You've learned a lot about single-leg options and vertical spreads in this course. Here are some steps you can take to apply what you've learned and continue your education.
Practice using paperMoney
One of the most powerful ways to solidify your knowledge is by practicing. You can do this by paper trading using paperMoney® on thinkorswim®. Since paper trading is done with imaginary funds rather than real money, it gives you the opportunity to practice applying your investing plans in realistic market conditions without taking on any risk.
Practicing trading single-leg options and vertical spreads can help you make sense of how price changes can affect profits and losses each trading day. This can provide valuable insights and help test the potential viability of your investing plan. Here are a few things to keep in mind about paper trading:
- Because it uses imaginary funds, paper trading doesn't have the same psychological impact as trading with real money.
- Live market conditions are different than simulated conditions in paperMoney, which is solely for educational purposes. For example, in paperMoney it's easier to get filled at desirable prices. And, unlike a real-money trading account, short options will not be assigned early in paperMoney.
- Successful virtual trading during one period doesn't guarantee successful investing of actual funds during a later period because market conditions are always changing.
Continue learning
In addition to reviewing this course and paper trading, continue your learning by checking out Insights & Education on schwab.com to see all the educational material we have to offer.
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