You Asked, We Answered: Getting Started with Options

Interest in listed stock options remains one of the fastest-growing trading segments, according to options industry data. But reports from the ground also tell us that growth among new users—as well as repeat volume and migration to increasingly complex and flexible options strategies—could improve, if only more stock traders knew where to start.

We often ask our readers what subjects you’re hungry for. Resoundingly, you want options coverage. And many of you want to start at the beginning. We’ve dug into our library of how-to articles, some aimed at the uninitiated, and others meant to help increasingly savvy traders build a toolbox of strategies. Keep this—the most basic of the basics—in mind: options strategies vary for a range of market conditions: bullish, bearish, neutral, high-volume, low-volume, you name it. Understanding that is a great place to start.

Beginners, Step Up

There’s only so much about the markets you can learn from books, right? At some point you should jump in. Experiment. Struggle. Learn. Tinker. And, ultimately, grow more confident if adding options to your investing mix is right for you. Here, part one of a four-part series that's linkable from the bottom of the introductory article. Options Lab Part 1: Why Options? Why Not?

It’s true: Options trading involves more risk, and more complex risk, than trading stocks. But what’s also true is that a lack of discipline, skimpy risk management, and spiking emotions often get in the way. Options Aren’t Dangerous, People Are: Debunking Four Myths

The covered call is one of the most straightforward and widely used options-based strategies for investors aiming to diversify portfolios and enhance returns. Options: Got Ya Covered

If you’re following option markets, you’ve likely heard chatter on the “greeks”— delta, gamma, theta, vega, and rho. But, do you know how options traders use them? Decode the Greeks: Ancient Alphabet Helps You Trade Options

With so many optionable stocks available, you can spend hours trying to find the right match for your investing objectives. In fact, too much window shopping may make it hard to take the plunge. How to Sniff Out the Options Opportunity Under Your Nose

Expanding Your Options Smarts?

Many option traders consider short-term premium collection strategies, otherwise known as “selling” strategies, as their bread-and-butter trades. But there are low-volatility “buying” strategies that may offer limited risk of loss if the trade doesn’t work out—and the possibility of a nice payoff if it does. Embrace the Quiet: Consider Low-Volatility Option Trades

During chaotic markets, the madness of the crowd can represent seeds of opportunity. But to take advantage, options traders must distance themselves from the noise. Option Strategies to Help Protect Your Portfolio

Many options traders are drawn to leverage. Some start by buying options outright and are immediately frustrated by theta (time decay). A deeper look at a long vertical spread maybe one way to explore a directional trade that includes options. Leveraging a Stock Hunch with Options? Think Vertical

Using the right strategy at the right time goes a long way toward upping your options cred. One-off events like major economic reports aren’t always a straightforward trade, but one options approach is aimed to create a degree of protection for stock holdings from unexpected swings. Short-Sighted on Purpose: Options to Hedge Jobs Report

This is Just a Sampling

Visit the Ticker Tape Options page for our latest articles. This includes a weekly check-in on what options may reveal about broad-market volatility changes.

Editor's note: This article first ran in December 2015.