In the money options: Exercise or Sell?

[Guest MikeTheCannon]

So I've found myself in some unfamiliar territory: I have in the money options. This is only the second time I've ever ventured into the options world and the first time they've ever been in the money. Assuming I hold them to expiration (or a few days before) would it be better to exercise them or sell them back to the market for someone else to exercise? Selling them back to the market seems the easiest... but I figured people on here would know some little nuanced things that I'm failing to consider.

[Gregmal]

From experience, it's usually easier to exercise it. It's not a huge thing either way, but the options, depending on security, can sometimes be less liquid and result in a worse execution price than simply selling the stock at market. If you're looking to lock in a price you can always short an equal amount of the underlying and then just wait for it to exercise.

[sleepydragon]

You always get more from selling it because there is always some time premium left in the option.

But if it's call, u may want to excerise to hold it longer for tax reason

[Guest MikeTheCannon]

Thanks for the responses!