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The Complete Guide to Option Selling: How Selling Options Can Lead to Stellar Returns in Bull and Bear Markets
The growing popularity of selling options isundeniable, yet it remains one of the leastunderstood concepts in the trading world.This clear and engaging guide helps youenter the market with the confidence youneed and generate profits with a consistencythat may surprise you.
Now in its second edition, "The CompleteGuide to Option Selling" is the only book thatexplores selling options exclusively. Sinceits original publication in 2004, much haschanged in the world of options, and theauthors have provided key updates to helpyou take advantage of these changes. You'llfind all the information you'll need to startwriting options profitably in equities, stockindexes, and commodities and maximizeyour returns, minimize your risk, and evenmanage "black swan" events.
With more than 38 years combined experiencein options trading, the authors explain: Basic mechanics of howprofessionals selltime premiumThe misunderstood subject ofmargins on short optionsMyths about option writing--and why they still circulateKey factors to considerwhen building an optionsellingportfolioHow to control risk--the right wayEffective, time-tested strategiesfor selling premiumCommon mistakes beginnersmake and how to avoid them
Option selling provides a high probability ofsuccess that is difficult, if not impossible, toachieve in any other investment. "The CompleteGuide to Option Selling" illustrates how to takefull advantage of this unique approach andmake it a profitable, high-yield component ofyour overall portfolio.
Don't listen to the popular myth that optionselling is only for professionals. The secretis out, and individual investors can now runwith it. Read "The Complete Guide to OptionSelling" and learn how you can level the playingfield with the big guys. It's a lot easierthan you may think.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 10, 2004
83 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 14, 2021
I'm very surprised to see that this piece of c**p has such a good rating. The author obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
The book promotes writing uncovered option positions on futures which means that you have unlimited risk, but the author (deliberately?) is downplaying this risk over the book. The next thing he's promoting is ratio spreads with ratio 3:1 which is even worse because you have two uncovered options.
Calculating ROI based on out-of-the-pocket margin instead of margin requirement? I facepalmed myself so hard it hurts till now!
This book shouldn't be legal to sell or ok, it could be legal but with a big disclaimer at the beginning that this is the way how dumb people would trade and that it's just for educational purposes and shouldn't be repeated.
When I googled the author of course there's a story he wiped out his clients' accounts when there was a sudden change in the underlying asset price. The only thing that makes me wonder is how on earth it hasn't happened WAY WAY WAAAAAY earlier with the approach described in the joke of that book.
Future readers, please read with caution, learn from the mistakes of the author and find your own way in the market.
The book promotes writing uncovered option positions on futures which means that you have unlimited risk, but the author (deliberately?) is downplaying this risk over the book. The next thing he's promoting is ratio spreads with ratio 3:1 which is even worse because you have two uncovered options.
Calculating ROI based on out-of-the-pocket margin instead of margin requirement? I facepalmed myself so hard it hurts till now!
This book shouldn't be legal to sell or ok, it could be legal but with a big disclaimer at the beginning that this is the way how dumb people would trade and that it's just for educational purposes and shouldn't be repeated.
When I googled the author of course there's a story he wiped out his clients' accounts when there was a sudden change in the underlying asset price. The only thing that makes me wonder is how on earth it hasn't happened WAY WAY WAAAAAY earlier with the approach described in the joke of that book.
Future readers, please read with caution, learn from the mistakes of the author and find your own way in the market.
May 15, 2023
After searching for Mr. Cordier's firm, it looks like it suffered significant losses as a result of market movements and now no longer exists. After reading this book, part of me is not surprised.
The book makes several claims regarding how option markets function, but severely lacks in terms of supporting data or logic. I wasn't expecting a scientific approach here, but there is very little substance.
The biggest red flag I find in this is the lack of discussion around risk. Every investment strategy has a potential downside to it, and the book does little to discuss the risks related to selling options. This is despite the fact that the book promotes selling options on margin, for which the borrowing / settling process can impose notable risks, especially when doing this consistently over time with a large portfolio.
Lastly, the book makes several references to building wealth quickly and how rich Mr. Cordier and his clients are. While building wealth is part of investing, making subtle promises about getting rich never ends well in my experience.
The book makes several claims regarding how option markets function, but severely lacks in terms of supporting data or logic. I wasn't expecting a scientific approach here, but there is very little substance.
The biggest red flag I find in this is the lack of discussion around risk. Every investment strategy has a potential downside to it, and the book does little to discuss the risks related to selling options. This is despite the fact that the book promotes selling options on margin, for which the borrowing / settling process can impose notable risks, especially when doing this consistently over time with a large portfolio.
Lastly, the book makes several references to building wealth quickly and how rich Mr. Cordier and his clients are. While building wealth is part of investing, making subtle promises about getting rich never ends well in my experience.
