This tutorial demonstrates the complete weekly workflow that option sellers use to generate consistent income through cash-secured puts on Bath & Body Works (ticker symbol BBWI). The video walks through reviewing a position that just expired worthless, tracking the completed transaction in MyATMM cost basis software, identifying the next trading opportunity, and placing a new weekly cash-secured put order targeting 1% minimum return on investment.
The core strategy focuses on weekly option cycles that begin Sunday evening with order placement and execute Monday morning at market open. This systematic approach produces predictable cash flow events every week while maintaining strict profitability criteria: every position must target at least 1% ROI on the cash collateral committed, which compounds to approximately 52-67% annualized returns if this pace can be sustained throughout the year.
The demonstration uses Schwab's ThinkOrSwim platform for trade execution and analysis, combined with MyATMM for accurate cost basis tracking. Bath & Body Works serves as the example underlying stock, chosen for its consistent weekly option availability, adequate trading volume for reliable execution, and premium levels that routinely exceed the 1% weekly threshold on first out-of-the-money strikes.
The tutorial begins by examining the outcome of the previous week's trade to establish the baseline for cumulative tracking and demonstrate how weekly cycles produce compounding results over time. The position review shows critical transaction details and outcome verification that inform the next trading decision.
The previous Sunday (February 11th), the trader placed a sell-to-open order for one cash-secured put contract on Bath & Body Works with the following parameters:
| Order Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Order Date | Sunday, February 11th |
| Strike Price | $44.00 |
| Expiration Date | Friday, February 16th |
| Premium Target | $0.57 per share |
| Total Premium | $57.00 (0.57 × 100 shares) |
| Collateral Required | $4,400 ($44 strike × 100 shares) |
The ThinkOrSwim account history reveals precise execution timing that demonstrates typical market open behavior for weekend option orders. The order placed Sunday evening at $0.57 limit price executed Monday morning with these characteristics:
Execution time: 8:37 AM Eastern (7 minutes after market open at 8:30 AM)
Fill price: $0.57 per share (exactly at the limit price requested)
Total credit: $57.00 before fees and commissions
The tutorial emphasizes the seven-minute delay between market open and order execution as a normal pattern for Sunday night limit orders. At market open, option prices fluctuate rapidly as market makers adjust pricing based on overnight stock movement and opening volatility. The initial pricing may not immediately reach your limit price, requiring several minutes of price action before conditions align for execution.
The demonstration reviews Friday's closing price to determine the position outcome. Bath & Body Works closed Friday at $45.40, which sits comfortably above the $44.00 strike price. This price relationship produces the ideal outcome for cash-secured put sellers:
The tutorial notes that after accounting for commissions ($0.65) and regulatory fees ($0.02), the net credit retained is approximately $56.33. This represents pure profit added to the account balance, with no shares purchased and no ongoing obligations remaining from this expired position.
Premium collected (after fees): $56.33
Collateral committed: $4,400
ROI: $56.33 ÷ $4,400 = 1.28%
Time period: 5 days (Monday execution to Friday expiration)
Annualized equivalent: 1.28% × 73 periods = 93.4% if this exact pace continued
This calculation demonstrates how seemingly modest weekly premiums compound to exceptional annualized returns when capital can be continuously redeployed every week throughout the year.
After verifying the successful expiration outcome in ThinkOrSwim, the next step involves recording the complete transaction in MyATMM to maintain accurate premium tracking and cost basis history. This systematic tracking becomes critical when managing multiple positions across different tickers, as it provides centralized visibility into cumulative performance that brokerage platforms don't easily surface.
The demonstration navigates to the MyATMM cost basis tracking page and selects Bath & Body Works (BBWI) from the ticker dropdown. This action loads the current position status and transaction history specific to this underlying stock, showing any existing positions and previous premium collected from earlier transactions.
The tutorial clicks "Add New Position" and enters the transaction details using the MyATMM position entry form with the following workflow:
MyATMM provides separate fields for commissions and regulatory fees, allowing precise recording of all costs associated with the transaction. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of recording exact fees rather than estimates to maintain perfect synchronization between your tracking system and actual brokerage account balance:
| Fee Type | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | $0.65 | Schwab standard option commission |
| Regulatory Fees | $0.02 | SEC and exchange fees |
| Total Fees | $0.67 | Combined transaction costs |
After entering the $0.65 commission and $0.02 regulatory fee values, the tutorial clicks the hand icon button that MyATMM provides for automatic calculation. This button subtracts the fees from the gross premium ($57.00) to display the net credit received ($56.33), which represents the actual cash added to the account balance.
Clicking the save button commits the transaction to the permanent history section of the cost basis screen. The demonstration shows how this action updates the cumulative premium display, which now reflects close to $200 in total premium collected across all Bath & Body Works transactions recorded in the system.
