What is The Options Industry Council?

The Options Industry Council (OIC) was formed in 1992 by the U.S. options exchanges and OCC, and serves as the industry resource for equity options education.

OIC's member exchanges have one goal in mind for options investors: to provide a financially sound and efficient marketplace where investors can hedge investment risk and find new opportunities for profiting from market participation.

Our experienced options seminar instructors provide valuable insight on the challenges and successes encountered when trading options. In addition to live presentations, OIC offers educational content in a variety of formats including brochures, software, online classes, webcasts and podcasts. Appropriate compliance and legal staff ensure that all OIC-produced information includes a balance of the benefits and risks of options.

Participating Members of OIC

• BATS Options Exchange
• BOX Options Exchange
• C2 Options Exchange
• Chicago Board Options Exchange
• International Securities Exchange
• MIAX Options Exchange
• NASDAQ OMX PHLX
• NASDAQ Options Market
• NYSE Amex Options
• NYSE Arca Options
• OCC

OIC Leadership

Gina McFadden - Ms. McFadden serves as President of OIC and Executive Vice President, Industry Services for OCC.

Mary Savoie - Ms. Savoie serves as Executive Director of OIC and First Vice President, Industry Services for OCC.

Why was OIC formed?

OIC was formed as a unified industry effort to educate investors about U.S. equity options. Volume in equity options has increased exponentially since OIC's inception in 1992. Nearly 4.6 billion U.S equity options contracts traded on OCC cleared exchanges in 2011.

As the popularity of equity options continues, education of potential investors in the options marketplace is more important than ever. Equity options are a flexible and beneficial tool that can allow investors to achieve a wide range of investment goals. However, without the proper education and information about this useful, but complex product, investors may be at risk. OIC resources provide in-depth education and insight so that investors are well informed of the risks and rewards associated with options.

OIC International

In 1998, OIC established an international program to provide information on U.S. options markets and options education to markets in Europe and the Asia/Pacific region. Gary Delany, Director, represents OIC in Europe and in the Middle East.

Partnering with OIC

OIC's extensive knowledge base can help you to develop your U.S. equity option business. Educate your clients and potential customers about the benefits and risks of exchange-traded options by partnering with OIC. Use our investor-tested material to help you. Here are a few ways that you can harness OIC's educational resources:

• Website Content Sharing. Take a look at www.OptionsEducation.org. You'll see that OIC provides a truly comprehensive range of material and tools embracing all levels of experience and competence. A variety of web content sharing models are available, from cross linking to white labelling. Contact us to learn more.
• Seminars. OIC speakers are available to conduct seminars for customers. Let OIC help you with practical suggestions to make your seminar a success.
• OIC Collateral. A variety of educational brochures and collateral materials are available from OIC for distribution to your customers and prospects.
  

Website Summary

www.OptionsEducation.org is your gateway to the enormous range of information and services offered to options investors by OIC, free of charge. Here are a few examples (there are hundreds more) of what it offers:

• Sign up for Email alerts about new seminars, podcasts and press releases
• Compare & research strategies
• Use the Pricing Calculator or Position Simulator
• Test-drive the Virtual Trading System
• Retrieve an option chain, including prices (15 minutes delayed) volatility, Greeks, volume, open interest and historical charts
• Take a free, customized online course
• Confer with an options professional
• Review FAQs for commonly asked questions such as how to find a broker and how orders are routed on the exchanges

Collateral

OIC offers a full range of options related collateral - ideal for your next customer seminar. Go to www.OptionsEducation.org, then click 'Trading Tools', and 'Bookstore' or 'Brochures and Literature' for a full listing.

In addition, OCC News delivers relevant operational news for clearing and settlement professionals. Go to www.theocc.com and search for 'OCC News'.

Public Contact Information

Gary Delany
The Options Industry Council
options.industry@delanyconsultants.eu
+ 44 20 1892 531811

Media Contact Information

Jim Binder
jbinder@theocc.com
312-322-9853

Angela Kotso
akotso@theocc.com
312-322-6267

Disclaimer

No statement in this publication is to be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell a security or to provide investment advice. Prior to buying or selling a securities option, a person must receive a copy of the booklet Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies may be obtained from The Options Industry Council, OCC, your financial advisor or from a participant exchange.

Contact Us

The Options Industry Council
One North Wacker Drive, Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606, U.S.A.
options@theocc.com

By Phone

• U.S. & Canada: 1-888-OPTIONS (1-888-678-4667)
• Worldwide direct line: 312-463-6193
• Fax: 312-977-0611

Phone hours: Monday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. U.S. CT;
Tuesday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. U.S. CT