Download or read book Options Trading Strategies written by Stock Market Guru and published by Stock Market Guru. This book was released on with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Options Trading Strategies Options are great for novice and experienced investors, great for all investors who wish to expand their portfolios and make money in stock market.Learn profitable and powerful options trading strategies which will lower your risk and increase your profits in today's market. This book contains the following topics that will guide you through the path of Options Trading Strategy. Index Chapter 1 Introduction to Options Options defined The Importance of Learning Options The Difficult Side of Options Chapter 2a: Advantages of Options Trading Hedging and Speculation The Good and the Bad Sides of Options Trading Chapter 2b: Nature and Characteristics of Options Options Trading Parties What is Call Option? What is Put Option? The Variants of Option Option Trade Transacting versus Closing Out Option Pricing and How It is Done Chapter 3: Important Options Terms to Remember Strike Price Listed Option Premium Conversion Intrinsic Value Underlying Asset Chapter 4: Should I Buy Futures or Should I Buy Options? Buying Futures, Buying Options Buying Options: Short Term and Long Term Puts and Call – Buy Them but Don’t Sell Them Buying Puts How to Make Money when the Market is Falling Buying Puts for Surefire Gains Buying Calls Buying Calls to Profit From an Up Trend How to Profit when Buying Calls from a Bottoming Out Market Buying Futures Chapter 5: How to Trade F&Os in Several Market Conditions What It Means When You Buy in Wild Swings Buying When Risk Aversion is High Playing the Bull Market How to Play in the Bear Market Direction less Markets Playing Range Bound Markets Playing Intra day Moves Being a Compulsive Trader Trading a Falling Market Caused by Crazy Valuations Trading a Falling Market Caused by Negative News Trading a Rising Market Caused by Increasing Interest Selling Puts Amidst High Tendency of Risk Aversion Trading Accumulation and Distribution Chapter 6: Understanding the Golden Rules of F&O Trading Start by Having a Plan Each Single Stock is Not a Trade Don’t Buy a Mercedes if What You Can Afford is a Motorcycle! Set Your Trades to a Maximum Limit of Three at Any Single Time Don’t Trade Stocks That Have No Heavy Liquidity Trade According to the Trend The Value of Timing Trade the Body and not the Head of the Price Move Always Keep Track Of Your Emotions Learn the Value of Being Consistent and Disciplined Reality as Opposed to One’s Belief A Trade is Born out of Positive Expectation that is Backed by a Positive Trend Bread and Butter Money must be for Bread and Butter Alone Be Contrarian in Your Thinking and Not When You Go Trading Be Patient When You Find a Trade But Not When You Cut Losses Emotions versus F&O Trading The Value of Moderation in F&O Trading Having a Profit Then Going Out With a Loss When You Average a Loss in a Futures Position, You Are Simply Burning Money! Avoid Watching TV! The Unique Personality of Stock Futures and Options Getting Different Results Mean Doing Things Differently Trading Options Time Frame Buy Options in Low Cost/Premium Buy Options When a Stock, a Sector or the Market is Trending Very Strongly The Reality after Waking up from a Dream Open Interest – How Real Can It Be Understanding if the Option Price is Right So What is the Real Deal on Options Understanding How Options Really Work Calls and Puts Long and Short European and American Options Some Terminology Futures or Options?

Download or read book Understanding Put and Call Options written by Herbert Filer and published by . This book was released on 1966 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book How to Use Put and Call Options written by Nicholas R. Bokron and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Volatility Trading written by Euan Sinclair and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-01-11 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Volatility Trading, Sinclair offers you a quantitative model for measuring volatility in order to gain an edge in your everyday option trading endeavors. With an accessible, straightforward approach. He guides traders through the basics of option pricing, volatility measurement, hedging, money management, and trade evaluation. In addition, Sinclair explains the often-overlooked psychological aspects of trading, revealing both how behavioral psychology can create market conditions traders can take advantage of-and how it can lead them astray. Psychological biases, he asserts, are probably the drivers behind most sources of edge available to a volatility trader. Your goal, Sinclair explains, must be clearly defined and easily expressed-if you cannot explain it in one sentence, you probably aren't completely clear about what it is. The same applies to your statistical edge. If you do not know exactly what your edge is, you shouldn't trade. He shows how, in addition to the numerical evaluation of a potential trade, you should be able to identify and evaluate the reason why implied volatility is priced where it is, that is, why an edge exists. This means it is also necessary to be on top of recent news stories, sector trends, and behavioral psychology. Finally, Sinclair underscores why trades need to be sized correctly, which means that each trade is evaluated according to its projected return and risk in the overall context of your goals. As the author concludes, while we also need to pay attention to seemingly mundane things like having good execution software, a comfortable office, and getting enough sleep, it is knowledge that is the ultimate source of edge. So, all else being equal, the trader with the greater knowledge will be the more successful. This book, and its companion CD-ROM, will provide that knowledge. The CD-ROM includes spreadsheets designed to help you forecast volatility and evaluate trades together with simulation engines.

