Ep73 - My Exact Process for Trading Covered Calls
Understanding Wheel Trades and Covered Calls
Overview of Wheel Trades
- The speaker discusses their regular experience with wheel trades, emphasizing a long-term holding strategy regardless of short-term stock performance.
- They express confidence in not worrying about temporary drawdowns, using strike prices as indicators for potential actions like closing or rolling calls.
Introduction to the Podcast
- Dan Passarelli introduces the episode focused on his process for covered calls and thanks listeners for supporting his book, "Build Consistent Wealth with Options."
- He encourages listeners who have purchased the book to leave reviews, highlighting its valuable content.
The PAS Indicator Explained
Purpose of the PAS Indicator
- Passarelli introduces the PAS (Price History Anchored Strike) indicator, designed to assist traders in selecting option strikes based on historical price data.
- He shares his frustration with existing indicators that did not meet his needs as a wheel trader, leading him to create his own tool.
Development Process
- The speaker details how he borrowed concepts from other indicators and adjusted calculations to fit specific trading periods and risk tolerances.
- The PAS indicator aims to provide a data-driven approach by anchoring decisions in actual historical price ranges over defined lookback periods.
Utilizing the PAS Bands
Functionality of PAS Bands
- The PAS bands help traders identify optimal strike prices by analyzing real price action rather than arbitrary levels.
- By setting covered call strikes at or above the upper band, traders increase their chances of success compared to traditional methods.
Application in Trading Strategy
- Passarelli mentions using this tool during a specific Amazon trade, illustrating its practical application in decision-making processes.
Case Study: Amazon Covered Calls
Background on Amazon Stock
- Passarelli has held Amazon stock for an extended period and consistently writes covered calls against it due to its strong market performance.
Market Conditions Analysis
- He describes Amazon's trading channel over four months, identifying key support and resistance levels crucial for making informed trading decisions.
Analyzing Trade Candidates
Evaluating Call Options
- Discussing potential call options for expiration dates, he compares bid prices and annualized returns between different strike prices.
Decision-Making Factors
- Passarelli emphasizes considering implied volatility when choosing between options with varying expiration dates and strike prices.
Executing Trades Effectively
Trade Execution Strategy
- Once a call is sold, he enters a limit bid order immediately to manage future rollovers effectively while minimizing costs associated with commissions.
Managing Risk During Execution
- He highlights the importance of executing trades promptly without waiting too long due to potential market fluctuations affecting pricing.
Monitoring Performance Post-Trading
Confirmation Candles Approach
- After entering trades, he waits for confirmation candles before deciding whether to roll or close positions based on stock movement relative to strike prices.
Passive vs. Active Management Strategies
- Passarelli explains his passive approach towards managing trades while still being aware of resistance levels but focusing more on long-term growth expectations.
Navigating Earnings Announcements
Impact of Earnings on Trading Decisions
- He discusses how earnings announcements can influence trading strategies; sometimes opting out while maintaining flexibility depending on market conditions.
Rolling Strategies Around Earnings Dates
- When rolling options near earnings dates, he considers previous gaps from past earnings reports as part of his strategy formulation.
Conclusion: Balancing Risk and Reward
Final Thoughts on Skate Objective Trades
- Passarelli concludes by discussing how higher risks around earnings can be balanced by potentially inflated premiums available during those times.