In this episode of Wealth Building with Options, Dan Passarelli opens with a hilarious rant about Hulu's "double dipping" business model—charging subscribers AND showing ads—which becomes the perfect metaphor for today's topic: covered strangles and covered straddles. These underused strategies allow options traders to "double dip" by collecting premium from both calls and puts, creating excellent opportunities for wealth builders willing to embrace a more sophisticated approach.
Key Takeaways:
The Double-Dip Concept

Just like Hulu gets paid by subscribers AND advertisers, covered strangles let you collect premium from both selling calls and selling puts
You're getting two income streams from a single underlying position, though only one option can be assigned
Dan shares a real trade he placed

What is a Covered Strangle?

A 3-part position: Own 100 shares + sell an out-of-the-money call + sell an out-of-the-money cash-secured put
Perfect for long-term value investors: "Buy more if the stock goes lower, sell if it goes higher"
Warning: You risk doubling your position (200 shares) if assigned on the put

Real-World Example: American Eagle Outfitters (AEO)

Stock at $10.96, sold $11 calls for $1.80, sold $9 puts for $1.00
Total premium collected: $2.80 (over 25% of stock price!)
Massive profit zone: Stock can trade anywhere from $8.58 to $13.80 and you still win
That's nearly a 50% range where the strategy is profitable

Why These Strategies Work

Theta is King: Time decay works in your favor on both options
Range-Bound Stocks: Perfect for "boring, sideways" stocks that stay in wide ranges
Long-Term Approach: Often uses LEAPS (6+ months) for maximum time premium collection

Covered Strangle vs. Covered Straddle

Strangle: Different strikes (out-of-the-money call and put) - more conservative
Straddle: Same strike price - more aggressive, always has one option in-the-money
Find out what Dan prefers for flexibility and risk management

The "Set It and Forget It" Management Style

The Thanksgiving Turkey Approach: Check monthly, not daily - let theta do the work
Immediate GTC Orders: As soon as filled, Dan places good-til-cancelled orders to buy back 
Only Trade on Fundamentals: Don't make changes based on mood - only for significant company news

Advanced Techniques

Split-Time Strangles: Different expiration dates for calls and puts when legging into positions
Ratio Variations: Dan's current trade uses 20 puts vs. 1 call for enhanced income generation
Liquidity Requirements: Tight bid/ask spreads essential - this strategy doesn't work with wide markets

Critical Success Factors:
When to Use This Strategy

You genuinely want to own more shares if the stock drops
You're comfortable selling your shares if the stock rises significantly
The stock has strong support levels and reasonable valuation
Options have tight bid/ask spreads and good liquidity

Risk Management

Understand you're adding risk, not truly "covering" it (Dan calls the name misleading)
Be prepared for potential assignment on either side
Only use on stocks you'd be happy to double down on
Avoid if you think the stock might "explode" higher

Why Dan Loves This Strategy

"Perfect for value investors" - aligns buying and selling with valuation
Excellent for takeover candidates with strong support levels
Can generate 25%+ returns in sideways markets
Works especially well on lower-priced stocks due to volatility skew

The Bottom Line
Covered strangles and straddles aren't everyday strategies, but when market conditions align, they can be "freaking amazing." The key is patience, proper stock selection, and treating them like long-term investments rather than short-term trades.
Dan's Reality Check: "This is a very, very niche strategy... but for the right set of circumstances, gosh man, this can be really, really amazing."
Exclusive Content for Subscribers
Paid subscribers get video walk-throughs of P&L diagrams for these complex strategies - essential for visualizing how these trades work. As Dan notes, "It's an audio-only podcast, so that's really the only way I can show you how to do this."
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Disclosure:
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD) which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document
Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  
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