Download or read book Options Essential Concepts 3rd Edition written by The Options Institute and published by McGraw Hill Professional. This book was released on 1999-07-12 with total page 462 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get the acknowledged industry classic – revised and updated to deliver everything from time-honored options concepts to strategies for individual and institutional investors and traders. Every stock trader or market maker, whether currently involved with options or not, should own OPTIONS: ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS AND TRADING STRATEGIES, THIRD EDITION. Written by today's leading options practitioners—and edited by The Options Institute, the globally renowned Educational Division of the Chicago Board Options Exchange—OPTIONS leaves no stone unturned in delivering the most complete, authoritative, and easy-to-understand blueprint available for navigating the profitable twists and turns of today's options marketplace. No-nonsense, packed with useful information, and valuable as either an introductory textbook or a comprehensive fingertip reference source, this thoroughly revised and updated edition details: What options are, how they are priced, and how they are traded; Basic option trading strategies such as covered writing and protective puts; Advanced strategies involving LEAPS and the stock repair strategy; Options from three points of view: private investor, institutional investor, and market maker; How to use the power of the Internet for trading and detailed information gathering. The well-organized, thought-provoking, and dependable ideas found here will help you use options to increase the returns in virtually any investment mix. The comprehensive answers to a wide range of options questions, as well as insights into the latest options trading strategies, cover: Option Market History – From early transactions to latter-day innovations including LEAPS and index options, knowledge of options industry history will help you intuitively understand and trade profitably today; Essential Concepts – Fundamentals of options pricing theory and their relationship to market prediction, stock selection, and risk management; volatility explained; and introductory strategies from long call to covered strangle;Investing and Trading Strategies – Discussions of how to approach and understand "investing" strategies that focus on ownership of an underlying equity versus "trading". strategies with no intent to hold the underlying stock; plus, the function of market makers ; Real-Time Applications – Institutional case studies; how to use options as an indicator of price moves for an underlying stock; using the Internet for instantaneous trades and information; plus, a comprehensive glossary of option market terminology. OPTIONS, THIRD EDITION, takes the guesswork out of trading options and gives you the information you need to become a savvy options trader. So get your questions together, and use this step-by-step guidebook to develop option strategies that meet your investment objectives: hedging your stock market risk, increasing your portfolio income, or improving your trading results.

Download or read book The Option Trader Handbook written by George Jabbour and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2004-06-03 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Strategies, tools, and proven solutions for minimizing risk and volatility in option trading The Option Trader Handbook helps readers better understand trade management by providing a thorough compilation of the numerous trade adjustments, hedges, and enhancements that can be made to stock or option positions using derivatives. Dr. George Jabbour is the Director of the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Program at The George Washington University as well as a professor of derivatives, financial engineering and investments. Dr. Jabbour has published various articles in professional financial journals and regularly speaks at conferences in the United States and abroad regarding option pricing models, financial management, and risk management. He also is a managing director of Global Asset Investments, LLC, an asset management and derivative consulting firm, and CEO of Global Finance Associates, Inc., a financial training, consulting and research company. Dr. Jabbour regularly conducts seminars in option trading and valuation, and is a very active equity and derivative trader. Philip Budwick has a law degree and a Master of Science in Finance and frequently writes articles on option trading strategies and investments. Mr. Budwick is a managing director of Global Asset Investments, LLC and a managing member of Budwick InvestmentGroup, LLC, an option trading and investment software firm. He also conducts discussion groups and offers option investment training through Option Trading Coach, LLC and is an active option and stock trader.

