Advanced Options Trading in plain English

It is no surprise that options trading has been embraced by a growing number of traders as of late. The possibilities that options provide are endless and this is one of the reasons why retail and professional traders gravitate towards them as an integral part of their financial portfolios.

Whether it is for leverage, protection or strategic flexibility; calls and puts are now an important part of the financial products landscape. This is for example reflected in the prominence with which the VIX index is now reported on in mainstream financial media.

Although options are extremely powerful, part of their appeal is their apparent simplicity. Many option traders start out learning that calls are leveraged bullish instruments and puts are leveraged bearish instruments and while this is not incorrect, there is so much more at play here than meets the eye.

At some point traders venture beyond the limitations of simple option purchases and dabble in more complex strategies: selling options, vertical spreads, iron condors, butterflies, etc. It is then that the true power of options starts to become apparent. Along with this comes the need for a true deeper and more detailed understanding of both the principles behind option pricing and also the practical day-to-day operational activities related to actively managing an options portfolio.

In this course, you will learn the principles of option pricing theory with the sole objective of applying this knowledge in the market in a practical manner leading to better, more profitable and more efficient options trading in your own account.

Along with this, many operational details related to day-to-day option trading activities will also be reviewed. These have been gathered in the more than 20 years of experience trading options and ultimately having the scars along with lessons-learned to prove it. Although the operational environment for option traders has changed a lot in the last 20 years, many of the main principles remain the same and are deeply ingrained in any successful trader's mind. In this course you will learn the operational details, quirks and rules-of-thumb that will prevent any unpleasant surprise from happening in your trading and will lead to improving and refining your options trading edge.

As part of a balanced approach among concepts, theory and practice we will use the paperMoney by thinkorswim Options Trading platform, with information accessed directly from US Financial Markets. You will see how option trading theory aligns with reality in an actual live market with real financial data.

Also, in order to let you focus on the information being presented, the material used during the lessons will be available to be downloaded in the "Resources" section. By doing this you won't need to take notes related to the presentations since they will be available for you to download and review later., along with any spreadsheet used in the more formula-oriented lessons. 

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1. Operational considerations when trading options
Understanding the importance of an options trading plan and how options expiration impacts it. Reviewing the impact of the exercise and assignment processes and how pin risk and dividend risk can have an impact on your trading.

2. Understanding options pricing
Application of the Delta-Gamma approximation formula along with quick formulas for at-the-money straddles and 20-delta strangles. Analysis of the differences in distribution between intrinsic and extrinsic values. 

3. Introduction to the Black-Scholes option pricing model
Understanding the principles behind the Black-Scholes option pricing model and how it results in at-the-money delta not being exactly 50 as it is often assumed and also how delta and the probability of expiring in-the-money are different.

4. Volatility and its impact on option pricing
Impact of volatility skew and term structure in options strategies such as ratio spreads, delta-buster and calendar spreads. Also, how volatility impacts the price of options even when directionally wrong.

5. Put-Call Parity
Introduction to put-call parity and its applications such as synthetic positions, box spreads and the impact of hard-to-borrow status on option pricing.

6. Synthetic Positions
Applying put-call parity to positions such as covered calls, condors, butterflies and vertical spreads.

7. Advanced Option Greeks
Analyzing second and third order greeks (delta, vega, theta, gamma, vanna, charm, speed, zomma, color, vomma, veta, thega) and how they react to changes in underlying price, volatility and time to expiration.

8. Options Strategies
Review of premium-selling strategies by implied volatility level and directional outlook. Also, earnings-related calculations and strategies along with a review of stop-losses for a 0-DTE strategy.

9. How to trade the VIX
Trading the VIX using VIX Futures, VIX ETFs and ETNs and VIX Options. Impact of contango and backwardation on the pricing of VIX Products

10. VIX calculation and settlement of VIX Futures and Options
Understanding what VIX represents and how it's calculated. Impact of the settlement process on VIX Futures and VIX Options

11. Adjusting and rolling options positions
Introduction to the concept of managing existing options positions by adjusting or rolling them as a response to changing market conditions

12. Options Portfolio Management
Managing an Options Portfolio and all its components to maximize profits and minimize risks

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