Patent ID: 8751352

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, at a computing device, an implied volatility index value indicating a value associated with a volatility index at a particular time; comparing, at the computing device, the implied volatility index value to a plurality of implied volatility ranges, wherein the plurality of implied volatility ranges includes a first range of implied volatility index values that are less than a first threshold, a second range of implied volatility index values that are greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than a second threshold, and a third range of implied volatility index values that are greater than or equal to the second threshold; determining, at the computing device, a particular implied volatility range that includes the implied volatility index value based on the comparison; determining, at the computing device, a percentage of a notional value of an equity portion of a portfolio of securities, the percentage of the notional value corresponding to the particular implied volatility range; generating, at the computing device, at least one proposed financial market transaction based on the percentage of the notional value of the equity portion of the portfolio; and automatically acquiring income by performing, at the computing device, the at least one proposed financial market transaction, wherein the income is derived from option premiums.