Can anyone advise some brokers with low option rates? Also if they have a MAC platform? Not necessary but would be nice. Thanks!
TOS/TD Ameritrade has a nice front-end for OS X. Their rates aren't the best, about $0.50 higher per contract than interactivebrokers, but the platform is excellent. IB is great if you plan on pushing a lot of quotes; market-making; running a matrix of spreads and combinations. If you're low-freq then TOS/TDA is your best-bet. With over $200K you can probably negotiate your per contract rate to <$1.25 w/o a ticket fee. https://www.thinkorswim.com/tos/dis...AB3375E62018D6?webpage=main&layout=homeLayout
Ditto what "destriero:" said! I use TOS and got $1.00 w/o ticket fee, but was not easy negotiation. I know of folks using IB for their lower rates.
They would not divulge any specific criteria. They were very reluctant. I think I was trading between 1K & 1.5K option contracts per month at the time.
I was thinking TOS but they seem a little pricey. I can try to negotiate it but who knows what they will give me. I'm looking into TradeStation, TOS.... I'll have to see what Interactive Brokers fees are.
You should use IBKR as your benchmark. Commissions, while quite low, aren't even their strongest point, imo. It is the low margin rates and the back office reporting in account management.
Everywhere I inquire has a ticket fee. Anyone use optionsxpress? How is their platform? I'm debating between TradeStation and optionsxpress. Any other suggestions?