Of all the various option spread strategies out there, the iron condor strategy is perhaps one of the most popular, the most talked about, the most used (or misused) – and possibly the most dangerous and misunderstood option strategy of them all.

Earlier, I had a motivating talk with an option’s investor who is still looking for for the key strategy to earning constant returns with option investing. He understood several things which were so well-known to me also.

Since the Iron Condor is a negative Vega strategy, this should be the right time to use this income option spread. But what is negative Vega anyway? When is the right time to use this Iron Condor spread? If you do not know that answer, then you may want to watch some of the free videos on the Option Greeks that you can find on the San Jose Options’ website. Anyway, now that the volatility has been moving downward and the markets have become a calmer place to be, this makes it much better to manage this option spread.

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The cost of a call and the cost of a put are almost directly related. If you have a $40 stock, a $40 call and a $40 put will be almost exactly the same price most of the time. If there is a difference, the possibility of an arbitrage usually exists meaning that there is a 0 risk strategy (minus commissions) to get something for nothing. This is true whether it’s a collar or another strategy. I don’t completely understand the full process that allows for that to happen, but a complex series of trades usually makes it possible. So if the price of a call and put are going to be the same that means generally the higher priced calls are due to greater risk. Some reasons may be historical volatility, as that plays a roll, but the implied volatility, that is, how much people expect or are betting on the stock to move, becomes important.

Traders and investors need to formulate strategies which will allow them to be profitable under any type of market condition when option trading. No matter how the market fluctuates, whether the stocks go up or down, experienced traders need to find the right method to sustain success and create revenue growth. Millionaires are made through option trading on a daily basis there are also others who are not as fortunate. So it is vital to understand the nuances associated with market conditions and how to optimize those conditions in your favor.

Traders and investors are well aware of the difference between buying stocks and purchasing stock options. Purchasing options means you are speculating on the direction of the market in your favor. Option trading is different than simply purchasing shares and requires experience when moving forward with transactions. The terminology and strategies are different and should be approached by the experienced traders versus the novice. Understanding the differences should be the goal of everyone interested in trading options or stocks on the markets.