About
Derivatives, in plain English
Derivatives — options, futures, forwards, and swaps — are some of the most useful and most misunderstood ideas in finance. Most explanations either drown you in jargon or skip the intuition entirely. What is a Derivative exists to fix that: clear, patient, plain-English explanations that build real understanding, one worked example at a time.
What you’ll find here
- Four beginner courses — options, futures, forwards, and swaps, each a short, ordered series with a knowledge check in every lesson.
- Free interactive calculators — plot option payoffs, model covered calls, price with Black-Scholes, and build multi-leg strategies, all in your browser.
- Articles that go deeper on the questions beginners actually ask.
- A plain-English glossary of the terms every derivatives beginner should know.
About the author
Hi, my name is Jeff, a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) based in Canada, and I have a Master of Business Administration (MBA). I originally trained as a Certified Management Accountant, focusing on internal financial management and strategic planning. Much of my work experience has been in company finances — reviewing and structuring financial loans and investments.
The information on Whatisaderivative.com comes from both practical experience and areas of study. For example, my hands-on experience is deeper in options than in swaps — I have been using options for approximately 20 years.
I hope what is included on the site provides you with some value. That said, as with anything involving financial and investment information, I encourage you to use more than one source. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there, and I do not claim to be the source of all truth. The information here is for educational purposes only — please consult a financial professional when making decisions that involve your investments and the accompanying risk.
A note on safety
If anyone ever contacts you claiming to represent Whatisaderivative.com to sell you something or to ask you for money, it is a scam. Stay safe out there, and remember: there is no such thing as easy money. Anyone who tells you that making money in the markets or in business is easy is lying — and is probably trying to sell you something you do not need.
Our approach to accuracy
Definitions and worked examples are checked against how these instruments actually behave — the calculators use the same textbook math you’ll find in any options course (intrinsic value, breakeven, and Black-Scholes-Merton pricing). Where a model simplifies reality, we say so.
Educational only. Nothing here is financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and it does not create a professional-client relationship. Derivatives carry significant risk. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.