Download or read book How to Trade Put and Call Options written by Lawrence R. Rosen and published by Lawrence R Rosen. This book was released on 1974 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Under normal circumstances, when an investor buys a stock, he or she makes no profit in two out of three possible occurrences -- (1) when the price of the stock goes down; (2) when the price of the stock remains the same. The investor only profits if the stock increases in price. However, selling options on stock owned or purchased makes it possible for the investor to earn handsome annual rates of return, frequently 40% or more on an annualized basis! Unlike regular stock purchases where a profit is possible only if the stock increases, options make it possible to make a substantial profit even if the stock remains at the purchase price. For more venturesome investors, annualized rates of return of 100% or more are possible under bearish market conditions by selling "naked options" (without actually buying any stock). In this instance the investor can realize a profit if the price of the stock remains the same or declines. Risks as well as rewards are discussed.

Download or read book Options Made Easy written by W. D. Gann and published by WWW.Therichestmaninbabylon.Org. This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To make a success trading in stocks every man should learn everything he can about the stock market and the ways to operate in the market in order to make the greatest success. He should learn to take the smallest risk possible and then try to make the greatest profits possible. The more a man studies and learns the greater success he will have. We quote Proverbs 1: 5- "The wise man will Increase learning." Again, Proverbs 2: 11- "Discretion shall preserve these; understanding shall keep thee. "Proverbs 3: 9- "Give instructions to a wise man and he will become wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning." The "Book of the Lambs" says that the fear of the market is the beginning of knowledge. Many people do not realize that without preparation and knowledge the stock market is dangerous and that it is easier to make losses than it is to make profits. However, the risks in stock speculation or investment are no greater than in any other line of business if you understand and apply the proper rules to speculative trading, and the profits compared to risks are greater than in any other business. CONTENTS PREFACE WHAT ARE PUTS AND CALLS ON STOCKS SPREAD OR STRADDLE HOW PUTS AND CALLS ARE SOLD WHY PUTS AND CALLS ARE SOLD LENGTH OF TIME PUTS AND CALLS ARE SOLD HOW TO BUY PUTS AND CALLS PUT AND CALL BROKERS ADVANTAGE OF BUYING PUTS AND CALLS DIRECT THE ADVANTAGES OF PUTS AND CALLS TO THE BUYER HOW TO USE PUTS AND CALLS IN PLACE OF STOP LOSS ORDERS WHEN TO BUY PUTS AND CALLS WHEN TO BUY MORE PUTS AND CALLS ON THE SAME STOCK HOW TO TRADE AGAINST PUTS AND CALLS KIND OF STOCKS TO BUY PUTS AND CALLS ON EXAMPLES OF TRADING WITH PUTS AND CALLS RULES FOR BUYING PUTS AND CALLS ON LOW PRICED STOCKS HOW TO SELL PUTS AND CALLS SELLING CALLS TO GET SHORT OF THE MARKET HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN SELLING PUTS OR CALLS BUYING A PUT AND SELLING A CALL AT THE SAME TIME ARRANGING TO SELL PUTS AND CALLS

Download or read book Options Trading for Beginners Dummies written by Giovanni Rigters and published by Giovanni Rigters. This book was released on with total page 12 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Options trading has become an appealing option for many investors today, particularly as trading volume continues to rise and investors have decided to try new types of investments. If you want to make the most of this type of investment and are interested in trying options in lieu of or in addition to other types of investments, you’ll benefit from gaining a full understanding of options and how they work.

Download or read book An Investor s Guide to Trading Options written by Virginia B. Morris and published by Lightbulb Press, Inc.. This book was released on 2004 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An Investor's Guide to Trading Options covers everything from calls and puts to collars and rolling up, over, or out. It takes the mystery out of options contracts, explains the language of options trading, and lays out some popular options strategies that may suit various portfolios and market forecasts. If you're curious about options, this guide provides the answers to your questions.

