Options Trading Tutorial

What are some processes for preventing fraudulent reporting in accounting for stock options?

How do i account for Stock Options as a gift from a customer? uk question. I know how they work if you are an employee. However, i'm a director and basically work for myself. One of my customers has paid me in full for the service i provided. I know i need to account for this in this tax year. However, they also gave me stock options that mature in 3 years time provided i don't provide my services to thier competitors. fair enough. So when do i account for these stock options ? I can't do it this years as they haven't matured so i don't know what money i've made. I'm likely to vest them in 3 years time as the options already have a a healthy profit. Hows that going to work as i've already accounted for the service in full. I'm wondering if they count as a new 3 year service - the "service" being to NOT talk to thier competitors. me ? Confused. I guess i'll have to talk to my accountant but thought i'd ask here to see if anyone knows. my customer is in the US but i don't think that matters....

How do I account for stock options that I purchased from a non-public co., that later went out of business? The options are now worthless and I want to know how to account for this with my taxes. Thanks for the help.

How do you account for stock options issued by an employer for tax purposes? The options pay no dividends but they are vested - do you just ignore them until you sell them when doing your tax statement?

What brokerage firms quickly and easily open accounts (stocks & options) for Latin American citizens?

Tax advice for stock options trading account? I opened a stock options brokerage account to buy and hold options. What i need to know is about the taxing of these. Say i inves (deposit) $1000.00 to open the account and buy $1000.00 worth of stock options and they perform excellent. Say they go up in value 50% each month. And at some pont in the near future i want to WITHDRAW my initial deposit since i earned it back. CAN I WITHDRAW THE INITIAL DEPOSIT AMOUNT WITHOUT IT BEING TAXED? Also-Can a`stock options trading account be taxed quarterly instead of once a year? How can i figure out how much of my investment return i CAN WITHDRAW periodically and what that tax would be or can't i? THANKS

I am ex-employee with vested stock options of Comp A. Is it right for company to freeze option account? I am ex-employee with vested stock options of company. First, is it right for the company to freeze my option account? And if the company freeze the trading under SEC rule, should I get extension beyond my option expiration date since I won't be able to trade within the 90 day after my termination of employment due to the trade freeze?

Should unvested stock as well as stock options be taken into account when evaluating the net worth? Or, in other words, what value should be given from a credit risk to a net worth of a borrower that consists of unvested stocks and stock options related to the company he's working for? Should that value be brought back to zero because if for instance the borrower would leave his company, those unvested stock and stock options would remain ownership ofthe company?

Hi, I'm looking to open a stock option trading account lowest minimum to open account? Hi, I'm look for a brokerage that would allow me to trade in basic options, such a buy either Call or Put option, which brokerage, has the lowest mininum (if any at all) to open a "stock option trading account"?

What is the accounting treatment for Employee Stock Option Scheme?

What is the difference between the fair value method and intrinsic value method? The question is refering to accounting for stock options in company financial statements.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what do I do with a stock certificate? Ok, I was recently laid off from my job. As a result I had to close my employee stock option account with the company that was holding the stocks. I was hoping they would simply mail me a check but instead the only option was to get a stock certificate, it's in my name along with my minor son as joint tenant. So, do I just call a broker to sell them? Will there be a problem selling them as my son as joint tenant? Also anyone have any idea on what the fee might be? This is the only stock that I have ever purchased and it was a direct debit from my pay check, and have never had to sell stock, so I am completely clueless as to how to go about it. I've visited a few sites such as Scott Trade, TD Ameritrade, E-Trade and have looked at their fees. I have no idea where this falls, it's not an electronic trade, so it won't be the advertised $9.99 per trade fee. Then there's the commission.... So am I looking at $9.99 + whatever fee to handle paper stock (perhaps that would fall under the broker assisted trade? Which was an additional $25) + a % commission on top of that? And how is this calculated? Per share or by value? So some guidance would be appreciated, some sort of an idea of what fees I might be looking at and any recommendations as to a good broker, I am looking for the lowest fees, this will probably be my only trade. Lord I feel like an idiot, but this is something I have absolutely no experience in. Thanks in advance. Not sure I know what you mean by what kind it is or if it's listed. But it's NASDAQ Global Select, whatever that means and it's common stock if that helps.

