What if you could collect $150 in premium income in just 10 minutes of work? For many traders, this sounds too good to be true, but when you understand the mechanics of cash-secured puts and the wheel strategy, generating consistent weekly income becomes a systematic, repeatable process.
This article breaks down a real-world example of selling a cash-secured put on Marvell Technology Inc (MRVL), demonstrating how to execute the trade, track the premium collected, and maintain accurate cost basis records using proper tracking tools. Whether you're new to the wheel strategy or looking to refine your option selling approach, this walkthrough provides actionable insights you can apply immediately.
The key to success isn't just in collecting premium—it's in understanding how to track every transaction, manage your positions strategically, and ensure you never realize losses by setting strikes according to your true cost basis. Let's dive into the complete process.
Before placing any option trade, context matters. The week beginning January 30th presented an interesting setup for MRVL. The stock experienced a down day on Monday, which typically creates favorable conditions for selling cash-secured puts as premium levels expand with increased volatility.
After the initial Monday decline, MRVL recovered throughout the week, finishing higher overall despite ending Friday with another down day. For put sellers, this volatility creates opportunity—especially when you're targeting weekly expirations and can capitalize on time decay.
Underlying Stock: Marvell Technology Inc (MRVL)
Trade Type: Sell to Open Cash-Secured Put
Strike Price: $44.00
Expiration: February 3rd (weekly expiration)
Contracts: 1 contract (100 shares)
Order Date: January 29th
Fill Date: January 30th at 8:31 AM
Limit Order Price: $1.14
Actual Fill Price: $1.50
Premium Collected: $150.00
Several factors made this cash-secured put attractive:
Pro Tip: Always monitor your orders after placement. In this example, checking the fill resulted in capturing a superior price ($1.50 vs $1.14). In a previous week, the trader didn't check the order and missed the opportunity to adjust when it didn't fill. Active monitoring ensures you don't miss executions or opportunities to improve your entry.
Collecting premium is only half the equation—accurate tracking is what separates profitable traders from those who lose track of their true performance. The wheel strategy involves multiple transactions over time: puts sold, potential assignments, covered calls sold, and more. Without proper tracking, you can't make informed decisions about strike selection or understand your real profitability.
After the put filled at $1.50, the next critical step was recording the transaction in a dedicated cost basis tracking system. Here's the step-by-step process demonstrated:
Important Note on Fees: This example used a paper trading account where fees weren't tracked. In a live trading environment, remember to include the commission cost (typically $0.65 per contract) plus regulatory fees. While small, these costs add up over hundreds of trades and should be factored into your net premium calculations.
After recording the $150 premium, the tracking system revealed important portfolio metrics:
Total Premium Collected (MRVL): $644.00
Status: Out clean (no assigned stock position)
Realized Losses: Zero
Year-to-Date Performance: Positive across all MRVL trades
This "out clean" status is significant. It means the trader has collected over $644 in premium without having to take any realized losses on stock positions. This is the power of setting strike prices according to your cost basis—you can systematically collect premium while protecting yourself from forced losses.
One of the most valuable habits in trading is cross-referencing your tracking system with your brokerage account. This verification ensures accuracy and catches any discrepancies before they compound.
When comparing the tracking system's recorded profit of $644 to the broker's year-to-date profit/loss report of $659, there was a small $15 difference. This variance came from other experimental trades that weren't part of the systematic wheel strategy on MRVL.
The important takeaway: the numbers were essentially aligned, confirming that the tracking system accurately reflected the wheel strategy performance. This verification step builds confidence in your record-keeping and ensures you're making decisions based on accurate data.
The dashboard view provided valuable insights into the timing and consistency of premium collection:
January 2023: $494 collected in premium
February 2023: $150 collected in first week (this trade)
Total Active Period: Approximately 5 weeks
Average Weekly Collection: ~$128 per week
This monthly breakdown demonstrates the consistency of the wheel strategy when executed systematically. Rather than chasing sporadic big wins, the focus is on reliable, repeatable income generation week after week.
Key Principle: Consistency beats sporadic success. By focusing on systematic weekly premium collection rather than trying to time perfect entries, you build a sustainable income stream. The $150 collected in 10 minutes wasn't lucky—it was the result of a proven process applied consistently.
The wheel strategy has gained popularity among income-focused traders because it addresses the core challenge of option selling: managing assignment risk while maximizing premium collection. This trade on MRVL exemplifies the strategy's core principles.
1. Sell Cash-Secured Puts
You sell puts on stocks you're willing to own at strikes that represent good value. The $44 strike on MRVL wasn't random—it was selected based on cost basis calculations ensuring that if assigned, the resulting position would be profitable.
