"Call Options--An Options Guide for the Beginning Options Trader" is written for the investor that has a little knowledge of the stock market, but has not started trading calls and puts.

Trading call and put options is challenging, fun, and can be very profitable. But, if you don't have a basic understanding of calls and puts, it can also be very expensive as your losses can add up quickly.

The typical stock investor that starts trading calls and puts usually does not have a good understanding of the forces at work, they lose money on their first few option trades, and then they throw their hands up in the air and say 'It's too confusing--never again.'  Don't let this happen to you!

Option trading is like everything else.  It just takes a little time to understand the basics.  Then once you start understanding it you will make some money at it.  And once you start making a little money at it, the you will start enjoying it.  

I have I have already helped thousands of people understand what calls and puts are and become better option traders, and I have written this Options Guide to help the thousands of stock traders every month that  want to start trading calls and puts.
  If you read sequentially through the links in the Table of Contents on the left side of this page, in 15 minutes you will have a very clear understanding of:

• what are call options
• what are put options
• how option pricing works
• how to trade calls and puts successfully
• what exercising options means
• and how to write covered calls to increase the return of your portfolio

If you have never traded calls and puts before--don't worry! You have come to the right place. I started trading call options in 1985 and have been trading calls & puts ever since. I have an MBA in Finance, I have read dozens of the best books on option trading, I have subscribed to several of the best options newsletters, I have used many of the best discount option brokers websites, and I have made thousands of put and call trades in my lifetime.

Now, with this website, I am going to share with you all of my 25 years of experience trading call and put options, of looking for the best option pricing, and of exercising options.  

Most importantly, as a lifelong educator, I will explain to you in a very clear and simple matter what call options are, what put options are, and how to trade them . 

I will also recommend the best websites to practice trading options, and I will recommend the best discount option brokerages for when you are ready to try trading options in real life.

This will help you learn what call and put options are and help you become a successful option trader yourself.

Getting Started Trading Options

First of all, let's talk about what you need to get started trading options:

1. You need to read all the way through the Table of Contents on this web site
2. You need to practice trading options on one of the free virtual stock and option trading games that I recommend.
3. You need to open a discount brokerage account, so chose from my recommended list .
4. You don't need a lot of money, but you need at least $1,000 to get started.
5. You need to have an idea about the future direction of a stock or index.
6. You need to be able to do just a little bit of math.

If you can do these 6  things, then you have what it takes to trade puts and calls.  But first you must continue to read my Introduction to Call and Put Options to make sure you understand what call and put options are, how they are priced, and how they are traded.

Start learning what are call options now!

Play a stock market game
Get a stock quote