Strategic Investment ((exclusive)) — Mcmillan Options As A

| Rule | Application | |------|--------------| | | 1-2% of total capital for directional; 0.5% for premium selling | | Never sell naked options | Exception: Very experienced traders with deep margin and stops | | Use stops on stock legs | Not on options (too volatile); instead, stop on underlying price | | Position sizing | Scale into volatility sells; never full size initially | | Correlation risk | Avoid selling premium on multiple highly correlated underlyings |

1. Introduction & Overview Options as a Strategic Investment by Lawrence G. McMillan is widely regarded as the bible of options trading . First published in 1980 and now in its fifth edition (2012), the book has stood the test of time, evolving alongside the options market while maintaining its core philosophy: options are not just speculative instruments but powerful tools for risk management, income generation, and strategic portfolio enhancement. mcmillan options as a strategic investment

| Criticism | Explanation | |-----------|-------------| | | Over 1,000 pages; can overwhelm beginners. | | Pre-2008 examples | Some examples lack ultra-low interest rates or zero-commission environment. | | Limited algorithmic focus | Little on automated trading or high-frequency strategies. | | No digital resources | Unlike newer books, no companion website or live data files. | | Rule | Application | |------|--------------| | |

However, the fifth edition includes updates on ETFs, weekly options, and volatility products (VIX, VIX futures). | Book | Focus | Best for | |------|-------|-----------| | McMillan | Practical strategies + volatility + risk management | Serious traders, portfolio managers | | Natenberg (Option Volatility & Pricing) | Theoretical pricing, Greeks, professional market-making | Quants, market makers | | Hull (Options, Futures, etc.) | Academic, mathematical | University students, financial engineers | | CBOE Course | Basic to intermediate mechanics | Beginners | First published in 1980 and now in its