OICs Wide World of Options

Join the Wide World of Options show as we hit the road again for great conversations with some of the industry's most-recognized names. In this all-new episode, host Mark Benzaquen talks with Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers and Joe Mazzola of Schwab about the state of the options industry, volatility opportunities and roadblocks, and recent marketplace innovations.

When it comes to options, buying and selling are two sides of the same coin. But what factors might investors consider when deciding to buy or sell? Join OIC Instructor and show host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes Jessica Inskip of StockBrokers.com for a lively and informative discussion on forecast & objective, implied volatility considerations and the impact of the Greeks. 

Apart from volatility metrics, investors might also look to the mechanics of implied volatility to help decipher option values. Join  show host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes back Dan Passarelli of Market Taker Mentoring to discuss volatility concepts including standard deviation, tail risk, and the Rule of 16. 

In this episode, show host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Brian Overby of OptionsPlaybook.com to discuss the downfalls and potential opportunities for profits in the wake of volatile markets.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced options investor, understanding the Greeks is essential to managing risk and making informed market decisions. In this episode, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Ankit Mehra of Mehra Wealth Management to discuss Delta, Gamma, Theta, Vega and Rho – and breaks down the concepts to explain how each can impact options pricing and trading strategies. 

2025 is the year of the snake and with that brings wisdom, intuition and transformation, so kick off this year of personal growth with some new options education. Join show host, Mark Benzaquen, as he welcomes special guest Emily Kurtz of  Public.com for a discussion on fundamental concepts and terminology of options including calls & puts, strike price, expiration, exercise & assignment and moneyness. 

Have you ever had trouble understanding the concept of option Greeks because of the math involved? If so, join host Mark Benzaquen and fellow OIC instructor Mat Cashman as they make their way through Delta, Gamma, and Theta using metaphor rather than math in this insightful and unique look at the Greeks.

In this Wide World of Options episode, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Ed Tom, Senior Director - Cboe, to discuss volatility indices and products. 

To spotlight topics covered in the October OIC webinar series, Wide World of Options host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Dan Passarelli of Market Taker Mentoring to discuss 0DTE and volume in ETFs and indices. 

In this final session of our summer Tales from the Road series, we welcome OIC friends Kevin Davitt of Nasdaq, Patty Schuler of the BOX Options Exchange, and Gary Franklin of Raymond James as they join host Mark Benzaquen for frank discussions about recent market trends, the experience of being a woman on the trading floor, and challenges going forward.

In this final session of our summer Tales from the Road series, we welcome OIC friends Kevin Davitt of Nasdaq, Patty Schuler of the BOX Options Exchange, and Gary Franklin of Raymond James as they join host Mark Benzaquen for frank discussions about recent market trends, the experience of being a woman on the trading floor, and challenges going forward.

For August, Wide World of Options is featuring recent conversations with some familiar industry names. In this episode, Arianne Adams of Webull, Lex Luthringshausen of Tradier and JJ Kinahan from IG North America join host Mark Benzaquen for discussions about making the market more accessible to a wider audience of investors, how AI might shape the future of trading, and lessons learned over storied careers in the pits.

For July, Wide World of Options is continuing to feature recent conversations with some of the industry's biggest names. In this episode, Meaghan Dugan of the NYSE, Kevin McCarthy of Clear Street and Steve Sosnick of IBKR offer their take on what has propelled record trading volume, how the markets can be made more accessible to a wider range of investors, and recent industry trends. 

What might Mr. Miyagi, Dr. Duke, and options have in common? You can find out by listening to our latest episode! We've taken our show on the road and are proud to feature some of the engaging and insightful conversations we had with a few of the industry's most recognized names. In this episode, Lule Demmissie, CEO of eToro, talks about emerging technology and fairness in the markets while Kerry Given aka ‘Dr. Duke' of Parkwood Capital discusses the importance of education and lessons learned over a career spanning more than 20 years. Tune in today! 

What do volatility, options skew, and the great state of Kansas all have in common? They are all featured in the newest podcast from OIC's WWoO. Tune in to this two-part episode as host Mark Benzaquen welcomes fellow OIC instructor Ken Keating to discuss all things volatility – including historical and implied volatility, volatility metrics and options skew, followed up by a conversation with Jay Soloff, the Lead Options Analyst of Magnifi as he talks the value of education and how a boy from Kansas rose through the ranks of options trading.

In this two-part episode, OIC host Mark Benzaquen first welcomes OIC colleague Mat Cashman in a return to Statistics 101 as they discuss probability, standard deviation, and tail risk in options. Then we turn to a special segment with Dr. Alan Ellman of The Blue Collar Investor, for a conversation about the value of options education and Alan's take on mistakes investors new to options might make. Be sure to listen in to this episode of Wide World of Options, where industry pros come to talk.

