Hari Swaminathan – Options Trading Basics

THREE-COURSE BUNDLE – 10+ HOURSThe first 3 Options Trading Strategies courses are combined to create this bundle. To master the basics of Options, you really need all three courses.

A brief synopsis of the options trading strategies courses are provided below.

LEARN CALL OPTIONS AND PUT OPTIONS, OPTIONS FOUNDATION – TIME DECAY, IMPLIED VOLATILITY, OPTION GREEKS  BUYING CALL OPTIONS AND PUT OPTIONS – LIVE TRADES 

SECTION I –  Call Options

Most people learning Options for the first time face too much jargon and complex language. This options trading strategies course use real-world examples (buying a house) to explain how a Call Option (Section 1) works in real life. This example should make it absolutely clear what a Call Option is in step-by-step details.

SECTION II – Put Options. 

The Put Option is the ultimate “protector” of your portfolio, and in this course, you can learn how Put Options work. It is the exact opposite of a Call Option. Put Options increase in value when the value of a stock or index drops in price. We define a Put Option, and just like we did in the Call Option, we consider a real-world example of a Put Option.

SECTION III – Stock and Options combo strategies

In this section, three creative strategies are outlined for Stock investors to combine Options into their portfolio strategies.

·  Use Options to buy Stock at prices that are far lower than what the stock is currently trading for

·  Use Options to sell Stock at prices that are far higher than what it is currently trading for

·  Use Options to hedge a Stock position that you already own

SECTION IV – TIME DECAY

Time decay is a pivotal component of Options strategies. In fact, time decay alone is responsible for the majority of advanced option strategies. In this part of the options trading strategies course, we are going to study the concept in detail. Options are “wasting” assets, and they lose value every day. The buyer gets hurt from time decay and the seller benefits from it. And time decay becomes more exponential as we approach the expiry of an Option. It is also the great equalizer between the profiles of a buyer and seller of Options. Time decay is the great equalizer in the risk/reward profiles of buyers and sellers of Options. Several intermediate and advanced strategies are based on selling premium (option sellers) and these positions make a profit due to time decay in the value of these options over a period of time.

SECTION V – IMPLIED VOLATILITY 

Implied Volatility is the “wildcard” in Option prices. Ignore it, and you will pay a price. In fact, it’s so important we have at least four different varieties – Volatility, Implied Volatility, Historical Volatility, and Future or Expected Volatility. We use real-world examples to explain the concept of Volatility in simple terms. Then we study how Volatility is quantified in Stocks and Options. And how Volatility finds a back-door to embed itself into Option prices. Implied Volatility considerations are critical when choosing between a buyer and seller profile. We break this complex topic down into simple terms and show you an example of NFLX and CAT options that should make it absolutely clear what this is all about.

SECTION VI – OPTION GREEKS, DELTA, GAMMA, VEGA, THETA

If you’re the pilot of an aircraft, the Greeks are your instrument panel. If you don’t manage your instrument panel properly, well…you get the picture. Understanding the Greeks is absolutely critical to every Option position. We break this course into easy-to-understand chapters for all the four Greeks – Delta, the king of all Greeks. Gamma – the silent operator. Theta – every Option seller’s dream. And Vega – Watch out for this one.. Most beginners to Options tend to ignore the Greeks. Master the Greeks and you’ll shave off months of the learning curve. Not to mention, you can then fly your aircraft on an “auto-pilot” (with help from the Greeks).

SECTION VII – OPTIONS MARKET STRUCTURE

The Options market has a number of terms that we need to be aware of. Starting with terminology differences like “Long” and “Short”, we look at all the details that go into the Options market. We explain the important processes like Exercise and Assignment, as well as things like Expiry series, Bid-Ask spreads, Brokerage and transaction costs and various other details. What is Open Interest and why is it important, and what is the role of a Market Maker. We study the different Order types and which ones are important for the average investor, and which ones make sense in different situations. We also discuss Regulation T Margin as it applies to Options as well as Portfolio margin.

SECTION VIII – BUY A CALL OPTION (CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL)

Buying a Call Option is the most basic of all the Option strategies and is the most efficient strategy to optimize a bullish outlook on a stock. In this options trading strategies course, we take the example of Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and show how the trade played out. We analyze the rationale behind entering the trade, the risk/reward profile, chart analysis and point of entry, choice of expiry and “moneyness” of the Option, time decay considerations, margin requirements, profit expectations, exit criteria, Greek analysis, its Profit and Loss profile and various other considerations. We provide a 360-degree analysis before trade entry. This is a real trade and over 15 days, and we navigate the trade to its exit point.

SECTION IX – BUYING A PUT OPTION (FXE EURO ETF)

Buying a Put Option serves two purposes – exploit a bearish move in the stock or be the ultimate protector of your stock. In this part of the course, we take the example of the Euro ETF (FXE) and show how the trade played out in about 25 days’ time. We analyze the rationale behind entering the trade, the risk/reward profile, chart analysis and point of entry, choice of expiry and “moneyness” of the Option, time decay considerations, margin requirements, profit expectations, exit criteria, Greek analysis, its Profit and Loss profile and various other considerations. We provide a 360-degree analysis before trade entry. We show you how to “let your winners run” in a controlled manner.

SECTION X – STRATEGY AND OPTIMIZATION 

The Option strategy optimization course brings all the 4 Options strategies together. The 4 strategies are comprised of 2 bullish and 2 bearish strategies, but how and when should we choose a particular strategy over the other. We create a helpful “4 strategies box” to distinguish and connect one strategy to the other. Most importantly, what is all the considerations before we choose a strategy. Our choice of strategy depends not only on what the stock is currently doing but also on various market externalities as well as a few key Option metrics like Implied Volatility. This course also provides a sneak-peek into advanced Option topics like the VIX (Fear index”), trade simulation as well as trade adjustment parameters.

SECTION XII – SINGLE OPTION ADJUSTMENTS 

This options trading strategies course studies the need for Option adjustments, and why adjustments are as critical to the success of your position as good entry or analysis. We consider all the four basic strategies – the Long Call, Short Call, Long Put, and the Short Put and look at various adjustments to these positions if they get into trouble. Every investor has a “pain point” – this is the point at which they adjust their position. Applying a rigorous approach to this pain point enables investors to control risk while maximizing the opportunity to profit. The course also discusses various details like early adjustments, over-adjusting, and adjusting profitable trades as well as the importance of the investor’s outlook for the stock when considering adjustments.