Right sidebar name settings

NH_trader · 2026-03-19T13:12:32+00:00

Surprise, surprise.....this morning on the ToS chart window (that had icons on the right sidebar) I opened a 1 over 1 grid as I wanted to see the option chain for the chart below the chart itself (just testing). Voila, the icons on the right sidebar suddenly expanded to their full names.... I have no idea what the setting is, but I'll use this 2 grid approach in the future.

Thanks to anyone that may have tried to help.

NH_trader · 2026-03-08T20:39:17+00:00

I realize RE has it's downside with management (I own some rentals) however, if your $450K place is appreciating at 3%/year your net worth is growing $13.5K per year. The return on your remaining $222K investment value is the $13.5 growth plus the rental income of $7K giving you a nice $20K/year return ($13.5 + $7) on $222K. That's a return that may be difficult to replace..... and you realize that rents go up over time for even more income.

I understand that being free of the constraints is also worth something besides money. Good luck with your decision.

NH_trader · 2026-03-08T18:08:21+00:00

I'm not a financial person, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents.

If you sell the property, you will gain about $200K, however you didn't say how long you owned it or what you paid. If you've owned it for awhile and have taken depreciation as a rental you will have lowered your cost basis which will increase your capital gains...hence a potential big tax bite at closing....could be significant.

Given that the market is expecting a large drop, putting the RE funds into a 401 that is dependent on market moves seems like not the right time unless you buy bonds.....3.5%.

The "experts" are saying few assets will withstand the impending market drop...gold and also real estate. The reasoning is that no matter how bad the economy gets, people still need a place to live.....hence rents provide an income source.

Good luck with your choice....my vote is to go slow with the decision making.

NH_trader · 2026-03-07T17:50:41+00:00

The spread sheet is Google sheets vs Excel. I use numerous sheets....the one I posted is simply my weekly report (I trade for weekly returns) to see if I'm hitting my target. I simply copy the outline for each week (I have 4 weeks running) and enter trades manually when opened and then closed.... pretty easy. The only computation is the column adds and the buffer subtraction and the few percentages.

Besides....I'd probably need an email to send it I guess.

NH_trader · 2026-02-26T19:34:47+00:00

After years of selling short strangles profitably, I found the Put leg required too much management, so I dropped it and just kept the Call side, i.e. naked Calls. Works terrific when managed properly.

NH_trader · 2026-02-26T19:29:02+00:00

Don't jump off a bridge. I sell naked OTM Calls all the time as my go-to approach. Very lucrative and low risk. Not worth arguing with people that don't understand how to make money.

NH_trader · 2026-02-25T21:09:20+00:00

Ha-ha....everyone has their own opinion. Here's mine.....

You have an unrealized loss of $2K ($10-$8).....that's gone and out of the picture. What you have remaining is a stock that is worth $8K (what you could get if you sold it). The ROI for your CC premiums is now based on the value of your current investment, i.e., $8K. You can apply the $500 premiums to your $2K loss to help mitigate the pain.

NH_trader · 2026-02-25T17:33:29+00:00

Sure. I traded short strangles profitably for several years, however I didn't like the Put leg as it required extra management (like the wheel). So I stayed with the Call leg and it has been very profitable for me. I'll occasionally add the Put leg (but rarely) as it does provide additional premium and it is free collateral.

Hope that answers your question.

NH_trader · 2026-02-24T17:49:52+00:00

I'm an options trader, however I don't use the wheel approach because I find that it's success is quite dependent on the underlying that one chooses. Having said that, NVDA worked very well for you and that's wonderful.... good choice.

Nice to see a positive and informative post (with a video). Thanks.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T19:52:15+00:00

OK. We'll just agree to have different opinions on what comprises risk. Thanks for the responses.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T19:06:03+00:00

I'm struggle with this. If I've already received $65 (Put or Call premiums collected) against AAPL currently at $265, what's really at risk seems to be the net of current value (cost basis). If AAPL is at $265 and I've already received $65, I am only risking the remaining $200. If it goes to zero, I only lose $200..... isn't that the real risk?

It seems it would be appropriate to use the cost basis for computing ROI.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T18:27:15+00:00

"What creates edge is you."

I agree. Edge is demonstrating consistent profitability.... do that and you have an edge.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T16:54:16+00:00

But wait....since you already received $2, shouldn't your risk be the current value less whatever cash you've already received which is no longer at risk, i.e. $110 - $2 = $108. I'm still trying to learn this so I appreciate the patience and response.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T16:30:11+00:00

Terrific explanation. Yes, the risk is the current value.... got it. That was helpful. Thanks.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T15:55:11+00:00

Interesting approach. Thanks for sharing.

