Options simulators can be a great benefit for traders looking to learn how options prices move, how to enter orders and how to not lose your shirt.

An option is a financial instrument whose value is tied to an underlying asset; this is known as a derivative. Instead of buying an asset, such as company stock, outright, an options contract allows ...

While trading options can be an incredibly lucrative exercise thanks to the underlying leverage, the practice is also wildly risky. With open-market securities, the most common risk is suffering a ...

Laurie Sepulveda is a MarketWatch Guides team senior writer who specializes in writing about personal loans, home equity loans, mortgages and banking. She lives in North Carolina and has taught and ...