🎯 Structured Learning Plan
4-Week
Options Masterplan
Your structured path from options beginner to competent trader. 1-2 hours daily for sustainable success.
4 Weeks1-2 hrs/dayIncl. Paper TradingPractice-oriented
1
Week 1
Foundation
2
Week 2
Strategies
3
Week 3
Risk & IV
4
Week 4
Live Trading
1
Week 1: The Foundation
Master Options Basics
Day 1-2
What are Options?
- •Understand Calls vs. Puts
- •Strike, Premium, Expiration
- •ITM, ATM, OTM
- •Intrinsic vs. Time Value
Day 3-4
Understanding the Greeks
- •Delta - Directional risk
- •Theta - Time decay
- •Gamma - Delta change
- •Vega - Volatility risk
Day 5-7
First Practice Sessions
- •Open Paper Trading Account
- •Learn to read option chain
- •Understand Bid/Ask Spread
- •Buy 3-5 virtual Long Calls/Puts
- •Observe P/L over days
🎯 Weekly Goal:
✓Master options terminology
✓Understand Greeks fundamentals
✓5+ paper trades executed
2
Week 2: Basic Strategies
Learn First Income Strategies
Day 8-9
Covered Calls
- •Strategy mechanics
- •Strike selection
- •When to roll?
- •2 Paper trades
Day 10-11
Cash-Secured Puts
- •The "Wheel" concept
- •Delta selection (16-30)
- •Capital requirements
- •2 Paper trades
Day 12-14
Introduction to Spreads
- •Vertical Spreads: Bull Put, Bear Call
- •Credit vs. Debit Spreads
- •Calculate Max Profit / Max Loss
- •Spread width selection
- •3-4 paper spread trades
🎯 Weekly Goal:
✓3 strategies understood
✓8+ paper trades active
✓Trading journal started
3
Week 3: Risk & Volatility
Professional Risk Management
Day 15-16
Risk Management
- •1-2% rule per trade
- •Position sizing methods
- •50% profit / 200% loss rules
- •Portfolio allocation
Day 17-18
Implied Volatility
- •IV vs. Historical Volatility
- •IV Rank & IV Percentile
- •IV Crush & Earnings
- •Understanding VIX
Day 19-21
Iron Condors & Advanced
- •Iron Condor mechanics
- •Wing width and delta selection
- •Adjustment techniques
- •Apply 45 DTE rule
- •3-4 paper Iron Condors
🎯 Weekly Goal:
✓Risk rules established
✓Use IV for strategy selection
✓15+ paper trades total
4
Week 4: Go Live!
From Paper to Real Trading
Day 22-23
Paper Review
- •Analyze all paper trades
- •Calculate win rate
- •Best/worst trades
- •Identify mistakes
Day 24-25
Broker & Setup
- •Choose live broker
- •Apply for options approval
- •Set starting capital
- •Write trading plan
Day 26-28
First Live Trades
- •Start with SMALL positions
- •Max 1% risk per trade
- •Only one strategy (e.g., Put Credit Spread)
- •Journal every trade
- •2-3 conservative trades
🎯 Weekly Goal:
✓Paper performance analyzed
✓Live account ready
✓2-3 live trades placed
After 4 Weeks...
📈
Month 2-3: Deepening
- • Master one strategy
- • Collect 20-30 trades
- • Review journal regularly
- • Slowly increase position size
🎯
Month 4-6: Expansion
- • Add second strategy
- • Different underlyings
- • Improve adjustment skills
- • Test earnings trades
🏆
Year 1+: Mastery
- • Analyze 100+ trades
- • Develop own trading style
- • Consider portfolio margin
- • Continue learning
Recommended Daily Routine
30 min
Learn & Read
Read BeInOption guides, watch videos, understand concepts
30 min
Market Analysis
Check VIX, scan underlyings, review IV Rank, calendar events
30 min
Paper Trading
Plan trades, review positions, enter new trades
15 min
Journal Update
Document trades, note thoughts, record lessons
Total: ~2 hours per day = Solid foundation for long-term success
⚠️ Important Notes:
- •This plan is a guide – adjust the pace to your needs.
- •Only invest money you can afford to lose.
- •Paper trading doesn't replace real trading experience – emotions are different.
- •Consistency beats speed. Better slow and steady than fast and broke.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Start today with Week 1 and lay the foundation for your trading success.