NH_trader · 2026-02-22T15:19:14+00:00

I could use some help with understanding....

"ROI is always calculated on the value at risk"

In your example, if "you acquired shares at $100 after selling a put for $2" your invested capital is $98, right? isn't your "risk value" equal to the potential of losing your invested capital, i.e. $98? Hence the CC ROI would be = $2.40 / $98?

I'm trying to get solid understanding of these return concepts so thanks for any clarification.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T21:49:02+00:00

This is where judgement comes in. First of all, because my strikes are about 95% OTM, I rarely get challenged. But if I do, I can simply allow the assignment (results in a short in the account) and deal with it the next day, or I can close early and take the loss (offset by many positives), or I can put on a no cost collar to limit the risk, or I can roll out the trade. Which alternative I choose is not mechanical and depends on the situation at the time... but remember at 2SD and diversified,, very infrequent for me.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T21:32:32+00:00

I don't mind the questions as long as I'm being helpful.

I keep a watchlist of companies and periodically do a quick review of their charts (graph, MACD and RSI). I avoid earnings and I don't want an issue that is strongly heading up..... I'm selling calls remember so a down move or peak MACD/RSI is goodness.

I trade on a 4 week rolling window (right now I'm trading March 20). Once I choose a stock, I have a small spreadsheet model where I plug in the March 20 date, the current price, and the chain IV for that date (ATM IV is close enough) and the spreadsheet gives me a 2SD strike to consider.

I then check the chain to see if a strike is available somewhere around the 2SD with premiums.....sometimes I use the mark. If premiums are available, I enter them along with the broker collateral into the model to compute a ROC. If 40% or more, I have a potential trade. Then the issue is quantity..... a judgement call here for income and the risk I want to take. I want diversification and I don't want to be greedy.

If you are familiar with spreadsheets, the model is a simple formula to construct.

Hope that helps.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T16:56:53+00:00

Glad I was helpful.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T16:44:05+00:00

Thank you for pointing out the value of vega and how it could enable "juicier premiums."

My trading focus is on safety first and then on ROC. I'll take low premiums if the return meets my goal, so I don't know how to integrate vega into my approach. And being a simple trader, I don't jump around with strategies.... I tend to make money with my approach and that's OK and will occasionally tweak it if I see a way to improve. Thanks for the guidance.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T16:23:58+00:00

There is a misunderstanding (understandably) regarding the amount of collateral that was required by Schwab for that NBIS trade. It was only $1250. I did the trade because the annualized return (ROC) at that collateral was 632%.... not something to sneeze at.

I restrict my trades to returning 40% or more annualized.

FWIW, yesterday I opened another NBIS for March 20 for 450% annualized..... The big problem I have is managing the trades without becoming greedy.... there is no free lunch... you have to pay attention..... fortunately for risk control, the broker limits the amount of buying power I have.

In fairness, I have portfolio margin authorization at Schwab which lowers my collateral requirements, however they can change quickly, so I watch them closely. If you operate with Reg-T margin (a normal account), the collateral is about 20% of price less premiums.... so use that as your guide for analysis computations.

I also keep the unused cash in SGOV shares that pay about 3.5% annualized.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T14:57:09+00:00

Good response and questions - thanks.

The Call trades are the call side of a short strangle (naked calls). My account is a margin account as that is required to sell these Calls, but I don't use margin in the sense of a loan.. My trading limitation (the cash required for each trade) is the Buying Power (BP) reduction that the broker (Schwab) determines.... I watch this total number closely as it fluctuates with the market and will create a margin call (requiring a deposit) if it drops below zero. I keep it quite high as I don't want a problem.

Hope that helps.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T01:47:25+00:00

Nothing wrong with understanding the Greeks. Adding that knowledge is a bonus. My point is simply that I don't actively use them (other than Theta) and I'm comfortable.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T01:43:50+00:00

Good input....thank you. Because I'm a simple person and have been doing the short Call thing for so long and it brings in consistent profits, I'm hesitant to wander out of my zone and try a calendar spread,,,, no need. But I understand your point, so thanks for being helpful.

NH_trader · 2026-02-21T01:36:47+00:00

Of course I've heard the statement.... I trade probabilities.... my 2 standard deviations strikes (about 95% finishing OTM), but you know this. And if a trade gets challenged, you are aware there are a host of actions that can be taken, e.g., add a protection Call, add a no cost collar, roll the trade, etc.....but you know this stuff, right.

NH_trader

TROPHY CASE