Trading Options For Dummies

by George A. Fontanills

Thinking of trading options, but not sure where to start? Trading Options For Dummies starts you from the beginning with clear, step-by-step advice on how to use top option strategies to reduce your risk while boosting your income and enlarging your retirement portfolio with index, equity, and ETF options. This plain-English guide explains the common types of options and helps you choose the right ones for your investing needs. You find out how to weigh option costs and benefits, combine options to reduce risk, and build a strategy that allows you to gain no matter what the market may bring. You’ll learn the basics of market and sector analysis and what to look for when trying out a new option strategy. You’ll also find what you need to know about options contract specifications and mechanics. Discover how Trading options is serious business. Trading Options For Dummies gives you the expert help you need to succeed.

Genres: Finance, Business

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

George Fontanills, world leader in options trading, George graduated with honors from NYU with a B.A. in accounting. He received an M.B.A. from the prestigious Harvard Business School. George co-founded a company called “Optionetics.” George’s reputation as the “Dean of Options Trading” led to numerous television and radio shows across the country. He has written and co-written many books on trading, all of which have been translated into multiple languages and distributed across the world.

Reviews

[Richard Schwindt · Rating 3 out of 5]

People who write about stock options delight in the arcane vernacular of their trade. They likely howl with laughter as their hapless reader stumbles over the "Greeks", or tries to decipher tactics named after butterflies and scavenger birds. Want some un-doable math? Well that's there too. When the authors of this book realize that they are likely writing for dummies it becomes more or less readable but the rest of the time there a significant challenges to the average, below average or even the slightly above average reader. Best read over an energy drink with a calculator and worry beads at the ready. A better choice might be "Getting Started in Options" by Michael C. Thomsett.

[Daniel Boloc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for an introduction to options. It could be more illustrative with more graphs about the different strategies, not just risk profile graphs.

[Michael Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complete review available at my blog Davis Falk.

The reason this book is not for dummies is that the subject is so complex. Only one page is needed to explain the different types of options, but how to use them, and when to use them take more than a cursory look. For the math-averse, it is even more difficult. With that in mind, the book does give a good description of these concepts. It is more of a reference than a how-to book.

[Anthony Decaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, the book is well written and easy to understand.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay summary. Skimmed through most of it.

[Vendula B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a broader shallow overview for untouched rookies in trading waters. Finished reading in 2 days - very easy to read.

[Clifford Stanfield]

Good introduction.