Download or read book Commodity Options written by Carley Garner and published by FT Press. This book was released on 2009-01-23 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Don’t Miss out on Today’s Hottest Trading Arena: Commodity Options! “The authors have written the definitive work on trading commodity options. Their in-depth knowledge of this subject is legendary among industry professionals and expert traders alike, and their ability to relay their knowledge through text, pictures, and the spoken word is unparalleled in our industry.” –Lan Turner, CEO, Gecko Software, Inc. “This book captures the realities of commodity option trading in a simple and easy- to-read presentation that will be beneficial for traders of all sizes and skill levels.” –Chris Jarvis, CFA, CMT, Caprock Risk Management, LLC “Even the most experienced investors often overlook the fact that options on futures are fundamentally different from options on stocks. This book fills that gap and sets the record straight with clear and concise descriptions that are easy to understand. Guaranteed to become a true source of value creation for anyone interested in trading commodity options.” –Jeff Augen, author, The Volatility Edge in Options Trading “Commodity Options arms readers with the strategies and tactics needed to take a more active approach to managing risk in today’s turbulent markets. The authors exhaustively break down every component of a commodity option to its lowest common denominator, making this book an essential piece of information for those looking to expand their trading tool box or further build on existing option strategies.” –John Netto, Chief Investment Strategist, NetBlack Capital and author, One Shot–One Kill Trading Investors worldwide are discovering the enormous opportunities available through commodity options trading. However, because commodities have differing underlying characteristics from equities, commodity ­options behave differently as well. In this book, two of the field’s most respected analysts present strategies built from the ground up for commodity options. Carley Garner and Paul Brittain begin with a quick primer on how commodity options work, how they evolved, and why conventional options strategies often fail in the commodity options markets. Next, using detailed examples based on their own extensive research, they show how to leverage the unique characteristics of commodity options in your own trades. You’ll walk through trades from “top to bottom,” master both long- and short-option approaches, and learn powerful strategies usually ignored in options books. For example, the authors introduce synthetic swing trading strategies that systematically reduce volatility from the market. This book’s easy-to-use trading strategies are strategically employed by the author’s clients every day: With Commodity Options, you can work to put the odds in your favor, too! • Why commodity options are different—and what it means to you Understand key differences in the underlying assets and the logistics of market execution • Systematically rewrite the odds in your favor Four ways to make winning trades more likely—and losing trades less common • When to trade short options—and how to manage the risk Why careful option selling may improve your odds of success • Master strategies designed for diverse market conditions Combine long and short options to create the right strategy for any market opportunity • Exploit short-lived trends through “synthetic” swing trading Get the advantages of futures contracts without the volatility

Download or read book Covered Calls for Beginners written by Freeman Publications and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-29 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stop settling for ever-decreasing dividend yields and bank CDs which pay less than 1% and start making your investments work for you again... If you're worried about the current market uncertainty, covered calls are your antidote to chaos. You can use them to generate safe returns, no matter what happens to your stock. It's like generating rental income on stocks you already own, even if those stocks don't already pay dividends. Which is why with smart covered call writing, you can double your monthly cash flow. Making it the perfect income strategy, because you can use covered calls to create instant cash, with premiums paid directly into your brokerage account. So you can use this smart, safe strategy to generate "Synthetic Dividends" on stocks that you already own. Covered calls aren't risky... when used correctly they actually decrease your risk... and even the most conservative investors can benefit from adding covered call writing to their investment strategy. Even if you know nothing about options, this book will get you right up to speed. Here is just a fraction of what you'll discover: - The 6 criteria we use to select the best stocks to write covered calls on - Page 96 - Why you shouldn't write covered calls in an IRA. Many investors make this mistake, but learn why using a regular account will actually save on your tax bill - Page 54 - How to use covered calls to lower the purchase price of stocks you already own - 3 rules for adjusting your covered call - Page 129 - How to find the best covered call stocks for free. Stock scanning services will charge you $99/month for this information, but our approach costs nothing and lists the exact same companies - Page 100 - How to get started with covered calls if you only have a small account. This is perfect if you want the benefits but don't have $5,000 or more to invest - Page 133 Plus, inside the book you get free access to a 7 part video course covering all aspects of profitable investing So even if you've never used options before, the book walks you through everything step by step. You'll find everything explained in plain English, free from technical jargon. Even if you get stuck, you can always send us an email (provided inside the book) or reach out in our private investing community on social media - we're always happy to help with any questions you might have. And remember... bank CD's will only pay you between 0% and 1%... the dividend yield on the S&P 500 is around 2%... and 5 to 10 year municipal bonds will only pay between 2% and 3%. But if you use what's inside this book, you could have the opportunity to get much more than that. For instance... if you put together a portfolio of three of the best covered call stocks... you could see an average yield of 15% per year... just from your covered call income. All this from your regular brokerage account, just as easily as you can buy stock. Because if you know how to buy stocks, you can use covered calls. And when you receive just a single premium from one of these covered calls (which is paid into your account instantly) it will cover the cost of this book 10x over. To get your copy right now, just scroll up and click "add to cart"

