Is it true

Discussion in 'Options' started by StockBagger, Dec 20, 2007.

  1. That if you had a large sum of capital (1mil+) you could trade certain option strategies with pretty much 0 risk and could make a decent amount (10-20%+ a year) on that 1mil?

    I know nothing about options. A friend told me he about this, he dont know much but I figured I would ask about this as I dont think it is possible.

    If anyone can chirp in, I would appreciate it.
     
  2. No. Did he say the names of the "certain option strategies"?
     
  3. Many people have $1m+ in their accounts, and no, they haven't found any "zero risk" methodology to generate 10-20% returns.

    Any return in excess of treasury bill returns has a risk attached to it.

    Your friend maybe alluded to selling naked index puts, a strategy that can very well generate 10% a year with seemingly little risk. But it's not zero risk. In fact there is always a risk of losing your entire account overnight with this type of strategy.
     
  4. With a "larger account", you can get involved with complex strategies than an undercapitalized trader can't participate in. There's no guaranty of profit but the risk profile can be more attractive.
     
  5. bathrobe

    bathrobe

    the only way to consistently make money in option markets is to short(underwrite) them. 90% of option buyers have their contracts expire worthless.
     
  6. MTE

    MTE

    Please, let's not go down this road again! This topic has been beaten to death here on ET, and no, it's not true!

    Unless your friend was referring to arbitrage, there's no way to make riskless profit, and even arbitrage is not possible unless you are down on the floor.
     
  7. thank you all for clearing this up for me.
     
  8. i think anytime someone talks about 0 risk and 20% a year your bullshit alarm should go off..
     
  9. do you mean to short out of money index puts on a monthly basis?
     
  10. What kind of arbitrage do you think is going on down on the floor?
     
    #10     Dec 22, 2007