In this latest, two-part episode, OIC instructor Roma Colwell joins show host, Mark Benzaquen to discuss the Greeks and their potential impact to trading options. And Dave Stuber from OCC's Market Operations team drops in to discuss the process of listing new options on U.S. exchanges and how OCC systems maintain almost 1.5 million different options series each day. Tune in for this insightful and lively session that's sure to appeal to investors of all levels.

 For those new to options, certain aspects of pricing are difficult to understand. And for those more seasoned traders, even they might be left “in the dark” when it comes to the behind the scenes mechanics of OCC pricing determinations. Luckily, OIC has both covered. Join host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes fellow OIC instructor Ken Keating and OCC Director Colin Fisher to discuss pricing basics and OCC's margining processes in this lively and informative episode, sure to interest investors of all experience levels.

A New Year often brings with it new resolutions. If your resolution includes learning about options, The Options Industry Council and OIC's Wide World of Options has you covered. In the first episode of 2024, host Mark Benzaquen explains the ins and outs of options fundamentals by defining options and discussing their potential uses. And as an added feature, Dave Nolan from OCC's Member Services team joins the podcast to discuss OCC's role in the marketplace.

When it comes to trading exchange-listed options, all may not be apples to apples. Different products may have different settlement styles, different exercise restrictions, and even differences in trading hours, among others. Join OIC host Mark Benzaquen and OIC instructor Roma Colwell as they breakdown the various differences, similarities, and possible uses for index options in this lively episode of OIC's Wide World of Options.

Is there more to gain (or lose) when buying more options than you sell or selling more than you buy? And what about pricing—how do the Greeks and implied volatility factor into the mix? Join host Mark Benzaquen and fellow OIC instructor Ken Keating as they discuss, dissect, and deconstruct ratio spreads for stock repair and bullish and bearish forecasts, and uncover whether more is really more. 

Pop Quiz: Is a 10% out-of-the-money put priced similarly to an equally out-of-the-money call? And when it comes to risk, does the market value each strike the same? For answers to these questions and many more, tune into this OIC Wide World of Options episode as host Mark Benzaquen welcomes OIC instructor Mat Cashman to discuss implied volatility and various ways the market prices individual options.

There are three certainties when it comes to the market: it can go up, it can go down, or it can stay the same. With that in mind, how might investors position themselves when they are uncertain which way the market will move - speculating that it WILL move one way or another? Or conversely, that it will not move at all? That's where the flexibility and versatility of options comes in. Using long and short straddles and strangles, investors can employ options designed to potentially profit from market moves up OR down, or no movement whatsoever. To learn more, tune in as Wide World of Options host Mark Benzaquen explores buying and selling straddles and strangles and provides insight into how investors might use these strategies.

When it comes to options, it is often said that time is money—which could be apparent when constructing calendar and diagonal spreads. Join OIC instructors Mark Benzaquen and Roma Colwell as they break down the construction, risk profile, and potential opportunities of these spreads in this lively 30-minute segment, designed to offer valuable insight for beginners and professional traders alike.

Do birds of a feather actually flock together? In this month's Wide World of Options podcast, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes OIC Instructor and option's veteran Mat Cashman to discuss condors and butterflies--two strategies that combine defined risk with variable option premiums and can even be built to express a directional bias. Just like birds spreading their wings, the iron condor can give a wide potential profit range, while the iron butterfly can hover between two strike prices. Join OIC as we explore these avian-inspired strategies in this fun and fast-paced episode.

When might an investor consider trading more than one option? In this month's Wide World of Options podcast, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes OIC Instructor and option's veteran Ken Keating as they break down the fundamentals of vertical spread trading and share practical insight In determining various objectives of spread trading, as well as the potential risks and rewards inherent to spreads. Topics of discussion will include both debit and credit spreads as well as special risks all spread traders should familiarize themselves with.

Not every stock purchase will turn out to be a winner and, some investors may turn to options when looking for protection in turbulent times. Join OIC instructor Mark Benzaquen as he takes a deep-dive into the protective put and options collar strategies which can be used to potentially mitigate risk associated with stock holdings

Investors may look to options to potentially generate income through a variety of strategies. Two common strategies are the covered call and the cash-secured put, both of which use short options in the hopes of capturing premium for income. Join OIC instructors Mark Benzaquen and Roma Colwell as they discuss the setup and potential pitfalls of these two strategies during the next episode of Wide World of Options.

When it comes to options pricing, accurately forecasting how prices might react to changes in the marketplace can be as difficult as say, learning a new language. Fortunately, this OIC® Wide World of Options podcast can help you translate. Join host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes colleague and long-time options professional Mat Cashman for a talk about the theoretical option metrics known as The Greeks. Mark and Mat will guide you through the Greeks and explain how they can help measure risk.