Options backdating: does a corporation's non-cash restatement of finances hurt shareholders? In light of the many options back-dating scandals in the press, I'm wondering: When a corporation makes a non-cash restatement of its finances to properly account for employee stock options that had been awarded at below-market prices, is that a loss to the shareholders? With all the tech companies restating their finances in the options back-dating scandals, I am wondering if and how shareholders are hurt by this? If the employees made greater profits on their stock options due to back-dating, how does this harm the (current or past) shareholders, if at all?

Is there an online community for Stock Option Investors? I am looking for an online community for like minded stock option investors. Something with a great active forum and helpful people. I don't need a website that will give me an option trading account. I'm just looking for others who are interested in and trade options as I do. THANKS!

INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING? 7. In some countries, financial institutions operate under Shariah, which also gives guidance about accounting practice in these companies. What is “Shariah?”a) Shariah is the financial accounting standards board in Saudi Arabia.B) Shariah is the law governing human conduct that is derived from the Koran.C) Shariah is the codification of banking regulations in the European Union.D) Shariah is a political system used in South American countries. 8. Assets are commonly shown in order of their liquidity, or in reverse order of their liquidity. What does “liquidity” mean? Liquidity refers to how easily the assets are converted to cash. Liquidity means that assets are inflation-adjusted. Liquidity refers to whether the asset is depreciable or not. Liquidity means that the assets are closely matched to specific liabilities. 9. Individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity are examples of: a) accounting values B) ecological factors C) cultural dimensions D) external forces 13. According to Sir Bryan Carsberg, former IASC Secretary-General, what is the most significant cost of accounting diversity? The time expended by accountants to create multiple sets of financial statements conforming to different national standards. The cost of the IASB to regulate compliance with many national accounting standards. The reduction in effectiveness of the international markets for capital. The resources used by countries in legislating different sets of accounting standards. 15. Of the 14 members of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), how many work for the board on a full-time basis? 14 12 10 0 16. The IASB's Framework for Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements (1989) implies that the most important group of users is: government. general public. creditors. investors. 22. Camerata Construction borrowed 19,000,000 for 10 years at 6% specifically to modernize its operations with new equipment. The average rate of interest on Camerata's debt after considering the most recent loan was 5.5%. What rate of interest should be used for capitalizing the borrowing costs on the new equipment under IAS 23? 5.5% 6% 5.75% Some other amount 23. The IASB standard on stock options (IFRS 2) is substantially the same as U.S. GAAP. How should stock options be accounted for? Since their value is not determinable until a future date, they are not recorded, but only disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. A compensation expense is recorded based on the value of the options expected to vest as of the date the options are granted. An expense is recorded only if a market value for the options exists on the date the options are granted. The options are recorded as a liability for the value of the stock at the exercise date. 24. What functional area dominates the accounting profession in Germany? Taxation Auditing Financial reporting Managerial Accounting 26. What is the main source of corporate financing in the United Kingdom? banks capital markets government grants royal family 27. What is the greatest difference between Mexican accounting practice and American accounting practice? The method of calculating earnings per share The lack of conservatism in Mexican accounting standards The treatment of inflation effects on financial statements The accounting for exchange rate gains and losses 28. In what year was the Shanghai Stock Exchange reactivated? 1949 1956 1990 1995 29. According to the World Trade Organization, what was the size of international trade in 2003? $7,000,000,000 (7 billion dollars) $70,000,000,000 (70 billion dollars) $37,000,000,000 (37 billion dollars) $7,000,000,000,000 (7 trillion dollars) 31. What is a foreign currency transaction? It is another name for an international transaction. It is a transaction that involves payment at a date sometime in the future. It is an economic event measured in a currency other than U.S. dollars. It is a business deal denominated in a currency other than a company's domestic currency. 32. Under U.S. GAAP, foreign exchange losses should be recorded by: debiting “Foreign Exchange Loss” crediting “Foreign Exchange Loss” debiting “Retained Earnings” debiting “Sales Revenue” 33. Under U.S. GAAP, to qualify for hedge accounting which of the following conditions must be met? There must be for

Which book would you recommend to me for trading stock options? I have a demo account with mytrack.com and I have been trading stock options but I want to learn a simply strategy. Any suggestions?

