Exchange Traded Funds continue to gain popularity among investors seeking to add new sectors and markets to their portfolios with convenient all-in-one vehicles. In fact, ETFs trafficking in precious metals and other commodities have become some of the fastest-growing investments around over the past several years.

Now one of the most highly capitalized precious metals ETFs on the market – the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) – is becoming a more flexible investment than ever before. For the first time, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) is offering options on GLD, allowing ETF investors to not only add a precious metals element to their portfolios, but the ability to hedge that commodity investment as well.

Learn more about GLD options at the CBOE.

CBOE is a registered trademark of the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The use of trademarks or service marks of another is not a representation that the other is affiliated with, sponsors, is sponsored by, endorses, or is endorsed by optionsXpress.

Once you've done your research, weighed the alternatives, and assessed the risk, the rest is easy, right? Well, not always. If you need a little help placing your order, our new TradeWizard tool can help demystify the order entry process.

The Wizard makes our easy-to-use trading platform even easier, guiding you step-by-step through an entire stock, option or futures order ticket to complete everything from a basic buy or sell to the most advanced multi-step trade.

Find out more about how the TradeWizard works its magic, and be sure to check out all of the other powerful trading tools available at optionsXpress.

Join optionsXpress for a full day of FREE investing education in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, June 14!

From powerful trading tools to advanced order capabilities to the basics of futures trading, Director of Education Mike Tosaw and futures specialist Heather Mitchell will have plenty of fresh insight on how to get the most out of the optionsXpress site. They'll also welcome special guest speaker James Brumley from Big Trends for a look at how and when to best use volume as an indicator.

Take a look at the schedule:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Sign-in and continental breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Session 1 – Evaluation
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Session 2 – Execution
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Lunch on your own
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Session 3 – Volume as an Indicator
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Session 4 – Intro to Futures
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM Q&A – All speakers

So register now for our big day in Ohio, and be sure to check out our continuously updated slate of free live webinars for even more great investing education.

optionsXpress is taking our show on the road this July, reaching out to the great suburban beyond of our hometown with a series of great free presentations. If you live in the Chicago area, make plans to join us for a big night of investing education.

These informative three-hour Site Nites are terrific opportunities to learn how to get the most out of your investing on the optionsXpress site, including step-by-step demonstrations of order entry, order tracking, position monitoring, advanced orders and much more. We’ll also take a look at how options may be incorporated into long-term college funding plans such as Coverdell accounts, 529 plans and UGMAs. Best of all, these sessions are completely FREE.

Follow the links below to register today.

Agenda:
5:30pm – 6:00 pm – Registration
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm – College Funding Presentation
6:45 pm – 7:00 pm – Break
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm – Trading Tools
7:45 pm – 8:00 pm – Break
8:00 pm – 8:45 pm – Advanced Order Features
8:45 pm – 9:00 pm – Q & A Session

Locations:
July 10 - Schaumburg 6-9 pm
July 17 - Naperville 6-9 pm
July 24 - Northbrook 6-9 pm
July 31 - Orland Park 6-9 pm