Earnings Season Can Be the Most Profitable Time for Covered Call Writers — Or the Most Dangerous Every quarter, like clockwork, the market enters a six-week window where nearly every major stock reports its earnings. And every quarter, I get the same question from students: “Mark, should I keep my covered calls open through earnings,… Continue reading How to Trade Covered Calls During Earnings Season (The Right Way)
Protect your covered call portfolio with five layers of defense including premium buffers, collars, portfolio construction, legal structures, and tax.
The Profit Is Right There in Front of You — The Question Is Whether You Take It One of the most common questions I get from students — and one that separates disciplined income investors from emotional traders — is this: “Mark, my covered call is profitable but it hasn’t expired yet. Should I close… Continue reading When to Close a Covered Call Early: Exit Rules Every Income Investor Needs
The Retirement Formula Wall Street Has Been Selling You for 30 Years — And Why It May Not Be Enough Picture this: you’ve spent 35 years building a $750,000 retirement portfolio. You’ve done everything right. You listened to the conventional wisdom. And now your financial planner hands you a simple guideline — withdraw 4% per… Continue reading Covered Calls vs. the 4% Rule: Why Income Investors Are Abandoning the Old Retirement Formula
Learn how LEAPS covered calls generate monthly income with 60-70% less capital than traditional covered calls. Step-by-step strategy with real examples.
Learn how to build a diversified covered call income portfolio with the three-tier framework: foundation ETFs, growth stocks, and opportunistic plays. Includes a sample $150K portfolio generating ~$2,770/month.
Learn how implied volatility affects your covered call premiums and how to use IV Rank and IV Percentile to sell smarter. Includes premium comparison tables, ideal IV ranges, and portfolio construction tips.
5 Options Income Strategies That Actually Work for Conservative Investors I’ve tested every options income strategy you can name. Some work brilliantly. Others sound great on paper but fall apart the moment volatility spikes or a position moves against you. The question I get most often from my students — especially those approaching or already… Continue reading 5 Options Income Strategies That Actually Work for Conservative Investors
Cash-secured puts generate income while you wait to buy stocks at a discount. Step-by-step examples, delta selection, risk management, and how puts fit.
Learn how implied volatility drives covered call premiums. Understand IV Rank, IV Percentile, IV crush, and five practical rules for maximizing options.
