Table of Contents
Rolling a Covered Call
A roll updates a covered call by closing the current option and opening a new one. It lets you change the strike or expiration while keeping your shares.
Basic Roll Plan
- Buy to close the call that is already open.
- Pause for a planned wait time, \(T_{wait}\) (see Trade Wait Time Guidelines). This break lets the stock settle and gives time decay a chance to reduce option value. Patience often leads to better prices.
- Sell to open a new call once the premium or stock price reaches your target.
Treat \(T_{wait}\) seriously. Rushing to roll can lock in weak prices and reduce overall returns. Estimating the wait with tools like historical volatility or option delta helps you choose when to act and which strike to use.
Daily Routine Touchpoints
- Sorting covered calls by delta highlights positions to roll or let expire.
- There is time to roll on expiration day, but sudden moves can turn late rolls into losses.
Sell-to-Open Cycle
- Every sell-to-open order either creates or rolls a covered call.
- Repeat the cycle weekly or at a cadence that fits your plan.