Dan sits down with Market Taker Mentoring head coach John Kmiecik for a candid conversation about the Wheel strategy, what they’re seeing from real traders, and why a strategy that can sometimes feel “boring” may be exactly what many investors need. John shares how students are incorporating the Wheel into their portfolios, including traders with smaller accounts, and why the strategy can provide a very different experience from the constant ups and downs of swing trading.

Dan and John also dig into what makes the Wheel work, from the volatility risk premium and changing implied volatility environments to earnings opportunities and the realities of assignment. They discuss the psychology of watching a stock blow through a put or call strike, why missing some upside doesn't necessarily mean a trade went wrong, and how adopting an investor's mindset can make it easier to focus on the long-term process instead of trying to achieve a perfect outcome on every trade.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Wealth Building With Options on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help more investors discover the show.

For more information about subscriber-only articles, video training, monthly Ask Me Anything sessions, unusual options activity alerts, and access to Dan's real covered call and cash-secured put trades, visit https://wealthbuildingpodcast.com.

To learn more about Dan Passarelli, Market Taker Mentoring, and his book Build Consistent Wealth With Options, visit https://markettaker.com.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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Finding a great Wheel trade starts long before choosing a strike price or expiration. In this episode, Dan walks through his step-by-step process for finding candidates for covered calls and cash-secured puts. The process begins with a fundamental distinction: Are you evaluating a stock or ETF you already own or searching for a completely new opportunity? From there, whether you want to skate and collect premium or trade into or out of the stock determines which tools matter most.

Dan explains how he combines fundamental analysis with technical tools including support and resistance, RSI and his PAS Bands indicator. He also discusses where new investment ideas come from and why every idea still requires your own due diligence. The goal isn't simply to find stocks with attractive option premiums; it's to build a repeatable process for identifying candidates that fit your objective, valuation criteria and overall Wheel strategy.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Wealth Building With Options on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help more investors discover the show.

For more information about subscriber-only articles, video training, monthly Ask Me Anything sessions, unusual options activity alerts, and access to Dan's real covered call and cash-secured put trades, visit https://wealthbuildingpodcast.com.

To learn more about Dan Passarelli, Market Taker Mentoring, and his book Build Consistent Wealth With Options, visit https://markettaker.com.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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In Part 2 of this series, Dan expands on the metrics every Wheel trader should understand by focusing on break-even calculations, cumulative discount effect, stock price basis and the often-overlooked role of interest rates. These metrics provide a more complete picture of long-term performance by tracking the combined impact of option premium, assignments, stock price movement and capital efficiency rather than evaluating each trade in isolation.

Dan also explains why different calculations require different stock price references, how cash and interest rates influence option pricing and trade selection, and why investors should evaluate Wheel trades as part of an ongoing business instead of a collection of unrelated positions. Together, these concepts help traders make more informed decisions while developing a consistent framework for measuring long-term success.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Wealth Building With Options on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help more investors discover the show.

For more information about subscriber-only articles, video training, monthly Ask Me Anything sessions, unusual options activity alerts, and access to Dan's real covered call and cash-secured put trades, visit https://wealthbuildingpodcast.com.

To learn more about Dan Passarelli, Market Taker Mentoring, and his book Build Consistent Wealth With Options, visit https://markettaker.com.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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Dan introduces the performance metrics he relies on to evaluate every Wheel trade. Rather than focusing on option premium alone, he explains how measuring returns correctly helps investors compare opportunities, improve decision-making and treat trading like a business. By understanding the numbers behind each trade, investors can benchmark their performance and make more informed choices over time.

Dan breaks down the calculations behind static return, annualized return, if-called return, skate return on cash and skate yield, explaining not only how they're calculated but why they matter. He also explores the psychological benefits of using objective metrics to overcome fear, avoid price anchoring and compare Wheel trades against any other investment opportunity.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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In this episode of Wealth Building With Options, Dan Passarelli walks through a real-world covered call case study using AT&T stock. Rather than focusing on theory, Dan explains the decision-making process behind managing a dividend-focused Wheel strategy—from entering the trade with cash-secured puts to determining when it's time to exit using covered calls.