Buying a call option account requirements? Do brokerage firms require you to maintain a particular amount of assets (cash+stocks) in your account for buying call options? Meaning if a stock is priced at $400 and you are planning on buying 10 call contract priced at $5.00, totaling to $5,000, and you only have $5,500 in your account; does your brokerage firm require you to deposit more money into the account as collateral or not?!

What is a good options play for a beginner. call or put? stock choice? I am all set to trade but I am having a hard time pulling the trigger on the first one. I have a few stocks in my account, but I really want to give options a try. Thanks.

How much money does the average stock options investor have in their account? My broker will only let me trade covered calls (options level 1). I've applied for a higher options trading level three times already. I'd like to purchase calls & puts (level 2) and do spreads (level 3). I'm frustrated that my broker won't let me just purchase calls & puts...I mean there would be no risk to the broker if I did that. I just wonder if I don't have enough cash in my account for my broker to take me seriously. Maybe that's the problem. Next time, I'll just tell my broker that if they don't let me trade at level 2, I'm closing my account & going elsewhere. The only reason I opened the account was to trade options.

Where can I find practicing account for stocks and options, like the one they have for currency trading? thanks!!

What options do I have for putting my stock earnings into a tax free account? I am a U.S. citizen working overseas and I take the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. This leaves me with $0 taxable income. However, I would like to put my stock earnings into a tax free account. I have been told that I cannot put the money into an IRA. Are there any other options? My total stock earnings will not be more than $5000 in any given year.

A foreigner receiving stock options and prefered stocks as part of a contract? Hi, I'm on the USA on a business VISA closing some software development contracts for my company in Brazil. Some of these companies have offered us stock options and prefered stocks. Can a foreigner or his company receive stock options or prefered stocks as part of the payment for the service he'll do for his clients ? Up to now, we are paid by money transfered to our bank account. We want to receive part of it as stocks or options.

I want to learn about buying stock options. Is my idea (below) correct on how it works? I have a stock trading account and I have been playing around with "day trading" stocks for about 2 years. I've taught myself certain strategies that I use and I am now pretty comfortable that most of my picks will increase soon after buying a stock. I am now interested in stock options. Here is my understanding... If I find a stock currently trading at $30 and I think the stock will increase 10% in the near future, I can either buy, say 100 shares at $30 ($3000) and hope for a 10% increase, or I can buy an option to buy (100 shares) at a fraction of the $30 - maybe for $1 per share = $100. This option gives me the right to purchase the 100 shares at $30 even if/when the price increases 10% to $33. At that time, I then can buy the 100 shares at $30 ($3,000) and immediately sell the 100 shares at $33 ($3,300). I loose the $100 for the option purchased, but I make the $300 difference with a net of $200. I stand to loose the original $100 if the price doesn't go up, but I don't have to invest the full $3,000 until it is a sure profit maker. Is this the basic idea of stock options?

Someone explain stock options to me? Ok so I finally applied for options trading on my TD ameritrade account and I was approved for "Level 1" which is... "Write covered calls; write cash-secured puts" What does that mean? Does that mean I can start buying stock option contracts for any company I want?

Do currency options work differently than stock options? I've traded options before with US stocks and I understand that if I buy 1 contract for 100 shares priced at $.50 they are going to charge me $50 plus commission. Is that basically the same for forex? For example, I was looking at options on CME for EUR. One contract covers 125,000 of Euros. If I buy one contract at a price of .0010 do they charge my account $125 plus commission? Is that the most that I can lose on that position or am I somehow leveraged 50:1 like a regular forex trade and I can lose a lot more than $125?

Stock Option Question? I've been investing with success for several years and I just opened an margin account with options. I'm looking into getting a small position with options but I have a few questions first. First I'm having trouble making sense of the Option symbol and strike price. For example when I research EWZ, for a given month and strike price I receive 3 different symbols; EWZ C JAN 75 WKB C JAN 75 ZYL C JAN 75 I'm guessing the different with them are their expiry dates. Is there any logical meaning behind WKB & ZYL? What the best to get find their expiry? My second question is the about the strike price. I know that one contract give you the power to buy/sell 100 shares, I just want to confirm that the strike price must be multiplied by 100 to get the per contract price. For example a contract with a strike 4$ would cost 400$ per contract? Also the reason I'm looking into options is gain leverage for long term position, not day to day trading. Is there any argument to avoid LEAP options?

