With the abundance of financial journalism currently available on television, it can be difficult to determine which sources to pay closer attention to. Additionally, most sources focus on the overall direction of the stock market or the movement of individual stocks. Only a handful of prominent commentators and programs on television discuss the options component of stock market investing. This article will highlight those sources of commentary on options trading on financial television TV news that can be used by the Market FIRE investor for the options component of a portfolio.
Any mentioning of specific options commentators in this article is not intended to endorse any specific recommendations or approaches by the individuals mentioned herein. I discuss these individuals only to highlight them as individuals who provide commentary on options trading on the major financial news outlets, which otherwise focus on conventional equities and macroeconomics. The commentators and traders mentioned in this article may be a source of information for Market FIRE investors, but any specific options trade should only be done based on any investor’s own research and insight in conjunction with that investor’s individual financial and personal situation. Investors should consult with their own investment advisors in order to provide individualized investment advice and guidance.
In terms of financial news programs on television that discuss options trading, both of the two major financial news networks, Fox Business Channel and CNBC, have some limited programming that regularly discusses options trading as part of a broader discussion of financial news topics.
I. Fox Business Channel financial news programs and commentators on options
On the Fox Business Channel, the best overall financial news program (in this author’s judgement) also provides some commentary and information on strategically appropriate options trading. That program is Making Money with Charles Payne, which usually airs from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekday afternoons. The host himself, Charles Payne, is a highly credible source as a former stockbroker and current provider of a subscription investment service and free website providing financial investment commentary, in addition to his daily television program. The program provides a great overall of current market developments and investment strategies from a diverse array of financial advisors and investors, including those who specialize in macro-economics, commodities, growth stock investing, value stock investing, and options.
Regarding commentary on options trading, the Charles Payne program most recently (as of the writing of this article in January 2023) has added noted professional options trader Jon Najarian of Market Rebellion as a regular guest. Jon Najarian formerly appeared regularly on CNBC’s Halftime Report until 2022 and only recently has been appearing on Fox Business Channel, usually on the Charles Payne program. Historically Jon Najarian has provided options-related commentary that specifically includes “unusual activity” reviews that highlight specific options trades for specific stocks (either bullish or bearish) that have attracted an above-average volume of trades, which could also elevate premiums for those willing to write covered calls on the underlying stock. Jon Najarian also regularly discusses strategies for covered call option writing, including crucially the specific strategy of rolling up and over options in such as a way as to avoid having the underlying stock called away. He also often discusses long call option suggestions and more complex options strategies that may not be as applicable for Market FIRE investing purposes.
Other commentators on Making Money with Charles Payne also on occasion appear to discuss general options trading strategies, including use of covered calls. Recently Jessica Inskip, the Director of Education from OptionsPlay, often has appeared to discuss specific strategies and stocks that she recommends investors use to write covered calls against. Her discussions, while well-thought out, often are not overly complex or esoteric and may provide appropriate guidance to investors who are beginning to use a covered call strategy.
Other programs in Fox Business Channel’s regular weekday schedule on occasion mention options trading and covered call strategies, but these are not done consistently based on this author’s observations.
II. CNBC Financial News Programs and Commentators on Options
On CNBC, options trading generally and covered calls specifically are addressed on several different programs. One particular program that airs one time per week, Options Action (at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays), specifically is devoted to the broader topic of options trading. Currently this program, hosted by Melissa Lee from the Fast Money program that itself airs weekdays at 5:00 p.m., typically features trader Mike Khaow and technical specialist Carter Braxton Worth, along with non-regular guests who trade options. Formerly the program also included Pete Najarian of Market Rebellion and Tony Zhang of OptionsPlay as regular panelists. Currently the program also includes as a panelist a trader from the Fast Money program who also is proficient in options trading, such as Guy Adami and Bonawyn Eison.
The Options Action program on CNBC typically discusses more advanced options trading techniques, including straddles and straggles, and often contemplates naked put and/or call selling, which the Market FIRE approach to options trading does not contemplate. However, the traders discuss frameworks for preferred underlying stock selection, along with optimal strike prices and expiration dates, that may be of use for covered call trading by Market FIRE investors.
The Halftime Report show weekdays at 12:00 noon and Overtime Report show weekdays at 4:00 p.m. on CNBC, both hosted by Scott Wapner, also on occasion includes discussion of options trading strategies, including covered calls, by experienced investors who serve as panelists. Currently, as of the writing of this article in January 2023, Bryn Talkington is the panelist who most consistently discusses options strategies, which typically involve covered call strategies, as a means of generating income in a sideways or downward trending market on only select securities in an investment portfolio. She does not generally discuss rolling covered calls up and over and instead seems to passively allow for underlying stock positions to be called away if in-the-money at expiration. The Halftime Report show formerly featured Jon Najarian and Pete Najarian as regular panelists who more frequently relied on and discussed options trading strategies, but both Najarians stopped appearing on CNBC in 2022 in order to pursue other opportunities, which for Jon Najarian includes appearances on Fox Business Channel.
Other programs on CNBC’s weekday programming schedule on occasion mention options trading and covered call strategies, but these are not done consistently based on this author’s observations.
Stock Market FIRE.com 
Leave a comment