Learn options trading from guides, tutorials, and real trades
Read free articles, tutorials, and trade breakdowns by Bill Fanter that show how real options trades work. It's all written to help you sharpen how you trade options.
Lessons from real trades
Every post pairs with a video on my YouTube channel, so you can read the lesson here and watch it play out on real charts there.
The goal isn't to win every trade: why process beats perfection
I had one losing trade this morning and still finished $1,000 in the green. Here is why your win rate is the wrong thing to optimize for.
How much time options trading actually takes: my real routine
I trade options in 60 to 90 minutes a day. Here is the exact routine I follow before and after the open, and when I simply don't trade.
Options liquidity: why you can be right and still lose
I've called the direction correctly and still watched an options trade go nowhere. Liquidity is usually the culprit, and most traders never check it.
Options Trading Requirements To Get Approved In 2026
Brokers answer what do you need to get approved for options trading with four questions, then set a level. See the levels and the one for buying calls and puts.
Theta Decay in Options Explained for Buyers
Options lose value every day you hold them. See what is theta decay in options, how fast it accelerates before expiration, and how Bill picks expirations.
Why I trade the first 60 minutes after the open
The market open gives options traders the highest volume and most predictable price action of the day. Here is why I rarely trade after 10:30 a.m.
How Long It Takes To Learn Options Trading
How long does it take to learn options trading depends on two clocks: weeks for the mechanics, months for the discipline. Here is the stage by stage plan.
Options Expiring In The Money: What Happens Next
What happens if an option expires in the money: your broker auto exercises it, hands you 100 shares per contract, and bills you for the shares on Monday.
Starting over at 60: how Andrea built income from $500 and no experience
Andrea Favilli spent 30 years running a global design company before the pandemic ended it. Here is how he rebuilt income through options trading.
Option expiration dates: how to pick the right one for your trade
Not every stock has daily expirations like SPY and QQQ. Here is how expiration dates work and why I always pick the closest one for short-term trades.
Call vs Put Options: When I Buy Each One
Call vs put options, explained by a trader of 35 years: what each contract does, the level on the chart that picks the side, and what volatility charges.
How Much Money to Start Trading Options in 2026
How much money to start trading options depends on contract cost, broker approval level, and a position size one loss cannot end. Run the math before you fund.
One headline can ruin a trade: how I manage political risk
A perfect setup means nothing if an unexpected headline blows it up. Here is how I manage trades knowing news can change everything in seconds.
Exit when the chart tells you: taking a 40% loss on purpose
I'd rather lock in a 40% loss than ride hope all the way to 80% or 100%. Here's why the chart always wins the argument.
September market outlook: what to expect after a choppy August
August's low volume created fakeouts and tough conditions. Here's what I'm watching as institutional volume returns in September.
Brand loyalty and stock picking: why they don't mix
Loving a company's products tells you almost nothing about whether its stock is worth buying. Here's why I separate the two completely.
Why new options traders lose money: the real reason
Most new options traders don't lose because options are hard. They lose because they trade without rules, price levels, or any real risk management.
Two trades, $1,745: why I stopped and went to the gym
I made $1,745 in two trades and shut the screens down. Here is why stopping when you hit your goal is the hardest discipline in trading.
How to read price action: levels, bounces, and trade signals
I use price levels to find where buyers step in repeatedly, and the way price behaves at that level tells me whether to trade calls or puts.
My options trading morning routine: how I prepare before the bell
I run the same pre-market routine every single day. Here is the checklist I follow to build a directional bias and a clear plan before risking a dollar.
How to Build a Stock Watchlist That Actually Finds Trades
A good watchlist turns thousands of stocks into a shortlist of real setups. Here is the exact process I use to build my weekly watchlist, step by step.
Options vs. Stocks: Why I Trade Options Instead
After 35 years in the markets, here is why I trade options instead of stocks: defined risk, less capital tied up, and more ways to be right.
Revenge Trading: The $74,000 Lesson I Never Forgot
Revenge trading turns one bad loss into a devastating one. Here is how it cost me $74,000, the psychology behind it, and the rules that stop it.
Trading Options in High Volatility: Huge Wins, Huge Losses
High volatility amplifies options in both directions. Learn what changes when markets get wild and how to adjust size, strategy, and expectations.
What Is the VIX? The Market's Fear Gauge, Explained
The VIX measures how much volatility the market expects. Learn how to read it, what high and low levels mean, and how it should change your trading.
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