Custom Call Writing

Parametric’s Custom Call Writing strategy is a customizable rules-based strategy that can be used in conjunction with single stocks and equity indexes. The strategy seeks to deliver yield enhancement and risk reduction in a non-distruptive manner to existing holdings.

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Custom Call Writing1 is most often implemented as an overlay without the need to adjust equity holdings or manager allocations. When combined with the underlying equity exposure, Custom Call Writing has an expected beta of approximately 0.9 relative to the underlying equity portfolio. It is designed to provide a buffer against downside risk while still maintaining some upside participation in strong up markets.


1 Effective August 15, 2025 the strategy’s name changed from DeltaShift to Custom Call Writing.


Investing in an options strategy involves risk. All investments are subject to loss. Learn more.

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Custom Call Writing


For investors with a concentrated stock or unmanaged ETF position, this strategy seeks to enhance yield while maintaining as much upside participation as possible, and avoiding having shares called away unless desired by the client.

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Custom Portfolio Call Writing


This index options overlay strategy can be implemented in conjunction with diversified equity portfolios or index-based strategies to help enhance yield and reduce portfolio volatility.

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Intended benefits of Custom Call Writing

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Flexible implementation

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Custom Call Writing may be implemented either as a fully funded strategy or as an overlay across a range of underlying portfolios, including active equities, index funds, ETFs, or single stocks.

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Yield enhancement

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The upfront premium received when selling call options may serve to increase the yield on an existing portfolio when it is up moderately, flat, or down.

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A diversifying premium

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Options prices contain a volatility risk premium (VRP) paid by options buyers to option sellers. A covered call program can capture the VRP by selling options without introducing leverage.

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Risk reduction

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Call selling may deliver positive returns when the stock is moderately up, flat, or down, potentially creating a buffer against losses in the underlying stock.

There is no guarantee that the strategy will be successful. Investing in an options strategy involves risk. All investments are subject to loss.

Why choose Parametric?

$608Bn+

Total firm AUM

$19Bn+

VRP solutions AUM

30+

Years of firm experience

As of 6/30/2025
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Volatility Risk Premium

Parametric's volatility risk premium (VRP) solutions are strategies that seek to benefit from the VRP, a distinct and diversifying risk premium that options buyers pay to options sellers. We’ve historically observed that this premium can be a persistent source of return, better positioning your clients’ portfolios to weather market volatility over a full market cycle and improve overall performance.

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