Spyglass Covered Call

Selling options is perhaps the best way to minimize risk and to maximize consistent returns, but selling requires some due diligence.  Covered Calls are not so fragile or risky as to require too much work, but you must have some ground rules to establish your wealth building plan.

Fundamental Checklist to follow:

1. Create a Watch List of stocks that could potentially be owned and used for this strategy. You may need to allow a stock to be sold and to enter a different ad better premium paying position;
2. Create a spreadsheet to easily enter prices and premiums to determine the best possible upcoming trades;
3. I recommend that you do not use more than 80% of your available cash to buy into stocks;
4. Make sure that you know each stock and what makes it move – know the news on that stock;
5. Determine if it best to buy the stock directly or to use Short Puts to possibly get in;
6. Once you own the stock you must decide if you want to have your Short Call position exercised thus obligating you to sell your shares.  It is vital to knowing which Strike Price you will sell;
7. You must know if the stock value is likely to continue rising or will it be dropping soon.  Just because the stock price is likely to pull back is not an immediate decision to sell the shares you hold.  You can continue placing Covered Call positions and collecting premiums. If you don't care whether you are obligated to sell or not, then you must decide which Strike Price to sell - In-The-Money or Out-Of-The-Money;
8. Once you understand the basics of the Covered Call Strategy and you are well on your way, you may want to look at incorporating Cash Covered (Naked) Short Puts at the same time to enhance your wealth building. You can utilize the cash and margin to accomplish this enhancing strategy;
9. With the Short Puts you must also know whether you want to be obligated to buy more shares; and whether you have the money to purchase more, or are you simply looking to collect premiums and staying out of range - Out-Of-The-Money. Adding the Short Put Strategy can increase your returns between 30% to 100% for the year;
10. Just remember not to trade on gut feeling or guessing. Make sure you are following the system and making an educated decision.

REMEMBER:  You never go broke taking a profit.  No need to be greedy, fearful, or anxious.  Plan your trade and then trade your plan.