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Options traders may easily fall into the habit of expressing ideas inaccurately. This might seem like a minor point, but in fact. It matters a great deal. Confusing and misleading language may lead to incorrect trade entry, and for those novices following more experienced traders, the use of proper terms is the whole story.

Too often, traders may  make the mistake of associating option volatility with behavior of the underlying issue. However, if you employ a volatility assumption to model how an option is likely to change, remember that pricing models are theoretical. It is only useful for estimating the option risks. It does not indicate how underlying price will move.

When you hear what “the market” did today, what do you think of? Most of us will think of one or more popular US stock indexes like the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, or S&P 500. But how well do these indices actually represent the total stock market? Dimensional Fund Advisors has created an excellent chart to help us answer this question.

Although traders often are attracted to hedged combinations (including spreads), some of the features are misunderstood. The spread may be viewed to manage risk, when in fact selection of an appropriate strategy may provide more potential when picked based on volatility.

Some traders have entered the options arena by selling exceptionally long-term contracts. The rationale for this is based on dollar amounts. A 24-month contract may yield an impressive dollar amount, but is it the best net return? It is not.

When buying a home, individuals who have accumulated enough wealth to pay cash or make a substantial down payment have a decision to make. Take advantage of record low interest rates and lock in a 30-year mortgage for around 2.5%? Or pay cash and make payments to yourself by investing the savings?

The key ingredient on expiration Friday is volatility collapse. At the beginning of that last trading day, there are more than 6 hours of trading yet to go. However, there are 38 hours left before expiration on Saturday. When volatility is high, OTM options are most likely to be overpriced.

Options traders tend to think mathematically. When considering selection of an underlying, risks and expected profits, the model of outcomes is a primary tool for making selections. Without a model how can anyone understand the differences between two or more options that might otherwise appear the same – similar moneyness, same strike, and same premium.

Traders may view options spreads as a means for reducing market risk. But this also means that the potential profit is just as limited as potential loss, and this is easily overlooked in the focus on risk alone. A realistic view of spreading is that it reduces risk in exchange for accepting limited maximum profit.

The impact of luck can play a meaningful role in the short-term outcomes of monthly option trades due to the requirement to roll expiring contracts. The extreme volatility in 2020 highlightsthis fact when we look at results of SPY cash secured put trades launched on slightly different start dates.

Option traders may be divided into two categories. First are those relying on instinct or casual observation. This group tends to speculate on directional movement, future volatility, value, and on potential profitability of trades. The second group is involved deeply with math of trading and depends on what is perceived as certainty or near certainty.

Traders hear the term put/call parity a lot, but what does it mean? There are two definitions and they are vastly different from one another. The first definition involves the net credit/debit for any combination trade, with trading costs are considered. The second definition takes assumed interest rates and present value into mind.