Download or read book Options Trading For Dummies written by Joe Duarte and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 423 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to boosting your portfolio, you’ve got options! Looking for a new way to flex your investing muscle? Look no further! Options Trading For Dummies offers trusted guidance for anyone ready to jump into the versatile, rewarding world of stock options. And just what are your options options? This book breaks down the most common types of options contracts, helping you select the right strategy for your needs. Learn all about the risk-reward structure of options trading and reduce your risk through smart mixing and matching. Today’s markets are more topsy turvy than ever before, but there is also more potential for everyday investors like you to profit, regardless of economic conditions. Options are great for broadening your retirement portfolio or earning a little extra scratch through shorter-term positions. Options Trading For Dummies is your plain-English resource for learning how! Demystify the world of options contracts and how to trade them, including index, equity, and ETF options Use technical analysis to create a solid trading strategy that limits your risk Protect your assets and avoid the pitfalls common to first-time options traders Learn about covered calls, butterfly positions, and other techniques that can enhance your gains Thinking of trading options, but not sure where to start? This latest edition of Options Trading For Dummies provides you with step-by-step advice for boosting your income under today’s market conditions.

Download or read book Options Trading written by Mark Lowe and published by SD Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2020-02-08 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you want to start making money trading options, but not sure where to start? Have you tried to learn but found it all too difficult and confusing? Do you want to learn using simplified teaching methods in an easy step-by-step format? If so, this is the book for you! This book addresses the key concepts and principles beneath option trading and leads you from being a raw beginner to becoming an educated options trader. This book requires no previous knowledge or experience in options or financial trading. Inside, you’ll find: What are Options? Why we trade in them and how to profit from them. The basic theory behind option trading and how it works How to make money trading options in markets moving up, down or sideways How to trade like a professional A five point strategy for making consistent income in the most difficult markets And much more… If your previous attempts to learn using books, blogs and online videos have left you confused don’t despair, for this book can help you. Using the simplified trading best practices and profound tips and advice from the professionals, this book will help you understand how to trade profitably and safely using low risk but high profit strategies. Reading this book will provide you with a strategic philosophy that is geared to providing consistent income over a long, productive trading career. Featuring all sorts of theoretical and practical gems - Options Trading Simplified: Beginner’s Guide to Make Money Trading Options in 7 Days or Less! - explains why it is important to have a risk-limiting strategy that protects your capital while optimizing your profit potential. This safety first, step by step approach is ideal for beginners and intermediary level traders who want to make money in options trading without losing their nest egg! So scroll up and click “Buy Now” and get started on your 7-day journey to making money trading options!