Knowing how to value a call or put is necessary to understand options. But to take that understanding to the next level, investors should also have a firm grasp on the concept of volatility and how it may affect options pricing. In this Wide World of Options episode, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes OIC® instructor Ken Keating for a discussion on the primary inputs used to determine options pricing as well as one of pricing's key components, implied volatility.

If your New Year's Resolutions include learning about options, OIC's Wide World of Options podcast has you covered. Get started by learning basic terminology and fundamental concepts necessary to begin your journey. Led by 25-year options veteran and OIC instructor, Mark Benzaquen, the first OIC podcast of the year will explain the basic concepts of buying and selling, the differences between calls and puts, the processes of exercise and assignment, and so much more!

This episode was previously released on August 23, 2019. -------- Join host Ed Modla and Mark Benzaquen, Manager of the OCC Investor Services team, as they discuss the collar strategy and the many ways that it can be used for downside protection. Then, Ed will take a look back at the launch of the options industry in the 1970s and its evolution to present-day.

While a merger between two companies might affect its shareholders, what effect might it have on buyers and seller of options? Mergers, along with other corporate actions such as stock splits and special dividends, have become fairly commonplace in today's investing landscape and as their impact is far-reaching, it is incumbent upon options investors to have a clear understanding of how these corporate actions might affect and impact their portfolios. Join long-time options industry professional and OIC instructor Mark Benzaquen as he details various corporate actions and explains how they may affect options.

When you're buying or selling options, you should be aware of how a stock's dividend can impact an option's price--and your account. Join seasoned option professionals Mark Benzaquen and Mat Cashman as they discuss how dividends impact options pricing, the risk of early exercise, and the treatment of special dividends and adjusted contracts. Talking points: A recap on option pricing The impact of dividends on option prices Early exercise and assignment risk What happens when a dividend is reduced or eliminated? Special dividends and options adjustments

How does trading options on a single stock differ from trading a basket of 500 or even 2,000? Is it just settlement style and exercise/ assignment limitations – or are there other market nuances investors should be aware of? Join seasoned options pros Mark Benzaquen and Roma Colwell as they discuss the differences (and similarities) of trading index options versus their single-stock counterparts. Topics to be addressed include: Cash-settlement vs. physical delivery AM vs. PM settlement European vs. American-style exercise Using index options for portfolio protection

When markets become volatile, some investors see risk whereas others, opportunity. And thanks to the flexibility of trading options, investors can avail themselves of any number of strategies to potentially take advantage of these volatile markets or protect themselves from the uncertainty. Join seasoned options pros Mark Benzaquen and Ken Keating as they discuss the ins and outs of volatility as well as metrics such as IV rank, IV percentile, and strategies for both low and high IV situations.

Even though more than 70% of all options are typically closed out ahead of expiration, there are still millions of contracts being exercised and assigned each month. Knowing this, it is important for investors to understand not only the benefits and risks of exercise and assignment, but also the rules surrounding the processes. Join seasoned options professionals Mark Benzaquen and Ken Keating as they take a deep dive under the surface of exercise and assignment to see that oftentimes, there is more than meets the eye. Topics to be discussed: Basics of exercise and assignment OCC's rules of Ex by Ex Early exercise (calls and puts) Ramifications of trading halts Risks from afterhours trading

Picking up from last month's topic of “Trading Options for Income”, OIC further explores the concept by focusing on two popular selling strategies—the Covered Call and a variant of the strategy, the Poor Man's Covered Call. Tune in as Wide World of Options host Mark Benzaquen and OIC instructor Roma Colwell breakdown the setup, strike selection, and position management of these two strategies.

Option investors may have a range of investing objectives, including hedging, leverage, speculation and income generation. Wide World of Options host Mark Benzaquen and OIC(SM) Instructor Mat Cashman explore the details of trading options for income. Tune in as they dive into special risks of option sellers, frequently used selling strategies such as covered calls, cash secured puts, credit spreads and considerations for position management.

What are earnings and why are they important to investors? Join Wide World of Options host, Mark Benzaquen and OIC (SM) instructor Ken Keating for an insightful discussion on earnings season. They will cover important topics like the impact of earnings on option investors, ramifications of earnings on implied volatility and considerations for option strategy selection and trade management.

Tune in as host Ed Modla and OIC Instructor, Ken Keating, discuss the long straddle, a strategy for an investor that believes there is going to be a large market move in either direction. Then, Ed will answer your listener questions and discuss how you can calculate potential profit from your options trade.  

Wide World of Options 74: What is the Option Collar? In this episode you’ll hear from host Ed Modla and Patrick Ceresna, Founder and Chief Derivative Market Strategist at Big Picture Trading. The duo will break down the construction of the option collar and talk position management. Then on Looking Back, Ed will return to the year 1973 to discuss the launch of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe) and how over-the-counter options were handled prior to being listed on the exchange.