The tutorial notes that this cumulative tracking provides immediate visibility into total income generated from this ticker over time, answering the question "How much have I made trading BBWI options?" without manually reviewing months of brokerage statements or spreadsheet calculations.
Because the put expired worthless on Friday, no active position remains. The tutorial demonstrates deleting the position entry from the active positions section, since the obligation no longer exists. The position was fulfilled (expired worthless), the premium was kept, and no shares were assigned, so the position record can be removed from the current holdings display.
The transaction record remains permanently in the history section even after deleting the position, ensuring complete record-keeping for tax reporting and performance analysis while keeping the active positions list clean and accurate.
With the previous position successfully closed and tracked, the tutorial transitions to identifying the next weekly cash-secured put opportunity on Bath & Body Works. This process involves analyzing current pricing, evaluating option premium availability, confirming the position meets minimum ROI requirements, and considering upcoming events that might impact the trade.
The demonstration navigates to the Analyze tab in ThinkOrSwim and confirms Bath & Body Works (BBWI) is selected as the underlying stock. The analyze tab provides the option chain view showing all available strikes and expirations with current bid-ask pricing and premium levels.
The tutorial focuses on the upcoming Friday expiration (February 23rd), which represents 5 days from the current Sunday evening when this order will be placed. The option chain displays available strikes with current stock price trading at $45.40 (Friday's close), establishing the reference point for selecting the appropriate strike.
The core principle demonstrated is selecting the first out-of-the-money put strike below the current stock price. With BBWI trading at $45.40, the next strike down is $45.00, making this the target for the weekly cash-secured put sale.
The $45.00 strike shows the following premium characteristics:
| Premium Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Bid | $0.70 |
| Current Ask | $0.80 |
| Bid-Ask Spread | $0.10 |
| Midpoint | $0.75 |
The tutorial performs real-time ROI calculation to verify the position meets the minimum 1% weekly target that serves as the decision threshold for trade execution:
Strike price: $45.00
Collateral required: $4,500 ($45 × 100 shares)
1% threshold calculation: $4,500 × 0.01 = $45.00 minimum premium needed
Premium actually available: $70-$80 ($0.70-$0.80 per share)
The tutorial notes that even the low end of the bid-ask spread ($0.70 = $70 total) significantly exceeds the $45 minimum threshold, producing 1.56% ROI at that level. This comfortable margin above the minimum requirement makes this position an excellent candidate for the weekly strategy.
An important observation emerges during the analysis: ThinkOrSwim displays an earnings indicator showing Bath & Body Works has an earnings announcement scheduled in the near future. The tutorial points out this upcoming event and discusses its implications for the strategy:
Current week trade (February 23rd expiration): Earnings is NOT scheduled before this Friday, so the current trade carries normal volatility risk without the specific catalyst of an earnings release within the position timeframe.
Following week trade (next Sunday's order): Earnings WILL occur before that expiration, likely leading to significantly elevated option premiums as implied volatility increases. The tutorial anticipates collecting substantially more premium the following week due to the earnings volatility premium.
The demonstration acknowledges that some option sellers avoid earnings weeks entirely due to increased assignment risk and unpredictable stock movement. However, the trader notes that earnings weeks often present the best premium opportunities, potentially producing 2-3% weekly ROI instead of the normal 1-1.5% due to the inflated implied volatility. This represents a personal risk tolerance decision each trader must make based on their strategy and comfort level.
The tutorial briefly examines the next strike down ($44.00) to demonstrate why the $45.00 strike represents the optimal choice for this specific trade:
| Strike | Premium | ROI | Distance from Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| $45.00 | $0.70-$0.80 | 1.56%-1.78% | $0.40 out of money |
| $44.00 | $0.25 (estimated) | 0.57% | $1.40 out of money |
While the $44 strike provides greater downside protection (stock would need to fall $1.40 vs. $0.40 for assignment), the premium drops dramatically to just $0.25, producing only 0.57% ROI—well below the 1% minimum threshold. This trade-off between safety and profitability is inherent in cash-secured put selection: strikes further out of the money reduce assignment risk but also reduce premium income below acceptable levels.
The decision to use the $45 strike balances adequate assignment protection (stock has $0.40 of cushion) with superior premium capture that exceeds the profitability requirement.
With the $45 strike confirmed as meeting all profitability and risk criteria, the tutorial proceeds to order entry, demonstrating the specific techniques used to maximize fill probability while targeting premium at the upper end of the bid-ask spread.
The demonstration right-clicks on the $45 strike in the option chain and selects the action to sell the put. ThinkOrSwim opens the order entry screen pre-populated with the following default parameters:
Rather than accepting the default bid price of $0.70, the tutorial demonstrates a proven technique for improving execution price without significantly reducing fill probability. The strategy involves placing the limit price at or slightly above the bid-ask midpoint, taking advantage of typical market open volatility and spread compression that occurs Monday morning.
