from the “Multiple Tab” of […]
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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Beginners Corner Enhanced & Updated
- Lesson 1: Beginner's Corner for Covered Call Writing: 2nd Edition
- Lesson 2: Beginner's Corner for Covered Call Writing- 2nd Edition: Option Basics
- Lesson 3: Beginner's Corner for Covered Call Writing- Stock Selection
- Lesson 4: Beginner's Corner for Covered Call Writing-2nd Edition
- Lesson 5: Beginner's Corner for Covered Call Writing
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- Lesson 7: Beginner's Corner for Covered Call Writing: 2nd Edition
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Beginners Corner Selling-Puts
- Lesson 1: What Is Puts Selling?
- Lesson 2: Puts-Selling Option Basics
- Lesson 3:puts-selling-technical analysis
- Lesson 4:puts-selling-Common Sense Considerations
- Lesson 5:puts-selling-Calculating Returns
- Lesson 6:puts-selling-Executing Put-Selling
- Lesson 7:puts-selling- Exit Strategies
- Lesson 8:puts-selling-Mastering Put-Selling
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