Get your Education Started with our Options Basics Class

There's no time like the present to begin your options education. If you are looking for a place to start learning about options, our basics class is just what you'll need. Complete with examples and a quiz, this introductory class will introduce you to the basic concepts and options terminology while exposing you to the risks and potential rewards as well. This is a self paced class that will require reading but not much arithmetic and writing! This class will get the school year—and your options education—off to a good start.

Options arithmetic have you puzzled?

Perhaps our calculators can help. We offer many ways to analyze option theoretical prices. Our covered call calculator provides you with an overview of the potential returns for the covered call strategy for various prices of the underlying at expiration. Our basics and advanced calculators allow you to input the various theoretical components of an options price. This can help you better understand how, as these components change, the theoretical price of the option may react. Lastly, in conjunction with iVolatility, you can enter a stock symbol in our Options Basics Calculator and an at the money option will be automatically entered into the calculator in addition to the theoretical components of an options price.

A new strategy this fall?

Start the school year with a review of some of the many option strategies. From simple strategies to more advanced ones, our strategy screener covers over 40 options strategies. This excellent tool provides detailed information on these strategies including how time value erosion, volatility changes and other factors affects the position. Once you are in the screener, simply click on the name of the strategy you are interested in learning more about to be taken to a detailed explanation of it.

Have you tried the OIC Help Desk?

Are you having difficulty understanding a particular options strategy? Want to discuss a potential contract adjustment? Did an options investment not work out the way you planned? Our Investor Services Specialists are here to assist you with these and other questions regarding options. Simply dial 1-888-OPTIONS (1-888-678-4667) and we will do our best to help you.

An Investor's Guide to Trading Options

Developed by Lightbulb Press, the creators of The Wall Street Journal Guide to Money & Investing, in collaboration with The Options Industry Council, this handy 64-page guide explains what options are and how they work, provides real-world investing scenarios, and describes options strategies for various markets. Learn more.

It's Good to have Options Educational DVD

Hosted by Chicago Sun Times columnist Terry Savage, the DVD covers basic options terminology, has a quiz to test your options knowledge and also contains a tutorial for our Options Investigator software. This DVD is available free of charge by calling 888-OPTIONS or visiting our website. We also offer the Options Investigator software.

Chat Live With an Options Professional

Wondering how to use options to hedge your positions or portfolio? Visit our web site, where you can now instant message our options professionals. After numerous customer requests, we are offering this additional line of communication to our experienced Options Help Desk during this special pilot. We are available to chat and answer your options questions every trading day. Why not give it a try today?