October 4, 2018
One of the rare derivatives book completely devoid of the greeks. No partial differential equations and no tricky calculations which tend to put off many folks.
Contains practical advice that can be potentially put to use profitably. More specifically read it if you have been sold the concept of limited risk and unlimited profits by buying financial options. Targeted strictly towards people who want to start on option selling and don't want to put too much effort into the quant behind the scenes. A very easy read.
Contains practical advice that can be potentially put to use profitably. More specifically read it if you have been sold the concept of limited risk and unlimited profits by buying financial options. Targeted strictly towards people who want to start on option selling and don't want to put too much effort into the quant behind the scenes. A very easy read.
May 9, 2020
I come with a background of decent understanding of Greeks , Options buying and selling. Found this to be a simple primer to understand risk/benefits of selling in simple language. Clearly written book simple to read and digest. Pick this one if you are keen on getting your basics clear before you decide to play with options. I wish i had this in 2002 when i started with options buying.
September 10, 2023
I managed to find a few useful tips and tricks, mostly pertaining to the mindset and process of speculators, embedded within this $60 tome. Without these tips, this would be a 1-star book. Throughout this book, the author's cavalier attitude towards risk management shines through, so what transpired in the years following publication were not surprising.
December 31, 2017
Gave me a complete new perspective of options. It's more on commodities options but there is something that we can pick up for equities or other derivatives. I would strongly recommend this book, worth the money and read!
February 28, 2019
Just a quick keywords of what I picked up from the book.
Got better understanding on the strategies like
Short Option Strangle,
Sell Put Sell Call @ same premium
the term Staggering.
and the secret of this book is- Ratio Credit Spreads
Got better understanding on the strategies like
Short Option Strangle,
Sell Put Sell Call @ same premium
the term Staggering.
and the secret of this book is- Ratio Credit Spreads
September 15, 2019
Very rarely, you get to read a book that completely changes your mindset about a particular thing. This book is one of those. Not only to be 'tasted', not only to be 'swallowed', but to be 'chewed and digested'.
March 3, 2020
Very simple approach book to Option Selling.
February 3, 2021
I think it’s very good although it could have more quantitative criteria for decision making.
February 13, 2021
Excellent book on Option Selling.
February 28, 2021
The book is great but it's biased. Going naked without data or covering - James himself got bankrupt in one bet.
July 17, 2021
Best and complete book for Option Selling
July 31, 2018
Although the author wrote this book intended for the commodities markets, many of the techniques could be adopted to other vehicles like stocks, ETFs and options.
August 14, 2014
This book changed my life..I
This book changed my life..I
target 60 pc annuAlised returns with 98 pc options expiring worthless.But I trAde stocks not commodities applying the principles in this book
This book changed my life..I
target 60 pc annuAlised returns with 98 pc options expiring worthless.But I trAde stocks not commodities applying the principles in this book
August 6, 2020
Great resource
Despite the implosion of optionsellers.com this is truly a great book with actionable steps of how to collect option premiums by selling/ writing options. I read the book in a couple of days and am already implementing some of the strategies.
Despite the implosion of optionsellers.com this is truly a great book with actionable steps of how to collect option premiums by selling/ writing options. I read the book in a couple of days and am already implementing some of the strategies.
May 25, 2015
sell options
unless you are a tech wizard, sell way out of the money options for good income; this book shows you how.
unless you are a tech wizard, sell way out of the money options for good income; this book shows you how.
September 20, 2020
Best on options selling
Read
September 27, 2018It says well--
Options are a wasting asset. It takes a larger move in the underlying futures contract for the option to be worth more money to the option buyer. This is why a large percentage of options are closed out prior to expiration. Buyers know that the longer they hold their options, the better the chance the value of the option decays to zero. The closer it is to expiration, the lower the chance of the option increasing its price to the buyer. As a seller, you just have to wait it out.
Sounds like a money making opportunity, but I wouldn't dabble into options without an expert guiding me. I think the more people knows about the trick to options trading, the less people will buy options, so I am not sure of the background and motivation of option buyers, probably gamblers. Thus, it is essential to stay calm and think conservatively and earn a steady small profit from the big risks these gamblers take.
Options are a wasting asset. It takes a larger move in the underlying futures contract for the option to be worth more money to the option buyer. This is why a large percentage of options are closed out prior to expiration. Buyers know that the longer they hold their options, the better the chance the value of the option decays to zero. The closer it is to expiration, the lower the chance of the option increasing its price to the buyer. As a seller, you just have to wait it out.
Sounds like a money making opportunity, but I wouldn't dabble into options without an expert guiding me. I think the more people knows about the trick to options trading, the less people will buy options, so I am not sure of the background and motivation of option buyers, probably gamblers. Thus, it is essential to stay calm and think conservatively and earn a steady small profit from the big risks these gamblers take.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews