You can generally buy options contracts for up to two years in advance. If you've never done options before, make sure you do some reading. It's not like stock -- if you're wrong you can loose everything, and in some cases, loose more than you have. Certain options contracts have unlimited downside (As in negative gains).
So be careful.
But google for "options contracts". You'll need a broker and they will most likely make you get approvals for it. Usually you have to show some financial sophistication.
> if you're wrong you can loose everything, and in some cases, loose more than you have. Certain options contracts have unlimited downside (As in negative gains).
Only if you write/sell them. Buying an option you can only lose 100% of what you paid for it. (Which is the outcome most of the time.)
Your overall point of educating yourself on how options work before you jump in is well advised though; options are risky and way more leveraged than stocks.
Of course, but if you don't know what you are doing, it's hard to tell the difference, especially since selling options can make you a lot more money so it looks like the better play if you don't know what you are doing.
So be careful.
But google for "options contracts". You'll need a broker and they will most likely make you get approvals for it. Usually you have to show some financial sophistication.