Do I need to report every stock transaction of my Roth-IRA account? I understand, I need to report every stock/option transaction during tax return of my brokerage account which I use to trade stock and options. Will I have to do the same for my Roth-IRA account?

Stock Accounting Help Very Basic Problem Please Assist? On June 1, Herrera Inc. issues 2,800 shares of no-par common stock at a cash price of $9 per share. Journalize the issuance of the shares assuming the stock has a stated value of $1 per share. (For multiple debit/credit entries, list accounts in order of magnitude.) Debit Cash For $25,200 Credit (BLANK) For $22,400 Credit (BLANK) For $2,800 It is weird because all the amounts are correct. Those dollar amounts are correct and debit cash for $25,200 is correct. But.....I put for the first (BLANK) Common Stock and it was incorrect and I tried to put for the first (BLANK) Treasury Stock and it was incorrect again. Second Blank I put paid in capital in excess of stated value and also incorrect. My options are dividends payable, retained earnings, common stock dividends distributable, common stock, cash, preferred stock, paid in capital in excess of par value, paid in capital in excess of stated value, and treasury stock. Good Luck!

Where to sell my private Stock Options? I have 150,000 shares of a large company in Orlando Florida. They produce online insurance claim software. Its subscription base and they are growing rapidly are rarely loose any accounts. After I was issued my stock options I choose to leave the company to start my own business in a different industry. The company is private but very profitable and growing, even in this down turned economy. Im looking to sell my stock to raise capital for my new business but not sure how to find buyers. How would I go about advertising my stock for sale? Is there laws that say how I can advertise my stock for sale since its private stock. Are there brokers that will try to sell private stock? My strike price was $1.15 and Im looking to sell it for 2.00 a share which is extremely reasonable for any buyer just not sure how to find a buyer. The management team just bought out one of the investors. The investor was looking to retire. So at this time they are not looking to buy shares. Is there a legal way (and Im not sure if there is even a law concerning this) to advertise this stock or how can it be done?

i need a stock broker with? low trading commisions atleast less than 20 bucks no fee for some mutual funds money market sweep account options trading

salary for full-time vs contracting? I am leaving my current full-time position, and have tentatively agreed to contract for the company part-time. When they sent me a contract draft, I was shocked at the salary they proposed. They took my yearly salary and divided by 2,080 (52 weeks times 40 hours). They didn't take into account a number of things. They didn't account for paid vacation (my job offers 5 weeks of paid vacation). They didn't include any adjustment for 401(k) match. They didn't account for stock options that any executive at my level receives. Lastly, I've heard that contractors can expect a premium over full-time workers due to the uncertainties involved with contracting. Can someone confirm that I am approaching this properly and they are not? References to online information that covers this would be greatly appreciate. Thanks! RKiller, thanks for the response. My skills are very specific, and they really need me. If I wanted to, I could hold their feet over the fire. I just wanted confirmation that it is an unreasonable calculation to take my yearly salary and divide by 2,080.

A Question on Options investing I need some detail?? zman492, if you read this answer it?last answer was good? zman i just need a little more detail Let’s say the strike price is at $2.50, the stock is selling for $11/share, the bid price for the option is at $8.35, and the asking price for the option is at $8.50. Then $2.50 is the amount that I can buy the stock for at anytime that the stock is above the current stock price of 11.00?? When I say, “can I buy this stock at $2.50 at anytime while the stock is above $11,” I’m asking if I need to spend other money that I’ve got in my account to buy the shares, or do the stocks get bought when I exercised the option, by the money I’ve already paid for the option, which would be $8.50 if I paid asking price for it., and only bough 1. If this is the case and I can pay $2.50 for 100 shares of a stock, or $250, that is paid for by the option money, $850, what happens to the other $600, which is the amount not used to buy the shares, because the shares only cost $250. does the 600 go into my account or do I only get it when I exercise the option. If this were a true scenario would it be a bad idea to exercise the option if the option went up any?? I’d still be getting all those shares at $2.50, Right? This may be a stupid question, but I was wondering how I would exercise an option on a scottrade account. I don’t have an options account through them yet, but I do have a regular account and an ira. Would there be something that I push to tell it to exercise the option or would I have to just sell them.

Hi! Is there a listing or easy method to rank the performance of stock option newsletters? I am looking for the last 5 year results following a options newsletter with say an account that is auto-traded of let's say $10K.

