I just opened an account at ThinkorSwim. Moving from OptionsXpress

Discussion in 'Options' started by ElectricSavant, Dec 19, 2005.

  1. Folks when playing with your allocations remember to always try to leave a little cash (perhaps 30% is a good number) in your account for the rollover events...

    The cash flow in between your entries and exits can be tough to manage.

    In Wifey's IRA account there is no margin...(we could probably push to a 2:1 ratio in the spreadsheet, to be fully involved, but we like cash :))

    Michael B.
     
    #111     Apr 9, 2006
  2. Michael,
    Please keep us updated. Your posts are very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experiences to sort through the many option and autotrade opportunities.
    Dale

     
    #113     Apr 9, 2006
  3. Yes sir..I plan on doing so in the other thread...I will not let a few dweebes destroy this...

    Perhaps in the last quarter we can get peak Investing in there...The cost is minimal...currently the two advisories only cost a combined total of $130/month. (We get a good rate with Optionsmart because we have been with them so long and pay them quarterly).

    The trick is to get Option advisories that concentrate on entries and instruments that do not overlap in entry times...Diversification...Diversification...Diversification...


    Michael B.
     
    #114     Apr 9, 2006
  4. Michael,
    Peak Investing's weekly strategy has pretty low return per trade and their POI strategy only trades once a month. It doesn't seem to compare well with Optionsmart QQQQ strategies.
    Dale

     
    #115     Apr 10, 2006
  5. But look at their time in the trade....


     
    #116     Apr 10, 2006
  6. Back to the topic of this thread....

    I have three negative comparisons that I have noted when comparings TOS to OX. (Two of them apply to the minority of AutoTrade type of clients)
    • Lower interest paid on Cash.
    • No email for Autotrade clients alerting them to the signal being received or filled.
    • No way to confirm on the TOS platform open Autotrade limit orders.
     
    #117     Apr 12, 2006
  7. So far I have three positive comparisons:
    • Better Fills. (unconfirmed)
    • Better Customer Service....(real traders and a smaller company atmoshere, with the founder working the phones too!).
    • Lower commissions.
     
    #118     Apr 12, 2006
  8. Both firms process the online applications quickly and the ease to get set-up is effortless. Just some faxing and filling out online forms...same routine. It takes one or two days...

    It is particularly interesting that TOS rebates the ACH fee...I do not remember OX offering this.

    The ability to customize your commish with the open-minded TOS people is worthy of a post.

    These aggressive marketing approaches should be noted..

    Plus TOS sends you a monkey :) and you can get a rebate of 40 bucks a month representing your personal third party broadband fees.

    Michael B.
     
    #119     Apr 12, 2006
  9. ES,

    Were any of your preferred autotrade services NOT available with OX compared to TOS?

    D
     
    #120     Apr 12, 2006