A market order is the simplest and fastest way to buy or sell a security, prioritizing speed over price. While execution is virtually guaranteed, the final price can vary—making this order type efficient but unpredictable during volatile conditions.

You’ll learn:

• How market orders work and when they’re typically used

• The benefits and risks of prioritizing execution over price

• Why market orders are often used for liquid securities

• How this order type is tested in trading scenario questions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Beginner
📈 Topics Covered: Order types, execution timing, price risk

The intrinsic value of a call option measures how far the market price of a stock exceeds the option’s strike price. This video explains how to identify in-the-money call options, calculate their intrinsic value, and apply the concept under exam conditions.

You’ll learn:

• How to calculate intrinsic value for call options

• What makes a call in-the-money, at-the-money, or out-of-the-money

• The role of strike price vs. market price

• The difference between intrinsic value and time value

• How exam questions typically test this concept

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 6, Series 7, Series 9, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Beginner
📈 Topics Covered: Options pricing, intrinsic value, call strategy, strike price vs. market value

The intrinsic value of a put option represents the amount it’s in-the-money—how far the strike price is above the current market price of the underlying stock. This video simplifies the concept and shows you how to apply it accurately on exam questions.

You’ll learn:

• How to calculate intrinsic value for put options

• The relationship between strike price and market value

• What makes a put in-the-money, at-the-money, or out-of-the-money

• How intrinsic value differs from time value

• Common exam setups that test this concept

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Beginner
📈 Topics Covered: Options pricing, intrinsic value, in-the-money definitions, put option strategy

The bid-ask spread represents the difference between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are willing to accept. It’s a fundamental part of trading that reveals liquidity, market sentiment, and transaction costs—making it essential for both investors and exam-takers to understand.

You’ll learn:

• What the bid & ask represent in a market quote

• How to calculate the spread and interpret its size

• The role of market makers and how they profit from the spread

• How bid/ask dynamics affect order execution and pricing

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Quotes, liquidity, trading costs, market maker roles, spread interpretation

A buy limit order allows an investor to purchase a stock only if it falls to a specified price or lower. It’s a tool for gaining entry at favorable prices without chasing the market—and a common topic on exam questions about order execution logic.

You’ll learn:

• How buy limit orders work and when they’re used

• Why these orders might never be filled

• How price movement affects execution eligibility

• Exam traps related to timing, order priority, and price conditions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Limit orders, price execution, investor strategies, order type comparison

A sell limit order is used to sell a security at a specified price or better, but only if the market moves up to meet that price. This video explains how the order functions, when it gets executed, and why it’s commonly used to take profits.

You’ll learn:

• How sell limit orders are placed and executed

• Why these orders may never fill if the price isn’t reached

• Practical use cases for profit-taking strategies

• How this order type is tested on licensing exams

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Order types, execution conditions, profit targets

A buy stop order is triggered when a stock rises to a specified price, converting into a market order to buy. It’s a common tool for entering positions on protecting short stock positions or technical breakouts, but its use comes with execution risks once triggered.

You’ll learn:

• How a buy stop order works and when it triggers

• Why investors used buy stop orders to protect short stock positions

• How buy stops are used to confirm upward momentum

• Execution risk and price slippage after the trigger

• How this order type appears in exam questions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Order entry types, breakout strategies, market vs. limit orders, execution logic

A sell stop order is designed to trigger a market sell if a stock falls to a specified price. It’s a risk-management tool used to limit losses or protect gains—but can introduce execution uncertainty once triggered. This video breaks it all down clearly and concisely.

You’ll learn:

• How a sell stop order is structured and when it activates

• Why investors use this order in a declining market

• Why execution is not guaranteed at the stop price

• How these orders are framed in exam questions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Order types, stop order logic, downside protection, execution risk

Buy stop limit orders are commonly used by investors for hedging (protecting) short stock positions. We’ll walk through visual examples and step-by-step scenarios to help you understand when the order activates—and why it may not execute.

You’ll learn:

• What a buy stop limit order is and how it functions

• The difference between buy stop, buy limit, and buy stop limit orders

• Stop price, limit price, trigger, and execution rules

• When investors use this order

• How to solve test questions, including those designed to trick you

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Order types, buy stop vs. buy limit, execution logic, trading strategies, investor protection

Sell stop limit orders are commonly used by investors for hedging (protecting) long stock positions. We’ll walk through visual examples and step-by-step scenarios to help you understand when the order activates—and why it may not execute.