Trading Long Call stock options? Has anyone here traded LONG CALL stock options-ONLY Long Calls? And done it successfully and made a profit? I am kind of new. And have traded some long calls since the beginning of this year. 3 times i sold the long calls and made a profit. My first stock was with Scholastic Corp. -SCHL. i made a 50% profit. A month later i opened a brokerage account with Trade King they specialize in options at a discount. 2 straiaght months i sold 2 seperate options for Pfizer and made 100% profit each time. granted, i only invested a small amount each time i am happy i am learning to make a profit. I would like to do this regularly. Pfizer does not have a high volume but has worked for me so far-at least with Long Calls.

Do stock brokers have to disclose commissions before buying a stock for you? My 401k has offered a personal brokerage account option. I signed up and was required to use a broker picked by my employer to purchase stock. I requested the broker make a 40k trade and get a get a confirmation in the mail a week later that shows he charged me a 1k commission. Is this legal? I should have asked the rate. I assumed it would be no more than a couple hundred. It was 10k shares of a $4 stcok. Any help woul;d be appreciated. Yes..it was my mistake for not asking. I had no idea he would charge me $1,020.00 for a phone conversation that lasted all of 30 seconds. Are there disclosure laws he has to follow?? Charging someone $1,020.00 for a 30 second phone call is highway robbery! thanks Jeff... that's exactly what I was looking for.

Help set up my stock brockerage account - like IRA and stuff? please help 10 points? okey im nearly 16 i have £1500 which i have worked for all year and i am going to invest it i just need to know what boxes to tick So the first one is Individual/Joint accounts and the options are: Individual Account Joint Account (Tenants in Common) Joint Account (Rights of Survivorship) Second Section is IRA accounts: Traditional IRA SEP IRA Roth IRA Educational IRA ANd the third one is Corporate, Partnership and Trust accounts: Corporate Partnership Sole Proprietorship Investment Club LLC Trust and the last ons is UTMA/UGMA accounts: UTMA Account UGMA Account Thank you very much for helping :) , please dont tell me the risks , i know them :)

Questions about stock options? I am looking to invest into stocks i would like to earn a little extra money if evrything goes good does anyone know a good stock and how to set up an E*trade account thanks for your help and opinon!

Is it possible to get a loan for a stock trading account? I'm new to trading. I've taken a class in options trading and am reading everything I can on trading, timing, money management etc. I want to start out with a sizeable account ~$20,000.00 so I won't get knocked out quickly while I'm getting the feel for the market. Is it possible to get a loan for these purposes? Since stock trading can be considered a business does anybody know if there is a small business-type loan for stock trading purposes. Any help would be of great help. I know I will be able to perform well in the market. But it is difficult to save a sizeable trading account when you have bills, mortgage etc. Thanks

How to tax stocks? Accounting experts only please...? My husband works in a company. I'm just wondering: 1) What's the difference between Employee Stocks Option, & Employee Stock Plan? The company bought all their stocks. According to my husband, the stocks option that the company gave them was already included in his W-2 & already been taxed. 1) Do we still need to file those stocks in our tax? We did not receive any 1099-B for the Employee Stock Option, but we did receive 1099-B for the Employee stock Plan. Thanks in advance. My husband's W-2, box 12a code is C & the amount only. But how can we declare the EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION if we did not receive any form, such as 1099-B?

What is the best way for a college student to save money? $1000 in bank. VERY low interest rate (if any)? Where to put it for gains (larger is better than smaller) in, say, 5 years? What are the costs and benefits of the options? CD's? Savings Accounts? Stock Market? etc.

is it possible for someone trading options and short sells? to take someone elses money and lose it by trading options and short selling stocks through thier margin account,but somehow have another account or a partners account where those stocks could go,i geuss im wondering if one trader can choose who can buy thier puts and calls.

Accounting/Finance Question on Options? Why are options with identical exercise prices and maturity dates, are written on stocks with identical prices, selling for different prices? Do options on one of these 2 stocks provide investors with superior investment opportunities in comparison to the other?

