The Question I Get More Than Any Other: “Should I Sell Covered Calls or Sell Puts?” Every week, without fail, a new student asks me some version of this question. They’ve discovered options income, they understand both strategies generate premium, and they’re trying to figure out which one to commit to. Some options gurus will… Continue reading Covered Calls vs Selling Puts: Which Income Strategy Is Right for You?
Most People Overcomplicate Covered Calls — Here’s the Simple Truth I’ve been selling covered calls for over 40 years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the strategy itself is straightforward. You own shares, you sell a call option against them, and you collect income. That’s the core of it. Yet most beginners… Continue reading Selling Covered Calls for Beginners: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Most Investors Overlook the Strategy That Lets You Collect Covered Call Income With a Fraction of the Capital Here’s a question I get constantly from students: “Mark, I love the covered call strategy, but I don’t have enough capital to buy 100 shares of NVDA or AMZN. What do I do?” My answer is always… Continue reading LEAPS Covered Calls: How to Generate Monthly Income With 70% Less Capital
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.
Learn how the collar strategy combines covered calls with protective puts to limit your downside risk. Includes real trade examples, zero-cost collar setups, and when to use collars vs. standard covered calls.
Compare the top 3 ETFs for selling covered calls — SPY, QQQ, and IWM — with real premium examples, yield comparisons, and guidance on which ETF fits your income strategy.
Learn 5 proven covered call tax strategies to reduce your tax bill and keep more of your premium income. From IRA advantages to qualified covered calls and tax-loss harvesting, discover how to be tax-smart with your options income.
“My Shares Got Called Away!” — Why Assignment Isn’t the Disaster You Think It’s the phone call every new covered call seller dreads. You check your brokerage account one morning and see: Assignment Notice — 100 shares sold at strike price. Your first reaction? Panic. “Did I lose money? What do I do now? Is… Continue reading Covered Call Assignment: What Happens When Your Shares Get Called Away (And Why It’s Usually a Good Thing)
The #1 Question Every New Options Investor Asks Me “Mark, how much money do I actually need to start selling covered calls?” I hear this more than any other question. And I get it — when you see me talk about generating $10,000 a month in premium income, it’s natural to wonder whether you need… Continue reading How Much Money Do You Need to Sell Covered Calls? The Complete Capital Guide
