OICs Wide World of Options

Hosted by Mark Benzaquen, OIC Instructor and Principal, Investor Education at OCC®, the OIC Wide World of Options podcast will feature a dynamic mix of current events, investor resources and strategy insights.

Wide World of Options: ETFs, Indices, and More…Oh My!

Host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Bill O'Keefe from Cboe Global Markets for a discussion on the versatile world of options trading - beyond individual stocks. This episode explores how ETF options can provide exposure to entire sectors with built-in diversification, and the potential advantages and disadvantages of trading index options for broad market exposure. Whether you're hedging portfolio risk or pursuing advanced trading strategies, discover how these derivative instruments can enhance your trading toolkit. 

11-06
22:36

Wide World of Options: Up, Down, or Sideways: Potential Profits With an Iron Condor

Explore iron condors with show host Mark Benzaquen and special guest Luis Silva of Sigma Options as they explain this low-volatility options strategy, including its four-legged structure and essential risk management techniques. Whether you're an experienced options trader or just looking to expand your investment toolkit, this is an episode you won't want to miss! 

10-02
20:50

Wide World of Options: Up, Down, and All Around: Decoding Calendar & Diagonal Spreads

Looking to take the next step beyond vertical debit or credit spreads? Then join host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes Tony Zhang of OptionsPlay to discuss calendars and diagonals: how they're structured, how they're priced, and how to potentially manage the position.

09-04
25:14

Wide World of Options: Tales from the Road: Giving the Exchanges Their Voice

In this final episode from our Tales from the Road series, host Mark Benzaquen is joined by Patty Schuler of BOX Options Market and Kevin Davitt from Nasdaq – two educators with a unique perspective on options. Listen in as they talk about significant industry trends, how technology is driving innovation, and the role exchanges play in educating retail investors. 

08-07
46:08

Wide World of Options: Tales from the Road: The Evolution of Retail

Join the Wide World of Options show on the road as host Mark Benzaquen welcomes JJ Kinahan and Jermal Chandler of IG North America (better known to investors as TastyTrade) as they talk about key challenges and opportunities for the retail trader and how technology is driving market growth. 

07-03
35:06

Wide World of Options: Tales from the Road: Volatility & the State of the Industry

Join the Wide World of Options show as we hit the road again for great conversations with some of the industry's most-recognized names. In this all-new episode, host Mark Benzaquen talks with Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers and Joe Mazzola of Schwab about the state of the options industry, volatility opportunities and roadblocks, and recent marketplace innovations.

06-05
39:40

Wide World of Options: Options Buyers vs. Sellers: The Long and the Short of It

When it comes to options, buying and selling are two sides of the same coin. But what factors might investors consider when deciding to buy or sell? Join OIC Instructor and show host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes Jessica Inskip of StockBrokers.com for a lively and informative discussion on forecast & objective, implied volatility considerations and the impact of the Greeks. 

05-01
28:32

Wide World of Options: Jumping Into the Deep End With Volatility

Apart from volatility metrics, investors might also look to the mechanics of implied volatility to help decipher option values. Join  show host Mark Benzaquen as he welcomes back Dan Passarelli of Market Taker Mentoring to discuss volatility concepts including standard deviation, tail risk, and the Rule of 16. 

04-03
27:18

Wide World of Options: Volatility: Turning Chaos into Potential Opportunities

In this episode, show host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Brian Overby of OptionsPlaybook.com to discuss the downfalls and potential opportunities for profits in the wake of volatile markets.

03-06
30:02

Wide World of Options: It's All Greek to Me (But Does It Need to Be?)

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced options investor, understanding the Greeks is essential to managing risk and making informed market decisions. In this episode, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Ankit Mehra of Mehra Wealth Management to discuss Delta, Gamma, Theta, Vega and Rho – and breaks down the concepts to explain how each can impact options pricing and trading strategies. 