Download or read book Options Trading 3 Books in 1 written by Nathan Bell and published by Youcanprint. This book was released on 2021-08-25 with total page 666 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you been desiring to start trading different financial instruments like stocks and options but have been hesitant about it because you don't know where to start? And are you looking for a guide that will cover the A-Z in simple, step by step language that you can follow with ease and apply that information to profit from stocks and options trading, while keeping your exposure to risks low? If you've answered YES, keep reading… You Are About To Discover The Secrets That Successful Traders Don't Want To Share With The Unsuccessful Ones And How To Apply This Information To Profit From Stocks And Options Trading, Just Like The Pros! By virtue that you are reading this, it is clear you've across the concept of stock and options trading somewhere, got drawn to it and are curious to learn more about it so that you too can venture into trading stocks and options fully aware of how to go about it. It is also likely that you are scared of losing money as you begin this journey and are probably looking for answers to all the questions going through your mind… Where do you start as far as trading financial assets is concerned? What do you need to learn? How do you analyze the markets so as to make informed trading decisions? What are the dos and don'ts you need to be aware of? How do you mitigate your exposure to risks? Which broker should you use – what steps do you need to take to begin? If you have these and other related questions, this 3 in 1 book is for you so keep reading… In it, you will learn: • The basics of options, including what they are, how they work, their pricing, the categories and the lingo used in options trading • Why you should venture trading in options, including the risks that come with that • What makes a successful options trader • How to buy, sell or exercise options, including how to select the right options strategy • How to buy call or put options professionally • How to sell covered call options and naked call options like a pro • The ins and outs of options trading time frames • How to trade signals and avoid mistakes in options trading • How to choose the right trades • Powerful tips for success • How to find the perfect broker • How to figure out the market phases • The difference between call options and put options • How to manage your portfolio • How to make prudent trade exits • The options mistakes beginners make that you need to avoid • How the stock market works • How to know whether the stock market is for you • The myths about the stock market • How to become a successful stock market investor • How to make your first stock purchase • How to minimize losses and maximize gains • How to begin investing in stocks with $100 or less • How to turn your stock portfolio into a cash flow machine • How to trade momentum stocks • How to leverage the insider tricks that professional traders use • How to identify a stock that is just about to explode higher …And much, much more! Are you ready to get started on your journey to building a six-figure income by following the footsteps of the most successful traders, even if you are a complete beginner? This simple, practical and fun to read guide is here to guide you! Click Buy Now With 1-Click or Buy Now to get started!

Download or read book Trading Options For Dummies written by Joe Duarte and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-02-05 with total page 458 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Navigate options markets and bring in the profits Thinking about trading options, but not sure where to start? This new edition of Trading Options For Dummies starts you at the beginning, explaining the common types of options available for trading and helps you choose the right ones for your investing needs. You'll find out how to weigh option costs and benefits, combine options to reduce risk, build a strategy that allows you to gain no matter the market conditions, broaden your retirement portfolio with index, equity, and ETF options, and so much more. Options are contracts giving the purchaser the right to buy or sell a security, such as stocks, at a fixed price within a specific period of time. Because options cost less than stock, they are a versatile trading instrument, while providing a high leverage approach to trading that can limit the overall risk of a trade or provide additional income. If you're an investor with some general knowledge of trading but want a better understanding of risk factors, new techniques, and an overall improved profit outcome, Trading Options For Dummies is for you. Helps you determine and manage your risk, guard your assets using options, protect your rights, and satisfy your contract obligations Provides expert insight on combining options to limit your position risk Offers step-by-step instruction on ways to capitalize on sideways movements Covers what you need to know about options contract specifications and mechanics Trading options can be a great way to manage your risk, and this hands-on, friendly guide gives you the trusted and expert help you need to succeed.

Download or read book Stock Options For Dummies written by Alan R. Simon and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2010-03-11 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Confused by all the brouhaha surrounding stock options? Let expert Alan Simon demystify this often-confusing investment vehicle for you. If you’re like the majority of the estimated 12 million employees in the U.S. who have stock options as a key component to their compensation packages, you have a vague notion, at best, of how options work and what they can mean to your financial well being. What’s the vesting schedule for your shares and how will their strike price be set? What type of stock option grant will you receive, an ISO (incentive stock option) or an NQSO (non-qualified stock option)? What tax rules apply to your option program? Your financial future could depend on your knowing the answers to these and other questions regarding your company’s stock option plan. Featuring clear explanations of how your stock options might make you money—or not—this friendly guide fills you in on what you need to know to: Understand different types of stock options Read and find traps in your stock option agreement Evaluate the pros and cons of company investment vehicles Assess vesting schedules and tax laws Tap Web resources Simon demystifies the jargon, rules, and tax consequences of stock options. He provides a realistic picture of what to expect from your options, and he helps you see past the hype to understand what your employer is really offering. Important topics covered include: What you need to know before accepting a compensation package that includes options Developing a stock option philosophy and clear-cut goals Knowing whether you’re being treated fairly by your company Making sense of the language of stock options agreements Getting a handle on key restrictions on how you exercise your options Stock option valuation Tax rules and how they apply to different types of options How stock options can be affected by changes at your company Stock Options For Dummies is the only guide you’ll need to get the most out of this important investment vehicle.