The bid-ask spread shows $0.70-$0.80 with midpoint at $0.75. The tutorial targets $0.75 as the limit price, reasoning that:
The tutorial sets the limit price at $0.74 (slightly adjusting from the $0.75 midpoint) and emphasizes that this represents a judgment call based on observing fill patterns over time. More conservative traders might use $0.70 to guarantee fills, while more aggressive traders might try $0.78-$0.80 hoping to capture ask-side premium during opening volatility.
The demonstration explains the rationale for placing weekly option orders Sunday evening rather than waiting until Monday morning or later in the week:
Time value maximization: Sunday orders that execute Monday morning capture nearly the full week of time value (5-6 days), whereas waiting until Wednesday would only capture 2-3 days of premium for similar risk exposure.
Hands-off execution: Placing the order Sunday evening allows execution to occur automatically Monday morning without requiring you to actively monitor markets at the open. The order sits working overnight and fills during the opening volatility window while you're potentially still sleeping or preparing for the day.
Avoiding emotional decisions: Pre-placing orders before market open removes the temptation to second-guess the trade based on morning market movement or news. The decision is made Sunday based on analysis of Friday's close, then executed mechanically Monday without emotional interference.
Consistent routine: Making Sunday evening the standard order placement time creates a predictable weekly rhythm that becomes habitual, reducing the likelihood of forgetting to place orders or missing weekly cycles due to schedule conflicts.
Before clicking the send button, the tutorial reviews the order confirmation screen to verify all parameters are correct:
| Order Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Action | Sell to Open |
| Quantity | 1 contract (100 shares exposure) |
| Symbol | BBWI Feb 23 $45 Put |
| Order Type | Limit |
| Limit Price | $0.74 per share |
| Expected Credit | $74.00 (before fees) |
| Time in Force | Good Till Cancelled |
After verification, the demonstration clicks "Send" to submit the order. ThinkOrSwim displays confirmation that the order is now working and will remain active until either filled or manually cancelled.
The tutorial provides detailed context about what happens between Sunday order placement and Monday execution, helping option sellers develop realistic expectations about fill timing and pricing behavior. This knowledge reduces anxiety about orders that don't fill instantly at market open and informs decisions about when to adjust pricing.
The demonstration references the previous week's execution data showing the order filled at 8:37 AM—exactly 7 minutes and 10 seconds after the 8:30 AM market open. This timing pattern reflects typical market dynamics that affect Sunday night option orders:
Opening price discovery (8:30-8:32 AM): Stock opens and immediate volatility occurs as opening trades execute. Option pricing algorithms react to the stock's opening price and initial movement, but spreads are typically wide and unstable during these first minutes.
Spread compression (8:32-8:35 AM): As initial volatility settles, bid-ask spreads on options begin to tighten toward normal levels. Market makers adjust their quotes based on the established opening stock price and observed volatility in the first few minutes of trading.
Order matching (8:35-8:40 AM): Limit orders placed over the weekend begin executing as option prices stabilize and spreads compress enough for limit prices to fall within the bid-ask range. Orders priced at or near midpoint typically fill during this window.
The tutorial explains why Sunday night limit orders often take several minutes to fill even when priced reasonably:
Stock gap scenarios: If the stock gaps significantly higher on Monday open (perhaps opening at $46.50 instead of Friday's $45.40 close), your $45 put may initially trade for less than your $0.74 limit price as the increased distance from stock price reduces premium. After initial volatility settles and the stock potentially retraces some of the gap, premium may recover to reach your limit price.
Volatility compression: Option implied volatility often starts elevated at market open then compresses as the trading day progresses. Your limit order may initially sit below the ask price but above the bid, becoming executable only after volatility settles and the spread tightens around your target price.
Market maker inventory management: Market makers who accumulated long put inventory Friday afternoon (buying puts from sellers) may initially offer lower bid prices Monday morning to avoid accumulating more long positions. As time passes and they balance their book, bid prices improve, eventually reaching your limit price.
The demonstration shares the trader's personal approach to Monday morning monitoring, which balances active oversight with avoiding excessive micro-management:
Not watching at 8:30 AM: The trader explicitly states he does not sit watching the screen when markets open at 8:30 AM, as the first few minutes of price action are typically too volatile and unpredictable to inform useful decisions. Orders placed at reasonable limit prices will fill when market conditions allow.
Checking "whenever I wake up": The casual timing reflects the hands-off nature of the strategy. The order is working and will fill automatically when conditions align, so obsessive monitoring adds no value. Checking sometime between 9:00 AM and mid-morning provides sufficient time for execution to occur during the normal fill window.
Adjusting if unfilled after 30-60 minutes: If the order remains unfilled by 9:00-9:30 AM (30-60 minutes after market open), this signals the limit price may be too aggressive for current market conditions. At this point, the trader considers adjusting the order down by $0.01-$0.02 to force execution rather than waiting all day or potentially missing the trade entirely.