02-07
24:24

Wide World of Options: A New Year & A New Opportunity To Learn All About Options

2025 is the year of the snake and with that brings wisdom, intuition and transformation, so kick off this year of personal growth with some new options education. Join show host, Mark Benzaquen, as he welcomes special guest Emily Kurtz of  Public.com for a discussion on fundamental concepts and terminology of options including calls & puts, strike price, expiration, exercise & assignment and moneyness. 

01-02
30:22

Wide World of Options: Understanding Greeks through Metaphor vs. Math

Have you ever had trouble understanding the concept of option Greeks because of the math involved? If so, join host Mark Benzaquen and fellow OIC instructor Mat Cashman as they make their way through Delta, Gamma, and Theta using metaphor rather than math in this insightful and unique look at the Greeks.

12-05
21:59

Wide World of Options: Volatility Products: What Are They and What Might They Mean to Investors?

In this Wide World of Options episode, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Ed Tom, Senior Director - Cboe, to discuss volatility indices and products. 

11-07
26:30

Wide World of Options: 0DTE, ETFs and Indices: A Wave of Investor Interest?

To spotlight topics covered in the October OIC webinar series, Wide World of Options host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Dan Passarelli of Market Taker Mentoring to discuss 0DTE and volume in ETFs and indices. 

10-02
23:45

Wide World of Options: Summer Tales from the Road Conclusion: Record Volume & Lessons Learned Along the Way

In this final session of our summer Tales from the Road series, we welcome OIC friends Kevin Davitt of Nasdaq, Patty Schuler of the BOX Options Exchange, and Gary Franklin of Raymond James as they join host Mark Benzaquen for frank discussions about recent market trends, the experience of being a woman on the trading floor, and challenges going forward.

09-06
47:46

Wide World of Options: On the Road Discussions: Market Access, Emerging Technology, and Trading Tales

For August, Wide World of Options is featuring recent conversations with some familiar industry names. In this episode, Arianne Adams of Webull, Lex Luthringshausen of Tradier and JJ Kinahan from IG North America join host Mark Benzaquen for discussions about making the market more accessible to a wider audience of investors, how AI might shape the future of trading, and lessons learned over storied careers in the pits.

08-01
46:09

Wide World of Options: Tales from the Road: Record Volume, Market Accessibility, and Football

For July, Wide World of Options is continuing to feature recent conversations with some of the industry's biggest names. In this episode, Meaghan Dugan of the NYSE, Kevin McCarthy of Clear Street and Steve Sosnick of IBKR offer their take on what has propelled record trading volume, how the markets can be made more accessible to a wider range of investors, and recent industry trends. 

07-03
48:26

Wide World of Options: Tales From the Road: Wax on, Wax off & Other Life Lessons

What might Mr. Miyagi, Dr. Duke, and options have in common? You can find out by listening to our latest episode! We've taken our show on the road and are proud to feature some of the engaging and insightful conversations we had with a few of the industry's most recognized names. In this episode, Lule Demmissie, CEO of eToro, talks about emerging technology and fairness in the markets while Kerry Given aka 'Dr. Duke' of Parkwood Capital discusses the importance of education and lessons learned over a career spanning more than 20 years. Tune in today! 

06-06
35:20

Wide World of Options: Volatility, Options Skew and….Kansas?

What do volatility, options skew, and the great state of Kansas all have in common? They are all featured in the newest podcast from OIC's WWoO. Tune in to this two-part episode as host Mark Benzaquen welcomes fellow OIC instructor Ken Keating to discuss all things volatility – including historical and implied volatility, volatility metrics and options skew, followed up by a conversation with Jay Soloff, the Lead Options Analyst of Magnifi as he talks the value of education and how a boy from Kansas rose through the ranks of options trading.

05-02
37:02

Wide World of Options: A Return to Statistics, Covered Calls, and More

In this two-part episode, OIC host Mark Benzaquen first welcomes OIC colleague Mat Cashman in a return to Statistics 101 as they discuss probability, standard deviation, and tail risk in options. Then we turn to a special segment with Dr. Alan Ellman of The Blue Collar Investor, for a conversation about the value of options education and Alan's take on mistakes investors new to options might make. Be sure to listen in to this episode of Wide World of Options, where industry pros come to talk.

04-04
38:25

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