Options Trading For The Conservative Investor

"The author's option trading guidelines include important issues often overlooked by investors. Attention conservative investors! Michael C. Thomsett's Options Trading for the Conservative Investor has hit a bull's-eye...for you!" -Marty Kearney, The Options Institute, Chicago Board Options Exchange "Michael C. Thomsett has done a terrific job of showing how a conservative investor can use certain option strategies to his advantage. He spells out how that investor can utilize options to provide income, to protect stock holdings, or even as a substitute for stock itself. Every open-minded conservative investor should read this book." - Lawrence G. McMillan, publisher, The Options Strategist newsletter; president, McMillan Analysis Corporation; author, Options as a Strategic Investment "This book is a must for the diligent investor. Perfectly timed for these uncertain markets, Michael C. Thomsett provides a lucid guide for how to approach options trading conservatively, yet also focuses on the fundamental need for good returns and provides real examples throughout." -Guy Cohen, author of The Bible of Options Strategies and creator of OptionEasy (www.optioneasy.com) New downside protection strategies, detailed examples, and step-by-step techniques for conservative investors Easy enough for virtually any experienced investor to use-even those without options experience By renowned options expert Michael C. Thomsett, author of the global best-seller Getting Started in Options To protect yourself in today's volatile and uncertain market environment, you need to hedge losses, create extra sources of income, and reduce risk. In this book, internationally renowned options expert Michael C. Thomsett shows how to do all that effectively. One step at a time, Thomsett helps you exploit 12 carefully chosen options strategies that can dramatically increase your overall returns as you manage risks within your personal limits.

Optionsscheine haben vielfach den Ruf einer riskanten Anlageform. Was viele Investoren nicht wahrhaben wollen ist, daß der Optionshandel auch Teil einer sehr konservativen Anlagestrategie sein kann. Der Autor zeigt hier, wie man Optionen strategisch zur Senkung des Risikos einsetzen kann. Ein neuer Standpunkt, dargestellt in klaren, präzisen Worten. (12/98)

“The author has written a truly complete reference book on options trading, from basics to strategies to taxes and theory. Newcomers to options can quickly find a clear explanation of terms or strategies they aren’t familiar with, and experienced traders can expand their understanding of how complex strategies are created.” --Jim Bittman, author, Trade Options Like a Professional “For a new perspective about options, I recommend Michael Thomsett’s comprehensive The Options Trading Body of Knowledge. Traders at all levels will enjoy his easy-to-read style as he explains options from A to Z. The options industry has needed a reference like this for a long time.” --Marty Kearney, Senior Staff Instructor, The Options Institute The Comprehensive, Up-to-Date Reference for Every Options Trader By Michael C. Thomsett, author of the global best-seller Getting Started in Options Illuminates virtually every technique and form of options trading--including options on futures and ETFs Helps you consistently choose the right options strategies and understand your true risks Options offer investors multiple opportunities to enhance their profits. However, options trading is complex, and the sheer scope of available strategies can overwhelm traders. Today, options can support a wide range of strategies, from high risk to conservative. Moreover, options are available not only for stock equities but also for futures, indices, and mutual funds. To trade successfully, traders need an authoritative, up-to-date guide to all the strategies available to them. Now, renowned options expert and best-selling author Michael C. Thomsett has created the definitive reference for options traders at all levels of experience. Thomsett systematically illuminates each key technique and strategy: how trades are structured, how to assess risk, and when each strategy is most applicable. For most strategies, Thomsett presents detailed tables and illustrations identifying profit zones, loss zones, and breakeven points. This book thoroughly explains how option premium develops based on various elements of value, walks through the calculation of returns on options trading, discusses how federal taxation works in the options market, shows how stocks are picked for options trading, and provides a complete glossary and additional resources for traders. Thoroughly Comprehend Options Trading Risks Systematically evaluate risks associated with markets, volatility, inflation, taxation, portfolios, and knowledge Understand All the Elements of Value in an Options Trade Master concepts ranging from time-to-expiration to implied volatility Use the Right Strategies at the Right Time Know when to use covered calls, spreads, straddles, combinations, and synthetic positions The Options Marketplace: History, Evolution, and Trends Understand both the “forest” and the “trees”

The world of options is considered high-risk by many. At its original options treading in the modern era began in the early 1970s when the first listed calls were offered on a short list of companies; a few years later, put trading was added. Since this time, options trading has become available on most companies on the large public exchanges. However, the high-risk reputation of options has persisted through the years, even as dozens of new and often conservative strategies have been introduced. Today, the best use of options is not to speculate on price movement, but to hedge market risk in equity portfolios. Many strategies can combine hedging with income, establishing advantageous circumstances for risk-averse traders. It is possible to apply several strategies to reduce risk and in some instances, to eliminate market risk completely. This book examines the many ways this can be accomplished, based on options for three highly-rated companies. These are qualified as a first step by exceptionally attractive fundamental attributes and trends: Higher than average dividend yield with dividend increases over at least 10 years; a range of moderate price/earnings ratios each year; growing revenue, earnings and net return; and level or declining long-term debt as a percentage of total capitalization.