Evaluating different strike if necessary: In rare cases where premium has collapsed significantly due to unexpected stock movement or volatility decline, the trader may cancel the original order and select a different strike price that offers more attractive premium, even if that means going closer to at-the-money to capture sufficient ROI.
Scenario A - Order fills by 9:00 AM: No action needed, proceed with weekly tracking routine
Scenario B - Unfilled at 9:00 AM, premium stable: Reduce limit from $0.74 to $0.72-$0.73, wait another 15-30 minutes
Scenario C - Unfilled at 9:30 AM, premium declining: Reduce limit to $0.70 (current bid) to force immediate execution
Scenario D - Stock gapped significantly, ROI below threshold: Cancel order, re-evaluate different strike or different underlying
The demonstration highlights a critical advantage of systematic weekly cash-secured put selling: the compounding effect of reusing the same capital block every week throughout the year. This section quantifies the cumulative impact and contrasts it with less frequent trading approaches.
The MyATMM cost basis screen shows cumulative premium collected across all Bath & Body Works transactions tracked in the system. After adding the $56.33 net credit from the just-expired position, total premium collected approaches $200 on this ticker.
The tutorial notes this represents only a few weeks of trading activity on this single underlying stock, demonstrating how quickly premium accumulates when positions are managed weekly and consistently tracked in centralized software.
To illustrate the power of weekly cycles versus less frequent approaches, the tutorial provides comparative projections assuming similar 1.3% ROI per trade at different frequencies:
| Trading Frequency | Trades Per Year | Projected Annual ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly (demonstrated) | ~50-52 trades | 65-67% (1.3% × 52 weeks) |
| Bi-weekly (2 weeks) | ~26 trades | 33-35% (assuming ~1.3% per 2-week trade) |
| Monthly (30-45 days) | ~12 trades | 15-20% (assuming ~1.5% per monthly trade) |
The comparison demonstrates that while longer-duration trades may collect larger individual premiums (a monthly trade might collect $90-$100 vs. $56 weekly), the total annual premium from frequent weekly cycles typically exceeds the cumulative result from monthly trading due to the higher number of premium collection events on the same capital.
The tutorial provides honest context about the 67% annualized projection, acknowledging that maintaining this exact pace for 52 consecutive weeks presents challenges:
Despite these realistic limitations, the tutorial emphasizes that even achieving 35-40 successful 1%+ weekly trades throughout a year produces 35-40% annual return on committed capital—dramatically superior to passive investment approaches and significantly better than monthly option cycles that collect premium only 12 times annually.
The tutorial demonstrates a comprehensive, repeatable workflow for generating consistent weekly income through systematic cash-secured put selling. This approach combines disciplined position selection, optimized order timing, and accurate tracking to create a mechanical process that removes emotional decision-making.
| What to Track | When to Record | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Order execution fills | Monday morning after fill confirmation | Captures exact premium and timing for accurate basis |
| Exact commissions & fees | Immediately after transaction clears | Maintains precise net credit calculation |
| Expiration outcomes | Friday close or following Monday | Confirms whether assignment occurred or position expired |
| Cumulative premium totals | After each transaction recorded | Shows total income generated per ticker over time |
Selling cash-secured puts obligates you to purchase 100 shares of the underlying stock at the strike price if the option is exercised or assigned. Stocks can decline significantly below the strike price, resulting in substantial unrealized losses when shares are assigned to your account. The premium collected provides only limited downside protection and does not eliminate the risk of loss if the stock experiences sharp declines.
The 1.3% ROI and 67% annualized return figures demonstrated in this tutorial represent a single successful trade outcome and do not constitute a guarantee of future performance. Market conditions, implied volatility levels, and stock-specific factors vary significantly, making it impossible to consistently achieve these returns every week throughout the year. Some weeks will provide superior returns during high volatility periods, while other weeks may offer insufficient premium to meet minimum ROI thresholds.
Weekly option selling requires active management, consistent monitoring of expiration outcomes, and sufficient buying power to accept assignment when positions expire in the money. Assignment interrupts the weekly cash-secured put cycle and requires transitioning to covered call strategies or liquidating assigned shares, both of which may result in realized losses if the stock has declined significantly below your strike price.
Earnings announcements create elevated implied volatility that produces attractive option premiums but also substantially increases the risk of assignment and large adverse price movements. The decision to trade through earnings weeks represents a personal risk tolerance choice that may not be appropriate for all option sellers.
Bath & Body Works (BBWI) is used as an example for educational purposes only. This content does not constitute a recommendation to trade this specific stock or to implement the exact strategy demonstrated. Always conduct your own research, consider your risk tolerance and capital availability, and consult with a qualified financial advisor before implementing option selling strategies.
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