Buying Options vs. Selling Options (Risk/Reward, Probabilities & More) | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This video discusses the key differences between buying options and selling options as trading approaches, including risk and reward potential, profit and loss potential, and probability of making money.

Key Insights

• 📊 The primary differences between buying options and selling options as trading approaches include the risk and reward potential, the need for favorable stock price movement when buying options, and the ability to make money when time passes without significant stock price movement when selling options.
• 💰 Buying options offers the potential for greater rewards compared to the risk taken, with theoretically unlimited profit potential. Selling options, on the other hand, typically has lower profit potential compared to the risk taken.
• 📉 Buying options requires a favorable stock price movement and/or an increase in implied volatility to make money, while selling options can be profitable as long as time passes without significant stock price movement against the position.
• 🔐 As an option buyer, you have full control over whether or not to exercise the option, while as an option seller, you have no control over when an option buyer will exercise the option and potentially assign you the opposite position.
• ⚖️ Buying options is considered a low probability trading strategy, with less than a 50% probability of making money at expiration. Selling options is seen as a high probability trading approach, with a greater than 50% probability of making money.
• 💼 When buying options, it can be difficult to decide when to sell the option and take profits, while when selling options, it becomes logical to take profits as the trade becomes more profitable. Holding losing positions can be easier when buying options due to limited potential losses, while selling options may tempt closing losing trades due to significant potential losses.
• 📈 Both buying options and selling options can be profitable trading approaches, and the key is to have a detailed strategy and plan to manage emotions and maintain consistency in trading.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main attraction of options trading?

The main attraction of options trading is the concept of leverage, which allows traders to make a lot of money from a small investment and control their risk and reward potential.

Q: Why do many traders prefer buying options over selling options?

Many traders prefer buying options because the reward potential is typically greater than the risk taken for a trade. In buying options, the risk is limited to the amount paid for the option, while the profit potential is theoretically unlimited.

Q: What happens if the stock price does not increase when buying a call option?

If the stock price does not increase when buying a call option, the option will lose value over time due to time decay. If the option expires worthless, the trader will lose the full amount paid for the option.

Q: How does selling options differ from buying options in terms of profit potential and risk?

When selling options, the profit potential is limited to the premium received for selling the option, while the risk is typically greater than the potential profit. Option sellers can make money as long as time passes without a significant movement against their position.

Q: What is the main difficulty associated with buying options?

The main difficulty with buying options is deciding when to sell the option and take profits, as there is no limit to how much the profit can grow. Traders may be tempted to hold onto the option in anticipation of further price increases.

Q: Why is selling options considered a high probability trading approach?

Selling options is considered a high probability trading approach because traders can make money as long as time passes without a significant movement against their position. The probability of making money is theoretically greater than 50%.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Buying options offers the potential for high rewards and limited risk, but requires a significant stock price movement in a short period of time to make money.

• Selling options offers a higher probability of making money, but the risk is typically higher than the potential profit. Time decay can work in favor of the option seller.

• Option buyers have control over when to exercise the option, while option sellers have no control and may be assigned shares unexpectedly.