Options Bootcamp 49: All Mail, All Day Long

Mail Call: This episode is dedicated to our listeners. Question from Neil Filasco - What sets do you recommend to hedge my retirement accounts, in clouding my defined contribution plans? The pickings in these accounts are relatively slim and there are no options to speak of. As one of the newly enlightened options masses, I thank you for bringing me into the fold. Question from Chandra Bajpai - Hey Mark, I love the Radio show...I find myself wanting the next show because I something new every episode. My question is: How should a trader handle stop losses on a naked call/put and/or a vertical spread. When should you call it quits? IBD mentions 8% for stocks, but what is the level for options. Thanks. Question from Hedger - I am a bit flummoxed when it comes to spreads. I listen to a show like this, that tells me to use spreads. I read a few articles about spreads, and I think I have the gist of it. Lets say ABB is trading for $50, if its going to $55, I can buy the 50-55 spread for $1, if the underlying moves to $55, that spread should be worth the maximum profit of $5. However, in the real world, my experience has been much different. In the real world, that spread would be trading around $2.50 or $3 forever! If I hold the spread, to expiration and all other things hold constant, I "may" get my five bucks, but thats hardly a given. I goes I am asking - What give with spreads? Question from ToothFish - Hey Mark and the Black Hat One. Loving the Boot Camp show. Why is it back to once a month? Should be daily! Anyway I have hear you guys bicker back and forth on dark side vs light side trading, but I don't think you have ever actually committed to one or the other. So gun to your head. Which way are you going - premium selling or premium buying? Question from Ing86 - Cool show. Learning a lot from all the options talk about XYZ and Apple. But what are some of the crazier things I can trade with options? Can I trade options on a big hollywood premiere for instance? I would have loved to be long calls on the Ninja Turtles or Guardians of the Galaxy. What about sporting events or elections? I would think this would be fertile trading ground for these products. Can I do something like this or is this too outlandish? Question from Chilly Palmer - Hey Drill Squad. Lets say I bought calls on Firm A, and then Firm B buts them out (something I am dealing with now). What happens to my calls on Firm A? That firm is doing away and the stock will no longer trade. Will my calls be automatically exercised for me on the day the merger is put through? Should I just sell them now rather than wait for the issue to be settled Question from Civas - What is the best way to handle a ratio vertical spread that has moved to my short strike? Close it out as soon as it hits the short strike, even though that means buying back two options on the short strike for every one I sell?Play the wait and see game to see if the underlying retreats and those short options go out worthless? Or add a long premium third leg to my trade to cap my risk - essentially legging into a short iron butterfly? I know Mark is partial to those. Enjoying the app. Thanks for all the shows and the mad knowledge.