You’ll learn:

• What a sell stop limit order is and how it functions

• The difference between sell stop, sell limit, and sell stop limit orders

• Stop price, limit price, trigger, and execution rules

• When investors use this order

• How to solve test questions, including those designed to trick you

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Order types, sell stop vs. sell limit, execution logic, trading strategies, investor protection

In this video, we break down the long straddle—a popular advanced options strategy used by investors who expect significant price movement (volatility) but are unsure of the direction. It’s a high-potential, high-risk strategy that aggressive investors commonly employ.

You’ll learn:

• What a long straddle is and how to construct one

• The market outlook and when investors use this strategy

• Risk/reward profile, breakeven points, and maximum gain/loss

• A reliable system for solving math-based exam questions

📘 Related Exams: Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
📈 Topics Covered: Long calls and puts, straddles, volatility trading, breakeven calculations, exam math

In this video, we break down the short straddle—a powerful income strategy that also carries significant risk. This strategy is part of a broader category of advanced options strategies, so understanding it will sharpen your grasp of risk, reward, and volatility analysis—all key skills tested on FINRA and NASAA exams.

You’ll learn:

• What a short straddle is and how it’s constructed

• When an investor would use this strategy

• Risk/reward profile, breakeven points, and maximum gain/loss

• A reliable system for solving math-based exam questions

📘 Related Exams: Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
📊 Topics Covered: Short calls and puts, straddles, volatility strategies, breakeven math, maximum gain/loss scenarios

Naming an options spread correctly requires understanding how the position is built and what the investor is trying to achieve. This video gives you a clear, repeatable system to identify and name any spread—without second-guessing.

You’ll learn:

• How to determine if the spread is a debit or credit

• Recognizing bullish vs. bearish spreads

• Understanding vertical, horizontal, and diagonal structures

• The dominant leg concept and naming conventions

📘 Related Exams: Series 7, Series 9
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Options spreads, strategy identification, investor intent, multi-leg position analysis

In this video, we break down the protective call strategy, a key hedging tactic used by investors with short stock positions. This strategy is part of a broader exam focus on utilizing options for risk management.

You’ll learn:

• Hedging strategies and why investors utilize them

• How to identify protective call

• How it hedges a short stock position by limiting upside risk

• The risk/reward profile and breakeven calculation

• A reliable system for solving math-based exam questions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
🛡️ Topics Covered: Short stock hedging, buying calls, breakeven math, protective vs. income strategies

Options taxation is a tricky area for exam candidates, especially when dealing with expiration, exercise, and closing positions. This video breaks down exactly how gains and losses are realized for both buyers and sellers—so there’s no confusion on test day.

You’ll learn:

• Tax treatment for exercised, expired, and closed-out options

• How long-term vs. short-term gains apply to calls and puts

• What happens to premiums in different closing scenarios

• Special considerations for option writers (sellers)

• IRS rules that frequently appear in exam questions

📘 Related Exams: Series 7 and Series 9
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
💰 Topics Covered: Capital gains/losses, expiration vs. exercise, IRS rules, taxation of options buyers and sellers

Margin equity represents the investor’s actual ownership value in a margin account and plays a critical role in determining buying power and maintenance requirements. This video walks through how equity is calculated and applied in both long and short margin scenarios.

You’ll learn:

• The definition of equity in long vs. short margin accounts

• How to calculate equity in margin accounts

• How equity is affected by market movements and debit/credit balances

• Common pitfalls to avoid when answering equity-related questions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
📈 Topics Covered: Combined equity formula, margin account analysis, long vs. short positions, exam-based scenarios

Minimum maintenance is the required equity investors must maintain in margin accounts to avoid a margin call. This video breaks down the rules, percentages, and math used to determine whether an account meets minimum equity standards after market movement.

You’ll learn:

• Requirements for long and short positions

• Maintenance and Regulation T calls

• Exam-style scenarios to test your understanding

• The importance of equity percentage in margin accounts

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Regulation T, maintenance calls, long vs. short positions, margin calculations

A covered put involves selling a put option while holding a short stock position. It’s an income-generating strategy used when an investor believes the stock will remain flat or decline slightly—but comes with substantial risk if the market moves against them.

You’ll learn:

• Generalities of income-based strategies

• How covered puts are constructed and why they’re used

• Risk/reward profile, breakeven point, and maximum gain/loss

• A reliable system for solving math-based exam questions

📘 Related Exams: SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 65, Series 66
🧠 Skill Level: Intermediate
📈 Topics Covered: Options income strategies, short stock mechanics, risk profiles, breakeven math