The author has lived off selling options for five years and keeps the cash securing margin in IVV rather than riskier assets, so savings earn market returns while option premiums cover expenses. The mechanism is separating income trading from a low-risk market-return savings sleeve, which reduces the need to beat the market. The author notes percentage trading returns decline as savings grow and now prefers using buying power to decrease risk rather than increase income. Main risk implied is a bad spot requiring the margin-securing capital.