Income from investing in Stock Options? Are there any investors who invest in stock options that have created an extra income for themselves? There is a difference between INVESTING and Working for a Living (paycheck). I have been investing in LONG CALL optrions recently. Opened an account with a deep discount brokerage-only $5.00 per trade.. I found one stock-an ETF INDEX option that seems to be working in my favor. Since most foreig market INDEXES seem to move in an upward trend i feel comfortalbe with it. It is the iShares MSCDI CANADA ETF. I have bought and sold it 2 times at a profit each time. It returned more than 50% each trade in 2 months. The discounted broker commission helps me keep more profit to. But again, is it possible to create a second income by trading LONG CALL stock options? Thanks

What stock trading company do you find to be the cheapest, most reliable and easiest to use for beginners? I am new to the stock market and before I open an account, I would just like to know your opinions on what stock company you find to be the overall best especially to beginners like myself. Also, what is the difference between stocks and options? Thanks so much!

Stock Options - Exercise or Sell to Close? Someone purchased 170 Call options for $20,000 a month ago at $1.10/contract with a January expiration (TODAY), and the options price today is only at $.60/contract. If this person sells at $.60/contract he loses about $9,500. HOWEVER, the stock price is actually "in the money" at present ($73.70 right now) and the Call was for only $73.00. However, to exercise all 170 contracts (x100 shares each contract equals 17,000 shares of stock at a price of $70.00 each equals $1,190,000) he would need to actually purchase that many shares for that amount. This person does not have $1.19M in his account. QUESTION: Would it not be possible to let his brokerage auto execute these shares tonight and then this guy could turn around and sell them all on Monday morning to cover the expense? (Assuming the stock price closes at or near the current $73.70.share and he would be assigned them for only $70.00/share?). What am I missing in this scenario? Is this possible?

CEO Pay @ Fortune 500 companies, DJIA Investing: Economy Stock Market Finance? I read that CEO/Chairman positions at most Fortune 500 companies only make 600K - 1 Million in salary, but with stock options included their annual income is usually about $30 million - $60 million. What other "benefits" and supplementary income account for the huge bonuses? Also, are the stock options offered only for the company that the CEO works for?

What is Raining down on the Obama parade? Ben Smith had this cute little piece out on 16 July of this year on the Raines - Obama connection. An ill-timed -- for Obama -- profile of former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines, forced out in an accounting mess a few years ago. The Style Section piece reports that he's recently been taking "calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters." Taking calls? Doesn't that mean Obama has been calling him? The McCain Campaign had a nice video out on the connection between Obama and Raines. And there is another video out of Fannie Mae head Daniel Mudd praising Obama. So who is Daniel Mudd? I think it will come as no surprise that he lives in a Mudd hut. A 22-room Mudd hut. Evidently ripping off the taxpayers pays very well. Very well indeed. As more than a million US homeowners face devastating mortgage foreclosures, ousted Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd continues to live in an opulent Washington, DC, mansion replete with expansive gardens, servants' quarters and a home theater. Mudd, whose former company is being bailed out by billions in taxpayer dollars, calls home a 22-room Colonial mansion on Newark Street in tony Cleveland Park, built on the former property of President Grover Cleveland. The eight-bedroom, eight-bath pad includes large public rooms with fireplaces, a home theater, a gym, a wine cellar, a solarium, servants' quarters, a terrace off the master-bedroom suite, and a gourmet kitchen. The gated, landscaped property also features a pool, fountains, gardens and a guesthouse. The property is so lavish that some company employees dubbed it "Mudd Manor." And they're furious that the executive at the helm of the ship as it sank into profound crisis has surfaced relatively unscathed, at least for now. "Hey, he lost his limo and corner suite [at the office], but Mudd Manor is not a bad place to contemplate your next move," said a bitter Fannie Mae employee who requested anonymity. "Most Fannie Mae employees are reeling from their employee stock-option-plan account balances' going to cents on the dollar." So the little people get fleeced and the big guys walk. That Obama has some really swell friends.

I have paper stock certificates in my child's name that I am the custodian for. What are my options? I've been told that a UTMA account is the way to go. But I plan on using the money for pre-college education (private school) and I'm worried if I open a UTMA I won't have access to it? I want the best option for financial flexibility. If I open a UTMA account and deposit these certificates, will I have access to them to pay for schooling before the child turns 18? Thanks everyone!

how do i set up to sell a stock at a certain declining price and price increase both at the same time? Im trying to sell a stock on my scottrade account but I want to have both options if it falls below a certain price for it to automaticaly sell and if it goes above a certain price automaticaly sell.

