Mastering option calculations is an essential skill needed to attain the very highest covered call writing returns. Although the Ellman Calculator will do most of the heavy lifting for us, understanding the reasons behind these calculations and when and how to apply them, will make us all more skilled investors. Recently a BCI member sent […]

Interpreting Exit Strategy Calculations Versus Final Calculations
Posted on July 13, 2019 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies

“Hitting a Double” or “Mid-Contract Unwind Exit Strategy”: Which Exit Strategy Did I Just Use?
Posted on May 25, 2019 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Mastering exit strategies is the 3rd required skill for successful covered call writing and put-selling. On November 28, 2018, Nirav wrote to me regarding a series of trades he executed and wanted to know how to categorize the position management aspect of these trades. This article will highlight the differences between “hitting a double” and […]

An Annualized Return of 5000% and Feeling Miserable: Interpreting Our Covered Call Trades
Posted on March 16, 2019 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Whether we are using covered call writing, put-selling or any other investment strategy, investor interpretation of results is an interesting topic to analyze. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? On October 5th, 2018, Gene wrote me about two covered call positions he was holding and expressed deep concern over the status of those trades. This […]

Earnings Reports and Rolling Options
Posted on September 23, 2017 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
When we sell a covered call and share price rises dramatically, there is a tendency to roll up in order to capture additional future share appreciation. The most common reason for a gap-up in price is a favorable earnings report. In mid-May 2017 Tim wrote me about a series of trades he executed that involved […]

When Strikes Move Deep In-The-Money: A Real-Life Trade
Posted on August 5, 2017 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing exit strategies include scenarios when share price moves up or down. Our main enemy is share depreciation where we need to mitigate losses but we must also have the ability to enhance returns when share price rises under certain specific conditions. This article will evaluate a trade sent to us by Mario […]

Executing Exit Strategies in a Timely Manner
Posted on December 17, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
After executing our covered call writing trades, we immediately prepare for position management opportunities…exit strategies. One of these strategies in our arsenal is the Mid Contract Unwind exit strategy. This is used when share value appreciates dramatically resulting in a time value cost-to-close of near zero. In other words, the option originally sold will be […]

Closing Our Entire Covered Call Position When Share Price Rises: The Mid-Contract Unwind Exit Strategy
Posted on November 1, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Stock Option Strategies
Exit strategies or position management is one of the three major components of this strategy we must master to become elite covered call writers. The other two are stock (or ETF) and option selection. In my books and DVDs I mostly focus on scenarios that can result in losses and how to mitigate those losses or […]

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 […]

Closing A Covered Call Writing Position Mid-Contract: A Real Life Example
Posted on June 13, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
The use of exit strategies will elevate our profits to the highest possible levels. Mastering the skill of position management is one of the main reasons why Blue Collar Investors outperform other covered call writers. A favorite exit strategy of mine is the mid-contract unwind exit strategy used in the first half of an options […]

Exit Strategy Calculations vs. Final Calculations
Posted on March 29, 2014 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
Mastering options calculations is an essential skill needed to attain the very highest covered call writing returns. Although the Ellman Calculator will do most of the heavy lifting for us, understanding the reasons behind these calculations and when and how to apply them, will make us all more skilled investors. Recently a BCI member sent […]
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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