OPTIONSITES.COM

Trying to find good options-related sites on the Internet is - as I discovered - a time-consuming task. Site after site contained nothing but proprietary information with testimonials and promising triple-digit returns. I was relieved when I finally came across OptionSites.com, which, not surprisingly, listed quite a few other option sites. The simplicity of the website's design and its clarity encouraged me to stop and take a more detailed look. The site is clearly divided into various categories, which are listed on the left-hand column of the homepage. The categories include best option books, brokerage firms, free options stuff, option services, option quotes, and option software. Each of these categories is further divided, giving you the opportunity to narrow your search to what you are specifically looking for. For example, the best option books section is divided into 10 categories.

What makes the site useful is that each listed company is accompanied by a short review and rating. A link to a website is provided where you can access the product or service in which you are interested. This is an interactive site: You are free to add your own rating, report any errors, send the page via e-mail, and add your own comments. In addition, you can suggest links, view sites that have been recently added, view the highest-ranked products, and personalize the look and feel of your window.

On the right side of the homepage are links to the most popular categories. These include the best options books, option quote providers, and option broker scorecards.

A visit to the site would not be complete without clicking on the "Buyer beware" link. Here you get worthwhile pointers to keep in mind when selecting an advisory service. This is worth reading, especially given the number of options advisory services available these days.

This site contains strong, straightforward information, and it is clear the site tries hard to be unbiased. OptionSites.com serves as a good start for anyone looking for options-related sites or products. Next time you are wondering which options broker to use, which options books to read, or which options quotes to get, stop by this site. You'll find what you are looking for.

-Jayanthi Gopalakrishnan



Originally published in the October 2002 issue of Technical Analysis of STOCKS & COMMODITIES magazine. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2002, Technical Analysis, Inc.

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