How to estimate beta of the portfolio that contains options and equity? I have a portfolio with some stocks, 2 short put options (cash secured) and 1 short covered call. I would like to estimate beta for the portfolio. Should I ignore options? Should I take them into account with some probabilities? If so, how to calculate relative weight of each underlying stock - should I use strike or current price for this calculation? What to take as 100% - the current value of the portfolio or deduct the options value and add the newly calculated "what if" underlying stock value? Many thanks...

Compare Options Xpress and Etrade for Day Trading, What are the benefits of either one? Compare Options Xpress and Etrade for Day Trading, What are the benefits of either one? I have an Etrade account with Level 2 that also covers PK and BB stocks. Options Xpress seems to be cheaper but is it as good?

Options trading vs. Stock trading - which provides least risk? What is the procedure for options and stock trading via E-trade or other day trading software. How much money is required to open an account. Is this risky? How does it compare with futures trading. Thank you for your help.

Options selling each month? When I look at my scottrade account I see options for select months, but can I buy options each month or do certain stocks have certain option cycles. FOr instance... If I have MSFT shares, I can sell options for Nov, Dec, and Jan. I dont see Feb, Mar, but April yes, May no. Will I be able to sell options on the months that dont appear or do I have to find a new stock that has those expiration dates? Thanks

What's the difference between "restricted stock" and "stock options" from accounting perspective? A quick search on "stock options" shows that many companies are switching from "stock options" to "restricted stocks" as an employee compansation vechicle. Below is what I learned from my research. It could be wrong though. The sales of "stock options" are usually reported as loss. It reduces the company's tax liability, but also adversely affects the company's profit. From 2006, most companies are required to disclose the impact of the "stock options" sales to the public. My questions, When a company issues "restricted stocks" and the employee sells them, is the proceeding counted as "loss" like "stock options"? Why companies don't switch until recently? Does it have anything do to with the new SEC reporting requirement? Thanks,

who can help me understand stock options account details please? my brother who was executor of our fathers will is telling me he has lost $700,000.00 of my share in a stock market i knew nothing about and now i have to figure out the paperwork of what happened in this account . i have no clue about any of this and cant even afford to pay anyone thanks to my dickhead brother.please any help would do

Where does international student investment in stock, options, ETF and funds? I'd like to invest in finacial market. Now I am studying in UK. Could anyone tell me where to open the stock, options, ETF and funds accounts? Could anyone recommend any banks, management bank? Thanks. Can I open the brokage account? I have my address. Thanks. Could you tell me how to open this account? Man Financials can trade Futures and CFD. Do I need put minium $10,000 into my account when I would like to trade?

Will online brokers allow me to short stock options in a margin account? I'm talking about shorting puts and calls, not buying a put. I'm opening a margin account at one broker and I will ask them, but if they tell me No, do some brokers allow this practice? Yes, I know shorting them is risky, but I have a plan.

Can I buy my stock options with money from a roth IRA account? i have vested stock options. i would like to purchase the shares at the issue price and roll them into my Roth IRA. my Roth IRA is all cash at this point.

How to work the stock options? I'de like to start an account somewhere online and start investing in stock options. I have no idea where to start, and it seems so complicating. How would you describe what one must do in a few steps to start earning money in stock options? I found a site tradeking.com. What do you think? Please give me some tips. Thanks.

Are proceeds from stock options taxable income? I have been trading in stock options with my brokage account and the buy and sell transactions do not show up on my monthly statements, but the profit does show up in the balance. Is this a normal occurance?

Can you buy stock options with a LLC? I know there are plenty of advantages to buying real estate with a LLC, and an online broker site that I buy stock options through lets you open an account with a LLC. I was wondering if the same benefits apply to stock options with a LLC that exist with buying and owning real estate. (i.e. tax advantages, asset protection, ect.) Has anybody done this or know if it works the same as it does with real estate.

Good Brokerage Firm to trade stock, multual funds and equity options? I am moving to Hong Kong from US. Please tell me which firm is good to open a brokerage account to trade stock, multual funds and equity options that listed in other international exchanges, such as New York Stock Exchange.