If you've ever wondered when to sell a covered call, how to balance dividend income with option premium, or how to think like a professional options trader instead of chasing individual trades, this episode is for you.

In This Episode

Key Takeaways

One of the biggest mistakes investors make is focusing on the current dividend yield after a stock appreciates. Dan explains why your yield is effectively locked in based on your purchase price and why rising stock prices can actually create opportunities to rotate into better income-producing investments.

This episode also dives into the practical realities of covered call execution, including commission costs, option liquidity, expiration selection, and why maximizing premium isn't always the same as maximizing returns.

Most importantly, Dan emphasizes that successful Wheel traders don't judge a trade by a single outcome. They manage positions as part of an ongoing process, continually collecting option premium while making decisions based on valuation, income opportunities, and long-term consistency.

Resources Mentioned

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD) which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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Dan welcomes Market Taker Mentoring Head Coach John Kmiecik for a behind-the-scenes discussion about how real investors are using the wheel strategy. Drawing from John's experience coaching hundreds of options traders, they explore the common habits, misconceptions and breakthroughs they see from beginners to advanced traders, along with the techniques that consistently lead to better results.

They also discuss why the wheel has become one of the most popular options strategies, the psychology behind cash-secured puts vs. covered calls, the importance of understanding synthetic positions and why trade management often sets successful wheel traders apart. They also share practical advice on strike selection, technical analysis, annualized returns and building confidence with a strategy that can fit investors of nearly any account size.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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Wah wah trumpet failed joke punch line.wav by Doctor_Jekyll -- https://freesound.org/s/240195/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Dramatic Drum Roll

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Dan explores the trade objective approach to cash-secured puts by breaking down a real Adobe trade from his own account. Inspired by Warren Buffett's well-known use of cash-secured puts, Dan demonstrates how investors can use them strategically to acquire high-quality stocks at attractive prices or generate income while waiting for the right opportunity.

Throughout the episode, Dan shares every step of his decision-making process, from evaluating Adobe's valuation and technical support levels to selecting the ideal strike price and expiration. He also explains how cumulative option premium, rolling strategies and changing market conditions influence long-term results, giving listeners a practical framework they can apply to their own cash-secured put trades.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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Wah Wah Wah

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What separates a covered call from a consistently profitable covered call?

In this episode, Dan Passarelli walks through an actual Amazon covered call from start to finish, explaining every decision he made—from selecting the expiration and strike price to managing the trade after entry. Along the way, he introduces the PAS (Price History Anchored Strike) Indicator, the proprietary tool he developed after discovering that no existing technical indicator was designed specifically for option traders.

Rather than teaching theory, Dan breaks down his real-world decision-making process, showing how probability, technical analysis, implied volatility, theta, annualized return, and trade management all fit together inside a repeatable wheel strategy.

Dan explains that not every covered call is designed to have shares called away. For long-term holdings like Amazon, his objective was to collect premium while keeping the shares, a goal he refers to as "skating." That objective determines every subsequent decision, including strike selection and trade management.

After searching through hundreds of existing chart indicators without finding one designed specifically for wheel traders, Dan built his own. The Price History Anchored Strike (PAS) Indicator uses historical price ranges over a defined holding period to create statistically meaningful strike levels, helping traders select strikes based on actual market behavior rather than arbitrary rules.

Using Amazon as the example, Dan walks through support and resistance analysis, PAS Band placement, strike selection, comparing one-week versus two-week expirations, evaluating implied volatility, theta comparisons, and annualized return calculations. The result is a complete blueprint for how an experienced options trader evaluates competing trade candidates.

Entering the trade is only half the process. Dan explains why he immediately enters a Good-Til-Cancelled buy order, when he rolls positions, why he waits for confirmation candles before reacting to price movement, and how he approaches passive versus active wheel management.