2. Accept Assignment if It Occurs
If the stock closes below your strike at expiration, you're assigned 100 shares per contract. Rather than viewing this as a problem, it's part of the strategy. You've already collected premium on the put, lowering your effective cost basis.
3. Sell Covered Calls on Assigned Shares
Once assigned stock, you immediately begin selling covered calls, collecting additional premium while waiting for the stock to recover to your target exit price.
4. Repeat the Cycle
Whether your covered calls are assigned (selling the stock) or expire worthless, you return to step 1 and sell another cash-secured put, continuing the wheel.
The wheel strategy only works if you know your true cost basis at all times. Consider this example:
Scenario: You're assigned 100 shares of MRVL at $44.00
Initial Cost Basis: $4,400
Put Premium Collected: $150
Adjusted Cost Basis: $4,250 ($42.50 per share)
Covered Call Premium (first week): $75
New Adjusted Cost Basis: $4,175 ($41.75 per share)
Without tracking these adjustments, you might set your covered call strike at $43.00, thinking you're profitable, when your actual cost basis with premiums is $41.75. You'd be leaving money on the table. Conversely, you might avoid a good strike thinking you'd take a loss when you'd actually be profitable.
This is why dedicated cost basis tracking—like the system demonstrated in this example—is essential. Your brokerage statement won't show your adjusted cost basis including all premiums collected. You need a system that does.
1. Limit Orders Can Exceed Expectations
The original limit was $1.14, but the fill came in at $1.50. This happens when volatility increases or market makers compete for your order. Always use limit orders—never market orders—and you might be pleasantly surprised.
2. Monitor Your Orders
The trader specifically mentioned that in a previous week, they didn't check their order and missed an opportunity to adjust. Active monitoring allows you to:
3. Weekly Expirations Maximize Efficiency
Selling weekly puts allows you to collect premium more frequently and adjust to changing market conditions faster than monthly options. The time decay on weekly options accelerates in the final days, working in your favor as a seller.
4. Systematic Beats Sporadic
Rather than waiting for "perfect" setups, establish criteria and execute consistently. This MRVL trade was one of many in an ongoing strategy that had already collected $644 in premium. The cumulative result of consistent execution far exceeds sporadic big wins.
5. Track Everything or Trade Blind
The verification step—comparing tracking system data to brokerage statements—ensures accuracy and builds confidence. If you're not tracking your adjusted cost basis, you're making decisions without critical information.
Implementation Checklist:
The tracking system demonstrated in this example represents the core functionality that option sellers need: accurate cost basis tracking that accounts for all premium collected, all assignments, and all transactions across the wheel strategy lifecycle.
MyATMM was built specifically to solve this problem. Unlike general portfolio trackers or spreadsheet solutions, MyATMM is purpose-built for option sellers who need to:
The dashboard view shown in this example—breaking down January's $494 premium and February's $150 premium—demonstrates the kind of clarity that transforms how you manage option selling strategies. You're not guessing about profitability; you're seeing it clearly, updated with every transaction.
For option sellers serious about consistent income: MyATMM provides the tracking foundation you need to execute the wheel strategy with confidence. Start tracking up to 3 tickers free forever—no credit card required. As your portfolio grows, upgrade to unlimited ticker tracking for less than the cost of a single options trade per month.
Options trading involves significant risk and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The trade example discussed in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cash-secured puts obligate you to purchase shares at the strike price if assigned, which could result in losses if the stock price declines significantly. Always ensure you have sufficient cash to cover potential assignments and consult with a qualified financial advisor before implementing any options trading strategy.
Collecting $150 in premium in 10 minutes sounds impressive—and it is—but the real story is the system behind it. This wasn't a lucky trade; it was the result of:
The $644 in total premium collected on MRVL represents just over a month of systematic execution. Extrapolated over a full year, that's potentially $7,000+ in premium income from a single ticker—all without realizing any losses because every strike was set according to accurate cost basis calculations.
The difference between traders who succeed with the wheel strategy and those who struggle often comes down to one thing: tracking. You can't set profitable strikes if you don't know your true cost basis. You can't make informed decisions if you're guessing about your performance. You can't build consistent income without consistent record-keeping.
Whether you use MyATMM or another dedicated tracking solution, the principle remains: track everything, verify regularly, and make decisions based on data, not guesses. That's how you turn 10 minutes of work into $150 in premium—repeatedly, systematically, and profitably.
Join option sellers who track their cost basis with precision using MyATMM. Know your true profitability on every trade.
Create Your Free Account Track up to 3 tickers free forever • No credit card required