Open eCry is a good company. They clear through Rand Financial. In the past they had software issues, but those problems seem to be behind them now. check compliance... http://www.nfa.futures.org/basicnet/ check financials... http://www.cftc.gov/tm/tmfcm.htm
1) Titan is an IB GUARANTEED BY MAN FINANCIAL INC. If you don't know what that means, go here and look it up... http://www.nfa.futures.org/basicnet/glossary.aspx?term=G not a great thing, imo. 2) looks like they started in 2004 based on nfa history. Your next step should be learning how to click on links and do your own research!!
the thing is that i do not know what to look for i have always dealt with local firms in vancouver and all of them have to be protected under law so i know i have nothing to worry about when it comes to online brokers i have no clue where to start. i do not know how different online brokers differ from one another is there some sort of check list or guide that i can use to rate the online brokers in order to choose one that meets my needs?
Look at the feeback comments on this site. FYI, you can get fucked over with a retail/prop operation just as easily as an online broker if you're not careful.