Finance & Investing

When you think about Finance & Investing, the process of managing money to grow wealth over time through smart decisions and tools. Also known as personal finance and capital allocation, it's not about guessing markets—it's about understanding how money moves and where to put it so it works for you. Most people lose money before they even buy a stock because they don’t see the hidden costs, like the bid-ask spread, the difference between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers want. This tiny gap can eat into your profits, especially in options trading, a type of derivative contract that gives you the right to buy or sell an asset at a set price. If you're trading options with low liquidity, how easily an asset can be bought or sold without changing its price, you’re paying more in spreads than you think. Market makers set these prices, and when there aren’t enough buyers and sellers, they widen the gap to protect themselves—and that’s on your dime.

Finance & Investing isn’t just about picking winners. It’s about managing risk, knowing when to wait, and understanding the tools you’re using. The options trading costs, all the fees, spreads, and commissions that reduce your net returns add up fast. Many traders focus only on the price of the option, but the real cost is often the spread they pay when entering and exiting. And if you’re trading infrequently or on small accounts, those costs can kill your edge. Liquidity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s your lifeline. High liquidity means tighter spreads, faster fills, and less slippage. Low liquidity? You’re basically gambling on the market maker’s mood.

What you’ll find here isn’t theory. It’s what actually happens when you trade options, what the pros watch for, and how regular people can avoid the traps. You’ll learn how time, moneyness, and volume affect your trades—not just in theory, but in your account balance. No fluff. No jargon. Just real insights from people who’ve been there. Whether you’re new to options or you’ve been trading for years but keep losing money on entry and exit, this collection gives you the tools to fix it. The posts below cover the exact issues you’re facing—because if you’re wondering about bid-ask spreads, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep paying for it.

Alan Bone 9 November 2025 3
MACD Indicator: How to Use the Trend-Following Tool for Better Trading Signals

MACD Indicator: How to Use the Trend-Following Tool for Better Trading Signals

Learn how the MACD indicator works as a trend-following tool to spot momentum shifts in financial markets. Understand its signals, common mistakes, and how to combine it with price action for better trading results.

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Micaela Stein 4 November 2025 5
Dividend-Paying Stocks vs Growth Stocks: Which Is Right for Your Portfolio?

Dividend-Paying Stocks vs Growth Stocks: Which Is Right for Your Portfolio?

Dividend-paying stocks offer regular income and lower volatility, while growth stocks aim for high capital gains. Learn which strategy fits your age, risk tolerance, and financial goals based on real performance data and expert insights.

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Alan Bone 2 November 2025 5
Callable Bonds and Putable Bonds: How Embedded Options Change Your Returns

Callable Bonds and Putable Bonds: How Embedded Options Change Your Returns

Callable bonds let issuers pay you back early; putable bonds let you force them to. Understand how these embedded options affect your yield, risk, and returns in today's fixed income market.

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Alan Bone 2 November 2025 1
Forward P/E vs Trailing P/E: Which One Actually Tells You More About a Stock

Forward P/E vs Trailing P/E: Which One Actually Tells You More About a Stock

Trailing P/E shows real past earnings; forward P/E guesses future profits. Learn when to use each, how analysts skew forecasts, and how top investors combine both to avoid costly mistakes.

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Alan Bone 2 November 2025 3
Tax Reporting from Brokers: Understanding 1099 Forms and Cost Basis

Tax Reporting from Brokers: Understanding 1099 Forms and Cost Basis

Understand how 1099-B forms from brokers report your stock sales and cost basis to the IRS. Learn what’s on the form, why it often gets wrong, and how to avoid costly tax mistakes.

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Micaela Stein 30 September 2025 4
Dividend Cut Risks: How to Spot When a Company Might Slash Its Dividend

Dividend Cut Risks: How to Spot When a Company Might Slash Its Dividend

Dividend cuts signal serious financial trouble and often lead to steep stock declines. Learn the key warning signs-payout ratios, cash flow, and safety scores-that help you avoid losing income and capital in dividend investing.

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Micaela Stein 30 September 2025 4
Dividend Cut Risks: How to Spot When a Company Might Slash Its Dividend

Dividend Cut Risks: How to Spot When a Company Might Slash Its Dividend

Dividend cuts signal serious financial trouble and often lead to big stock losses. Learn the three key metrics that predict cuts before they happen-and how to protect your income from dividend traps.

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Micaela Stein 23 September 2025 3
Bid-Ask Spreads in Options: How Liquidity Affects Your Trades

Bid-Ask Spreads in Options: How Liquidity Affects Your Trades

Bid-ask spreads in options are often the biggest hidden cost in trading. Learn how liquidity, moneyness, and time affect spreads, and how to avoid losing money before your trade even starts.

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Alan Bone 5 August 2025 4
Market Cap: How to Understand Company Size and Valuation

Market Cap: How to Understand Company Size and Valuation

Market cap tells you the total value of a company based on its stock price and shares outstanding. Learn how it classifies companies, why it matters for investing, and what it doesn’t reveal about true value.

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Micaela Stein 3 August 2025 0
Call Options: How to Buy the Right to Purchase Stock at a Fixed Price

Call Options: How to Buy the Right to Purchase Stock at a Fixed Price

Call options let you buy the right to purchase stock at a fixed price before expiration. Learn how they work, how to calculate break-even points, when they succeed or fail, and how to trade them safely with limited risk.

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Alan Bone 28 June 2025 4
Ex-Dividend Date: When You Must Own Stock to Receive Dividends in 2025

Ex-Dividend Date: When You Must Own Stock to Receive Dividends in 2025

Learn the exact date you must own a stock to receive dividends in 2025, how the T+1 settlement rule changed everything, and how to avoid missing payouts. Essential for dividend investors.

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