Options Investors Are More Educated, Affluent And Strategic Than Those Not Using Options, New OIC-Sponsored Study Finds

Chicago—April 29, 2010

The Options Industry Council (OIC) today released the results of the latest study conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. and found that not only are investors who use options more educated and affluent than investors who don’t use options, they also tend to be more strategic investors who are more open to new ideas.

The Options Industry Council (OIC) sponsored this study, as well as studies in 1995, 2000 and 2005, to assess interest level, knowledge and usage of options by investors to better direct its options education efforts. The studies are also important for financial advisors, showing them how options investors make attractive clients and prospects.

Each study consistently found that options users consider themselves more knowledgeable investors than investors who do not use options. Furthermore, the studies have shown options users are more likely to have a wider diversity of investments in their portfolios beyond listed stocks compared to non-options users. Finally, the demographic trends throughout the surveys recurrently show people who invest in options are more likely to be college graduates, have higher incomes and a higher value of liquid assets than those who do not use options.

View all of our Harris Study summaries.

About OIC

OIC is an industry cooperative funded by BATS Options, Boston Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NASDAQ OMX PHLX, NASDAQ Options Market, NYSE Amex Options, NYSE Arca Options, and The Options Clearing Corporation. OIC was formed in 1992 to educate investors and their financial advisors about the benefits and risks of exchange-traded equity options. OIC's resources include: The Options Industry Services Help Desk at 1-888-OPTIONS, educational websites at www.OptionsEducation.org, www.OptionsEducation.org/advisor and www.OptionsEducation.org/institutional, evening seminars throughout the continental United States and Canada, instructional DVDs and educational literature and software.

Press Contacts