As part of our ongoing effort to highlight perspectives within the broader ETF and DIY investing community, we occasionally feature independent voices discussing how they approach portfolio construction. The views expressed below reflect the personal experiences of the author and do not reflect the views of Ninepoint Partners LP.
Jordan Collier is the voice behind the Covered Call ETF Investing podcast, a go-to resource for DIY investors looking to generate consistent income through covered call ETFs.
The Question That Started It All
"How do I get more out of what I already have?"
This was the question I started asking myself one year into my dividend investing journey at age 31 in 2021. That question led me to explore covered call ETFs, which offered the potential for generating income on indexes, sectors and individual securities.
For my purposes, I wanted flexibility (the choice to take cash distributions or to reinvest them) along with a structure that could help me navigate changing market environments shaped by inflation, geopolitics, interest rates, and broader macroeconomic uncertainty.
The Books That Shaped My Investing Philosophy
At the beginning of my investing journey in October of 2020 I made it a point to read, listen and watch as much content as possible before I invested my first dollar. Early books included The Intelligent Investor, The Little Book On Common Sense Investing and Interpreting Financial Statements.
These books introduced me to titans of the investing world like Ben Graham, Jack Bogle and Warren Buffet. Graham taught me about quantitative analysis, Bogle index investing and Buffet Qualitative ideas.
Why ETFs Became My Middle Ground
That first year of investing was all about applying these new metrics and research methods. Over time, however, I realized with work and an ever growing family I wouldn't be able to keep up with changing news on the companies I was invested in.
ETFs became a practical solution. I could dial down on the research and simply track the market's performance. However, this scaled down approach was almost too far in the other direction. I still wanted to educate myself and apply that knowledge where it made sense in the market. Sector ETFs were that happy medium. They helped show, through sector based research, how market trends and cycles work, which made it easier to play while maintaining sizable diversification.
The Eureka Moment: Premiums + Performance
As a buy-and-hold investor, simply capturing market performance felt a little...dull. Over time I became interested in strategies designed to generate income in addition to potential capital appreciation.
Eureka! Covered call ETFs introduced me to the concept of option premiums - income generated from selling call options - which may provide additional cash flow during flat or volatile market environments.
Rather than viewing returns as coming solely from price appreciation, I began thinking about portfolio construction in terms of multiple potential sources of return, while also recognizing that all investment strategies involve trade-offs and risks.
Launching Covered Call ETF Investing
In late 2022 I created the YouTube channel Covered Call ETF Investing. By early 2023 I began creating videos focused on explaining how covered call ETFs function, how option strategies generate income, and how investors can think about income-oriented approaches within a diversified portfolio.
My content centers on education — exploring how different income strategies work, discussing broader financial concepts, and sharing what I am learning along the way. I also interview ETF industry professionals to better understand how these products are structured and managed.
My goal is not to suggest that one strategy is superior to another, but rather to encourage investors to understand the tools available to them and to align their decisions with their own objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
Best,
Jordan
To follow Jordan’s journey and dive deeper into his approach to income investing, check out his YouTube channel, Covered Call ETF Investing, where he shares portfolio updates, strategy insights, and conversations with leaders in the ETF space.
The above article reflects the personal views and experiences of the author. The author is not affiliated with Ninepoint Partners LP and is not a registered investment advisor. The content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investors should consult their own registered advisor before making investment decisions.