Many traders avoid earnings altogether. Dan explains why he doesn't always. Instead of avoiding earnings automatically, he studies previous earnings gaps, weighs the additional premium against the added risk, and evaluates whether the trade still offers a favorable edge.

"I want the position, not the penny."

Successful covered call trading isn't about finding a magic delta or blindly selling premium every month. It's about developing a repeatable process built around probability, historical price behavior, clear objectives, and disciplined trade management.

This episode offers a rare look inside Dan Passarelli's actual decision-making framework, providing listeners with a practical blueprint they can use to improve their own covered call strategy.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD) which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

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Can the Wheel Strategy be successfully packaged into an ETF?

In this episode, Dan Passarelli sits down with Rob Pascarella, co-founder of Peerless ETFs and Head Trader of the Peerless Option Income Wheel ETF (Ticker: WEEL), to discuss the creation of the first ETF designed to systematically implement the Wheel Strategy.

Rob shares his journey from engineer to portfolio manager, explains why put-selling remains largely overlooked in the ETF industry, and reveals how WEEL seeks to generate income through a disciplined, rules-based options process.

Dan and Rob also explore volatility, diversification, risk management, position sizing, and the unique challenges of managing a Wheel Strategy inside a publicly traded ETF.

Whether you're an options trader, income investor, or simply interested in how professional portfolio managers approach the markets, this conversation offers valuable insights into systematic options investing.

In This Episode

Key Takeaways

The First Wheel ETF

WEEL was created to bring the full Wheel Strategy into a publicly traded ETF structure, allowing investors to access a systematic options income strategy without actively managing positions themselves.

Put Selling Creates Unique Opportunities

While most option-income funds rely primarily on covered calls, WEEL incorporates cash-secured puts to potentially benefit from premium collection, downside buffers, and more flexible portfolio construction.

Process Over Prediction

Successful options trading isn't about forecasting market direction. It's about developing a repeatable process and consistently following it through different market conditions.

Volatility Is a Feature, Not a Bug

Higher volatility often creates richer option premiums. Rather than fearing volatility, Rob explains why option sellers frequently view it as an opportunity.

Diversification Matters

WEEL diversifies across sectors, expiration cycles, and position timing to help maintain multiple potential sources of option income.

Mentorship Accelerates Growth

One of Rob's biggest lessons is that seeking guidance from experienced traders can dramatically shorten the learning curve.

About Rob Pascarella

Rob Pascarella is the Co-Founder of Peerless ETFs and Head Trader of the Peerless Option Income Wheel ETF (WEEL). Together with his partner, he developed a patent-pending options income ETF designed to systematically implement the Wheel Strategy through a disciplined, rules-based investment process.

Resources Mentioned

Connect With Dan

For more options education, trading insights, and wealth-building resources, visit MarketTaker.com.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD) which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

Trumpet

Wah Wah Wah

Wah wah trumpet failed joke punch line.wav by Doctor_Jekyll -- https://freesound.org/s/240195/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Dramatic Drum Roll

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Dan walks listeners through a real-world cash-secured put case study using Target Corp. (TGT) as an example. He demonstrates how to evaluate a trade from start to finish, including technical and fundamental analysis, option selection, trade execution, liquidity considerations, and management planning. The episode emphasizes that successful wheel trading is not just about understanding option mechanics, but about developing a repeatable process for finding, executing and managing high-probability trades.

Disclosure:

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, investors must read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which can be found at https://www.theocc.com/company-information/documents-and-archives/options-disclosure-document

Don’t trade with money you are not prepared to lose. Anything discussed on this show is intended to be generalized information and not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The host and guests are not familiar with listeners’ specific situations. For trading information relevant to your specific needs, speak with a licensed broker or advisor.  

Trumpet

Wah Wah Wah

Wah wah trumpet failed joke punch line.wav by Doctor_Jekyll -- https://freesound.org/s/240195/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Dramatic Drum Roll

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-- License: Attribution 3.0