Options Trading Insights

The NewLeaf Blog

Strategies, risk management, and trading education to help you trade options with confidence.

Risk Management

How a Small Edge Compounds: Turning a 62% Win Rate Into 3× in Five Years

Why a modest win rate and small per-trade risk can compound to roughly 3× over five years — and why risking 5% per trade gets you there slower, not faster.

2026-06-2112 min read
Fundamentals

From Six Signals to One Number: How We Automate Technical Analysis Into a Score

How RSI, Bollinger Bands, moving averages, volatility, and gamma walls combine into a single 0–100 opportunity score that drives every trade decision.

2026-06-2111 min read
Strategies

Which Options Strategy, and Why: Choosing by IV, Trend, and Gamma

A rules-based decision tree for picking the right option structure — iron condor, butterfly, vertical spread, or calendar — from implied volatility, trend, and gamma walls.

2026-06-2113 min read
Risk Management

A Model Portfolio: 40% SPY / 30% TLT / 20% GLD / 10% SLV, Plus a Small Options Overlay

An illustrative all-weather core — equities, long Treasuries, gold, and silver — with a small defined-risk options income sleeve and a simple rebalancing rule.

2026-06-2111 min read
Risk Management

How to Improve Your Win Rate: Score the Setup, Read the Sentiment, Skip the Earnings

Win rate is the highest-leverage input. Raise it by being selective: score the technicals, overlay sentiment as a confirm/veto layer, and hard-exclude trades with earnings before expiry.

2026-06-2112 min read
Strategies

Iron Condor Strategy Explained: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Learn how the iron condor options strategy works, when to use it, how to set it up, and common mistakes to avoid. A complete guide for beginners.

2026-05-0612 min read
Fundamentals

Options Greeks Explained: Delta, Gamma, Theta, and Vega Made Simple

Understand the four options Greeks and how they affect your trades. A plain-language guide to delta, gamma, theta, and vega for every options trader.

2026-05-0614 min read
Income Trading

How to Sell Options for Income: A Complete Premium Selling Guide

Master premium selling with this complete guide to generating consistent income through options. Covers cash-secured puts, covered calls, and credit spreads.

2026-05-0613 min read
Risk Management

Options Position Sizing: How Much to Risk Per Trade

Learn a practical position sizing framework for options trading. Covers the 1-2% rule, portfolio heat, and how to size credit spreads and iron condors.

2026-05-0610 min read
Fundamentals

Implied Volatility Rank Explained: When to Sell Premium

Understand IV Rank and IV Percentile — the key metrics that tell you when options are expensive and when to sell premium for maximum edge.

2026-05-0611 min read
Strategies

Covered Call vs. Cash-Secured Put: Which Income Strategy Is Right for You?

Compare covered calls and cash-secured puts side by side. Learn when to use each income strategy, risk profiles, and how to combine them in the wheel strategy.

2026-05-0611 min read
Risk Management

7 Common Options Trading Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Avoid the most costly options trading mistakes. From over-sizing positions to ignoring the Greeks, learn what trips up most traders and how to fix it.

2026-05-0610 min read
Income Trading

Weekly Options Income Strategy: A Step-by-Step Trading Plan

Build a repeatable weekly options income plan. From Sunday market review to Friday expiration management — a complete framework for consistent income.

2026-05-0612 min read