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 […]

Creating a Portfolio of Weekly Cash-Secured Puts
Posted on August 29, 2020 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies, Uncategorized

Comparing Call and Put Strategies with Paylocity Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: PCTY)
Posted on March 7, 2020 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Investing, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing or selling cash-secured puts… which is the best strategy? Well, they both offer great opportunities to generate cash-flow in a low-risk manner. I favor the former in normal to bull market environments and the latter in bear and volatile markets. On June 24, 2019, PCTY passed our rigorous screening requirements to earn […]

The Mysteries of a Put Sale
Posted on June 9, 2018 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
On 8/19/2017, Ron sent me an email detailing a cash-secured put trade he initiated in a virtual account. I saved the email to use in an article because I felt it would be instructive on several fronts. Ron’s trade with Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) 8/10/2017: Sell August 17 $155.00 put (sale price not […]

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
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 […]

Put-Selling in Margin Accounts
Posted on March 11, 2017 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Whether I am selling call or put options I prefer to use a cash account. That’s where we invest and utilize only our own cash to purchase stock and secure put trades. More aggressive investors may want to magnify their returns by leveraging margin accounts. This entails borrowing money from the broker based on rules and regulations […]

Selling In-The-Money Puts to Generate Higher Premiums: Evaluating a Real-Life Trade
Posted on February 18, 2017 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Selling Cash-Secured Puts can be used to accomplish several goals; Generate cash flow Buy a stock at a discount Used as part of a multi-tiered option selling strategy along with covered call writing (PCP strategy) Our strategy goal along with overall market assessment, chart technicals and personal risk tolerance will ultimately guide us to the […]

Comparing Covered Call Writing and Selling Cash-Secured Puts
Posted on December 10, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
An accepted myth is that covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are precisely the same strategy. The reason this statement is generally accepted by many investors is that they have the same risk-reward profiles or profit and loss graphs: In this article, other similarities will be discussed as well as some distinct differences […]

Rolling Up When Selling Puts To Buy A Stock At A Discount
Posted on July 2, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
Selling out-of-the-money cash-secured puts is a fantastic way to buy a stock at a discount. It can be used in lieu of setting limit orders. If exercised, our cost basis is the put strike minus the put premium generated. If unexercised, we get paid not to buy the stock! For example, if a stock is […]

Why We Should Avoid ATM and ITM Put Strikes in Bear Markets + A Discussion of Brexit
Posted on June 25, 2016 by Alan Ellman in Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Put-selling, Stock Option Strategies
“Selling cash-secured puts is the exact same strategy as covered call writing”. We hear that over and over…except that it’s not. These two strategies have the same risk/reward profiles and that is why the claim is made so frequently. On page 214 of my book, Selling Cash-Secured Puts, I highlight a comparison chart showing similarities […]

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, […]
Podcast
- 104. Special 1 Time Dividends and Contract Adjustments
- 103. The Collar Strategy Using Long-Term Put Expirations
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- 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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