To protect portfolios in today's volatile and uncertain market environment, institutional investors need to hedge losses, create extra sources of income, and reduce risk. In his extensively updated and expanded Options Trading for the Institutional Investor, Third Edition, renowned options expert Michael C. Thomsett shows how to do all this effectively. One step at a time, Thomsett helps institutional investors exploit powerful, carefully chosen options strategies that can dramatically increase overall returns as you manage risks within your institution's limits. Thomsett discusses covered call writing on carefully selected stocks, contingent purchase strategies, and powerful "combination" strategies that produce cash to bolster current income. He guides professional investors through every strategy, using actual examples, portfolios, and graphs taken directly from today's markets. Wherever applicable, he addresses specific forms of risk and volatility that only institutional investors face. This thoroughly updated Third Edition includes a chart-based analytical method that relies on reversal signals in the underlying as an alternative to volatility analysis. Thomsett presents new chapters on two powerful strategies he has developed and utilized to optimize returns while minimizing risk: the 1-2-3 Iron Butterfly, and the Dividend Collar. This edition also adds detailed new coverage of risk evaluation.

Use Puts to Mitigate Risk, Reverse and Offset Losses, and Protect Profits–Even in Plummeting Markets! “In these financial times, this is an especially timely book. Michael C. Thomsett provides practical, direct instruction to investors on how to employ put options to enhance and protect their portfolios. A powerful guide for professionals and novices alike.” –Virginia B. Gerhart, CFP, President, Gerhart Associates “Michael C. Thomsett’s Put Option Strategies is a must read for all stock investors who want to protect profits and manage risk in volatile stock markets. This easy to read book explains the basic strategies and moves on to more sophisticated uses of put option strategies to hedge risk in bear markets. The use of leverage is clearly explained to provide the tools for conservative investors to increase their profitable trading. This book is an excellent resource for all stock investors and should be read by all investors who want to lock in profits and limit losses in volatile stock markets.” –Esme Faerber, author of All About Stocks; All About Investing; All About Bonds, Bond Mutual Funds, and Bond ETFs “Michael C. Thomsett is an authority on options. In his latest work, he has skillfully clarified how to employ powerful techniques to protect portfolios and profit from uncertain times. This book is a must read.” –Scott Kyle, CEO, Coastwise Capital Group, and author of The Power Curve: Smart Investing Using Dividends, Options, and the Magic of Compounding

Equity options, the all-purpose vehicles that today's smartest investors use to increase profits, reduce risks, or both Equity options, considered overly complex and aggressive by most investors, are actually among today's most straightforward and easy-to-use investment vehicles. Providing both protection against loss and potential for exceptional profits, they are ideal for virtually any trader or investor. The Options Strategist outlines effective and easy-to-follow strategies for incorporating the power of equity options into your trading program. Starting with the basics of options and options trading, it goes on to reveal specific strategies that you can use to: Maximize your trading profits in up, down, or sideways markets Protect your portfolio against sudden market declines Take advantage of price swings, regardless of their direction Hedge your corporate stock and/or options against unforeseen events Employ advanced options techniques to take your trading success to the next level It's time that you discovered the many benefits of equity options. Let The Options Strategist show you just how easy and profitable options investing can be and provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to give your portfolio the options advantage. Investors of all types, with portfolios of every size, are beginning to realize the protection and profit in equity options. Long seen as a volatile investment designed strictly for gamblers and high rollers, options in fact offer unique advantages to even the most conservative investor and are suitable for rounding out virtually any investment portfolio. The Options Strategist tells you everything you need to know to trade and invest with equity options. Whether you use options to aggressively increase trading profits through the power of leverage or conservatively protect the stocks in your portfolio against sudden market reversals, this hands-on, practical guide will introduce you to strategies from basic to advanced, including: Buying calls and puts Writing covered calls and puts Writing naked calls and puts Straddles Spreads Strangles Collars Combinations But more than just discussing what to do and how to do it, The Options Strategist explains why to do it. Why would an investor buy an option to purchase 100 shares of a stock instead of just buying the stock itself? Why would an investor write calls on shares of stock he or she already owns? Or write both puts and calls on that same stock? This plain-talking guidebook explains the strategic motivation behind each of these examples and dozens more, along with the rewards, risks, best outcomes, and worst outcomes for each. In addition, The Options Strategist takes an in-depth look at the theory behind options investing. Option pricing, implied and historical volatility, the Greeks, the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model: For each of these topics, key questions are asked and answered, central arguments are introduced and analyzed, and specific technical terms are demystified to underscore their practical applications (or lack thereof) for options traders and investors. The result is a guidebook that lays a solid foundation for equity option trading and investing. The Options Strategist explains how to use basic techniques for both profit and protection and then explores more advanced aspects for the truly serious student of options trading. It is, in short, today's most comprehensive introduction and rulebook for making equity option trading an integral part of your everyday investing strategy.

An Investor's Guide to Trading Options covers everything from calls and puts to collars and rolling up, over, or out. It takes the mystery out of options contracts, explains the language of options trading, and lays out some popular options strategies that may suit various portfolios and market forecasts. If you're curious about options, this guide provides the answers to your questions.