Topic

income options

Essays and practical guides filed under income options.

An editorial illustration contrasts a frantic gambler riding a roulette wheel with a calm older investor collecting a steady stream of coins beside a blue rowhouse, all balanced on one giant coin.

The casino and the landlord

In 2021 a wave of retail traders learned options as lottery tickets. On the other side of those trades sat a quieter investor: the retiree selling covered calls and cash-secured puts, renting out patience for income.

Don Lair · July 22, 2026

A silver-haired woman in her seventies reads a printed page at a kitchen table, a pencil in one hand and a mug of coffee beside her.

retirement investing

Four ways retirees try to turn a portfolio into a paycheck

A dividend, Treasury payment, annuity check, and option premium may look alike after they land. The risk, obligation, or lost flexibility behind each payment determines whether it helped.

Don Lair · July 16, 2026