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Here are what I believe to be the top five reasons to look into becoming an options trader.

Number 5: The Ability to Trade Both Sides of the Market 

You can trade the market up and trade the market down. Most traders who buy stock don’t know how to trade the market to the downside. With options, it's easy. You just buy a put option and with the power of leverage, you can get into large positions with little capital.  

Number 4: The Power of Leverage 

Options are highly leveraged instruments, and as such, you can trade big sizes with little capital. For retail traders who are starting out, a few thousand dollars to control hundreds of shares of Facebook (FB) looks to be pretty amazing. This allows small traders to act big and trade with leverage. 

Number 3: The Ability to be Flexible with Your Trades 

If the market goes down and against your position in stock, all you can really do is take the loss or buy more stock. But why would anyone want to increase their position size on a bad trade? With options, you can change your position to be favorable even if the underlying stock continues to go down. You can adjust and move with the markets. 

Number 2: Defined Risk Trades   

With stocks, you purely enter in a directional position and you are at the mercy of the markets. If the market goes up, you make money. If it goes down, you lose money. If the market goes sideways, you make nothing. You have no ability to adjust, and with stop losses, you can lose when markets close.

With defined risk positions, you lock in your max loss on any given trade and you are protected 24/7, unlike with stocks. When markets close, you have competing positions that lock you in.  

Number 1: Freedom

Options allowed for freedom to do what you want, when you want to do it. Freedom to be your own captain of your own ship, you control your own destiny. No dependency on other people or organizations. Trading you can take anywhere in the world as long as there is an internet connection. By trading only with stocks, you can miss out on some of these benefits. Trading options can be simple, and it entails the benefits I've provided.