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The Options Trading Body of Knowledge: The Definitive Source for Information About the Options Industry
 
 
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The Options Trading Body of Knowledge: The Definitive Source for Information About the Options Industry [Hardcover]

Michael C. Thomsett (Author)
2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 29, 2009 0137142935 978-0137142934 1

“The author has written a truly complete reference book on options trading, from basics to strategies to taxes and theory. Newcomers to options can quickly find a clear explanation of terms or strategies they aren’t familiar with, and experienced traders can expand their understanding of how complex strategies are created.”

--Jim Bittman, author, Trade Options Like a Professional

 

“For a new perspective about options, I recommend Michael Thomsett’s comprehensive The Options Trading Body of Knowledge. Traders at all levels will enjoy his easy-to-read style as he explains options from A to Z. The options industry has needed a reference like this for a long time.”

--Marty Kearney, Senior Staff Instructor, The Options Institute

 

The Comprehensive, Up-to-Date Reference for Every Options Trader

  • By Michael C. Thomsett, author of the global best-seller Getting Started in Options
  • Illuminates virtually every technique and form of options trading--including options on futures and ETFs
  • Helps you consistently choose the right options strategies and understand your true risks

 

Options offer investors multiple opportunities to enhance their profits. However, options trading is complex, and the sheer scope of available strategies can overwhelm traders. Today, options can support a wide range of strategies, from high risk to conservative. Moreover, options are available not only for stock equities but also for futures, indices, and mutual funds. To trade successfully, traders need an authoritative, up-to-date guide to all the strategies available to them. Now, renowned options expert and best-selling author Michael C. Thomsett has created the definitive reference for options traders at all levels of experience.

 

Thomsett systematically illuminates each key technique and strategy: how trades are structured, how to assess risk, and when each strategy is most applicable. For most strategies, Thomsett presents detailed tables and illustrations identifying profit zones, loss zones, and breakeven points.

 

This book thoroughly explains how option premium develops based on various elements of value, walks through the calculation of returns on options trading, discusses how federal taxation works in the options market, shows how stocks are picked for options trading, and provides a complete glossary and additional resources for traders.

  • Thoroughly Comprehend Options Trading Risks
  • Systematically evaluate risks associated with markets, volatility, inflation, taxation, portfolios, and knowledge
  • Understand All the Elements of Value in an Options Trade
    Master concepts ranging from time-to-expiration to implied volatility
  • Use the Right Strategies at the Right Time
    Know when to use covered calls, spreads, straddles, combinations, and synthetic positions
  • The Options Marketplace: History, Evolution, and Trends
    Understand both the “forest” and the “trees”

 


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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael C. Thomsett has authored dozens of financial books, notably on the topics of options. These include Options Trading for the Conservative Investor (FT Press); Winning with Options (Amacom Books); The LEAPS Strategist (Marketplace Books); and the best-selling Getting Started in Options (John Wiley & Sons), now in its 8th edition with over 250,000 copies sold.

 

Thomsett is also author of The Investment and Securities Dictionary (McFarland), named by Choice Magazine as an Outstanding Academic Book for 1988, and many other investment and trading books. Before starting his professional writing career in 1978, Thomsett was an accountant. He also spent seven years as a consultant in the financial services industry with clients including securities broker/dealers, insurance master agencies, and insurance companies. He has been an active options trader since the mid-1970s.

 

Thomsett lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and writes full time.


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 312 pages
  • Publisher: FT Press; 1 edition (August 29, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0137142935
  • ISBN-13: 978-0137142934
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,255,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have been writing professionally since 1978 and fulltime since 1984. Previously, I was an accountant.
From 1978 to 1984 I wrote part-time and also was a consultant in the financial services industry. Once I began writing fulltime, I began in the magazine journalism field as a freelancer. In 1985 and 1986 I wrote approximately 500 articles in business, trade and professional magazines. I then switched over to books exclusively and have written over 70 books. These include my own as well as ghost-written projects.
Today I like to work on multiple books at the same time, normally two or three projects. Being able to switch back and forth keeps the writing process fresh and interesting. I generally write from 7 a.m. until noon and spend afternoons on research.

 

Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Thomsett Succeeds in Imparting Options Knowledge, January 10, 2010
By 
This review is from: The Options Trading Body of Knowledge: The Definitive Source for Information About the Options Industry (Hardcover)
Thomsett' book may be viewed as three books in one or as a three part book;
Part 1 (first 80 pages) provides a concise and clear expose of what every trader/investor needs to know about securities (stocks and options) as elements of a well managed portfolio for a high rate of return with manageable levels of risk. Part 2 (110 pages) lists most any options strategy that you can think of, in a format suited for review and reference. Part 3 (90 pages) provides a comprehensive glossary and reference list for books and on-line sources for option traders.

Thomsett's introduction to History of Options is fascinating, especially since it refers to Aristotle's `Politics' from 350 B.C. and Tulipmania in 1637 AD, elucidating an excellent distinction between well thought out strategy vs. greed driven crowd following. The entire presentation is excellent. I wish the numerous paragraphs of prose were also interspersed with a few more figures to break up the monotony of thousands of words, albeit strewn with pearls of clear wisdom in almost every paragraph. Mr. Thomsett has a way with words; example- `any position with both calls and puts that is not a straddle is classified as a combination.'

The term `extrinsic value' has multiple definitions, but I like Thomsett's choice to keep Time Value distinct from extrinsic value, the latter being attributable primarily to implied volatility. Other authors appear to have left it entirely to Thomsett to point out that `options are one of the few alternatives for offsetting the inflation and tax risk combination without violating your own risk tolerance level.' While there is a dearth of figures, there is an abundance of tables with valuable information such as `Breakeven Rates' of gain to offset Tax and Inflation Risk (Table 2.1).

Given my penchant for mathematical equations, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Mr. Thomsett has successfully presented `Elements of Value' for options without the need for Black-Scholes Equation (which is, of course, included in the extensive Glossary). The author has successfully demonstrated that `traders will improve their overall portfolio performance by defining their goals in advance'. The simple formulas the author uses to calculate annualized returns for correct choice of options and other useful metrics are well within the average reader's grasp.

The discussion of option strategies in Part 2, would be more amenable to a greater number of readers if Mr. Thomsett chose to cover the simplest strategies (such as Long Call, Long Put, Covered Call and Married Put), up front to introduce the notation and the profit/loss charts without having to muddle through Alligators (in A-C group) to get to the Long Call in D - P group.

In summary, this book is definitely worth owning by every option trader interested in good portfolio performance.
Options Made Easy: Your Guide to Profitable Trading (2nd Edition)
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars not his best work, November 7, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Options Trading Body of Knowledge: The Definitive Source for Information About the Options Industry (Hardcover)
The book is an ok review or reference book, but for the beginner, go with Getting Started in Options , much better! This title is one to add to complete your info source. But McMillan Options as a Strategic Investment is much better resource.
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1.0 out of 5 stars The Kindle version title is misleading!, December 18, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Options Trading Body of Knowledge: The Definitive Source for Information About the Options Industry (Hardcover)
Before you buy this book in the Kindle version make sure you read all of the reviews. I did not and wasted $2.99 because all you get is the Intro and chapter 1.

Robert L. Nelms
aka a very disgruntled and careless reader!
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