Can one use TDAmeritrde's stock account to trade stock option? I read several option books except the option trading manual from the library. I understood all the strategies except there is no HOW TO. None gave a clear picture on HAND-ON. I trade stocks and foreign exchange. Thanks in advance.

How accounting of employee stock option is done in Indian companies? I want to know how Indian companies account their employee stock option plans.

How do stock options work? I'd like to know more about how they work and how to buy them. My stock trading web site wouldn't authorize the purchase. Do I need a premium account? miss attractive, that site you recommended is *spam* and offers no tips on stock trading whatsoever. thanks for not being helpful.

In stock options should I sell quickly or hold on to it? I am learning on a virtual trade account. I have done Okay.

What is an options trade in terms of the stock market? I recently opened an account with TradeKing, and I was wondering what an options trade is. Also, why would people want to sell options rather than sell the stock at its market value? Thanks.

Do we know what is the personal fortune of Cheney now after 7 years in power? I mean, including any Swiss bank accounts, stock options, etc.? And how it compares to what he had when he came in? Certainly his pals in the oil industry are a lot richer now, while the rest of us are a lot poorer.

Is there a free website that accurately reports the Greeks (or at least, the Delta) of stock options? I took a class that recommended buying options whose Delta is between 0.7 and 0.9 (supposedly, in this range the trade is less risky). I just spent an hour looking at Greeks at the E*TRADE web site (where my brokerage account is), and came up dry... all the Deltas were reported as either zero or 1.0, nothing in between. Is this a bug with E*TRADE's site? just laziness on their part? Do you know of a free website that does a good job of accurately reporting Greeks (or at least, Delta)? (I know you can get free options chains at bigcharts.com and Investopedia.com, but I don't think they include any Greeks.) This 0.7-to-0.9 strategy seems impossible to follow, if I can't find any options whose Delta is in this range! Any tips you could provide would be greatly appreciated. (impliedvolatility.com may have provided this info in the past, but seems to be defunct now.)

what happens when the broker excercises a stock option settlement? can someone explain what happens when a firm excercises some of your stock options on the saturday after expiration day and if you buy the stocks back on monday where would they go if the money to buy them leaves the account where are the stocks

Just bought 2000 shares of Citigroup at 4.70, what options should I buy to protect against a downturn? I just bought Citigroup at 4.70 and I want to protect myself against a downturn in the stock. I've got an option account, but unsure of what to buy do to my limited experience in trading options.

Can you hold incentive stock options in a 401(k) or Roth 401(k) My company has instituted an employee stock option plan and will grant incentive stock options to employees. If an employee is granted incentive stock options can those options be held in the employee's 401(k) or Roth 401(k) qualified retirment account?

Who is the best DISCOUNT broker offering both stock and future trading in one account? I want to trade both stocks options and future options at the lowest online price using one account.

How safe is my money in Domestic Stocks right now b/c of our economy? Should I pull it out or leave it in? ? I have about 6K invested with T Rowe Price, and it's considered a "safe" stock option account. However, because of the economy recently, it's started to plummet and is already down 13% on the year. Is it safe to leave that in hopes that our economy is going to turn around soon, or should I pull out what I have left? Please advise!

what website can i use to buy stock options with only $500 in my account? ?

How do I scan to find cheap options? I have been subscribing to a service that provides "cheap or undervalued" stock options on stocks that historically move and have not in awhile. Is there a scanning tool - free would be nice that works online? I have and account with Optionsxpress if they have one.

when buying stock options,if my option is in the money on expiration day.,do i need to take action to close it? or will my broker automatically close the position and fund my account with the total profit and balance?,

Is it required that I file a tax return? I am a 19 year old college student. This year I made $398 at a job. I have arround $700 in interest and dividends from some accounts. From stock/option trading, I have capital gains of about $300 and Losses of about -$3600, so capital gains/loss of about -$3300. I've definitly lost money on the year, so It seems like I sure dont' owe anything. Also, I will most likely be claimed a dependant on my parent's tax return. Am i required to file?

I want to trade options on stocks? Hello I want to trade options on stocks and i have a small initial capital about 2000 usd's. I want to find a service which offers managed options accounts. Can anybody suggest any? Thanks.

question about backdating stock options? what is the accounting issue( how does it have an impact on accounting) and ethical issue with it? how are the stakeholders( shareholders, managers, employess) likely to be affected by it? Thank you.