Looking to generate income with a covered call? Or are you considering buying puts to help provide some downside protection for the stocks in your portfolio? The information you need – from education to trading tools to support – is right here.

		Learn about the most basic options strategies
		Covered calls and protective puts – one lets you generate income from stocks you already own, while the other can help protect your existing positions. Discover the basics on how they work, then decide if one might be right for your investment goals.

		Find additional online education
		After logging on to your account, visit our Education Center to learn more about these and other options strategies. You'll also find online courses, such as Getting Started with Options, where you can learn about the fundamentals of options trading and how options might be able to help you pursue your investment goals. Whether you are a beginning or advanced options trader, our Education Center has something for you.

		Options Research & Ideas
		The "Options" page under Research & Ideas provides features like Standard & Poor's® Options Reports, which offer several indicators to highlight the opportunities and relative risk of equity options positions. Or try the S&P Options Screener. It lets you scan for potential options opportunities on four- and five-star stocks as well as Standard & Poor's Best 10 list for covered calls and calendar spreads. You can also create custom screens.

		Take advantage of powerful options trading tools
		Enjoy free access to online tools that make finding, trading and managing options more convenient. Use thinkorswim from TD AMERITRADE to strategize, analyze and optimize your options trades from a single platform. The "Options" page under Research & Ideas offers tools like the S&P Options Screener, which provides covered call recommendations on S&P four- and five-star stocks and simplified order entry. View options trading tools. Access to thinkorswim from TD AMERITRADE available to options-approved accounts only and requires your acceptance of the exchange agreements.

		Tap our knowledgeable Options Specialists
		Whether you're a beginning or advanced options trader, our specially trained Options Specialists can answer many of the options questions you may have. Just call 800-858-9766, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

		Know the risks
		While trading covered calls can help generate income in your portfolio, such a strategy can limit upside potential, and your stock can get called away if your option is assigned. The strategy also provides minimal downside protection. Protective puts can help protect individual stocks in your account, but you can also lose the entire amount of money invested in the options. Options are not suitable for all investors as the special risks inherent to options trading may expose investors to potentially rapid and substantial losses. Options trading privileges are subject to TD AMERITRADE review and approval. Not all account owners will qualify. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing in options.

Apply for options trading privileges today

If you'd like to make options trading a part of your investment strategy, please request options trading privileges for your account. It's easy and only takes a few minutes to apply.

Past performance of a security or strategy does not guarantee the security or strategy will be successful in the future. Access to real-time data is subject to acceptance of the exchange agreements. Professional access and fees differ. For details, see our Professional Rates & Fees.

Market volatility, volume, and system availability may delay account access and trade executions. Brokerage services provided exclusively by TD AMERITRADE, Inc. thinkorswim, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC/NFA is a separate but affiliated firm.

TD AMERITRADE, Inc. and Standard & Poor's are separate, unaffiliated companies and are not responsible for each other's services. S&P is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's.

TD AMERITRADE, Division of TD AMERITRADE, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD AMERITRADE is a trademark jointly owned by TD AMERITRADE IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. © 2009 TD AMERITRADE IP Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.