How this finder works
The four questions narrow the field along the dimensions that actually separate these strategies: how much experience you bring, what you are trying to achieve, whether you are willing to be assigned shares, and whether you need your downside capped. The finder maps your answers to a primary strategy and one alternate, and labels the overall profile (Conservative, Balanced or Aggressive) and risk category (Defined or Undefined).
Every result links straight to that strategy's calculator, where you can plug in real strikes and premiums to see the numbers. The mapping is deterministic — the same answers always give the same match — so treat it as a fast way to narrow your reading, not as personalised advice.
Reading your result
Defined risk means a long option caps your worst case: bull put spreads, iron condors and the Poor Man's Covered Call all have a known maximum loss. Undefined risk means no such cap — a cash-secured put or a covered call carries the stock's full downside, which is large though not literally unlimited. Neither is "better"; defined risk costs some premium to buy the protection, undefined risk collects more but demands more capital and nerve.
The profile reflects how much the fitting approach asks of you. A Conservative result points to income on stock you would happily own; a Balanced result to defined-risk credit spreads; an Aggressive result to leverage or positions that need active management. If a result feels too racy or too tame, change your risk-style or goal answer and watch the match update.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Strategy Finder work?
It maps four answers — your experience, your main goal, how you feel about being assigned shares, and your defined-vs-undefined risk preference — to a matched strategy plus an alternate, and labels your profile (Conservative, Balanced or Aggressive) and risk category (Defined or Undefined). The mapping is fixed and deterministic; it is a starting point for your own research, not personalised advice.
What do Conservative, Balanced and Aggressive mean here?
They summarise how much risk the recommended approach carries, based on your experience, your risk-style answer, and the complexity of the fitting strategy. Conservative leans to income on stock you would happily own; Aggressive leans to leverage or strategies that need active management. They describe the strategy style, not a judgement of you.
What is the difference between defined and undefined risk?
Defined-risk strategies cap your maximum loss with a long option — bull put spreads, iron condors and the Poor Man’s Covered Call. Undefined-risk strategies have no such cap: a cash-secured put or covered call carries the stock’s full downside (large, though not literally unlimited). This site favours defined risk for newer traders, but both are offered.
Is this financial advice?
No. The Strategy Finder is an educational tool. It does not know your account size, tax situation, or risk tolerance beyond the four questions, and nothing here is a recommendation to trade. Use it to narrow your reading, then size and choose trades yourself.
Can I skip the quiz and just pick a strategy?
Yes. Use the strategy picker at the top — filter every strategy calculator by risk (defined or undefined) and market view (income, bullish, bearish, neutral, big move or protection), then click straight through to the one you want to model.
Related
Want the side-by-side view? See the strategy comparison. Once you've picked one, check timing with the IV Rank Calculator, and look up any term in the options glossary.
Educational tool only. Nothing here is financial advice or a recommendation to trade. The finder uses four inputs and cannot know your full situation — size and choose positions yourself.