I just opened an account at ThinkorSwim. Moving from OptionsXpress

I am small potatoes...and all I paid for my first two trades were $1.25...I was over the minimum...12 contracts=$15.00. I simply told them I was an OX convert. and click...click my commish was changed...

Now I pay $1.50..so I went up a little...But I can trade 2 contracts if I wish....for 3 bucks...

The next step is to get some size in the account and ask for $1.25 again..they said all I must do is call when I am ready...There was no hard bartering and everything is so easy...just don't be a pig and allow them to make some money...it will all come to you as you grow don't worry!

Michael B.

Quote from traderdon56:

"Wifey and I wanted to add another advisory for "autotrade" that would compliment Optionsmart...but Wifey does not have enough money in there to justify it (7K). TOS has a $12.95 minimum charge or $1.25 per contract whichever is greater..."


Michael-

Are you sure about these numbers? I took the following from their website-
==============================================
For OPTION orders, you pay the LESSER of
$2.95 per contract OR
$1.50 per contract plus $9.95 (only one $9.95 charge for unlimited spread legs)
==============================================

Anyway, it's cool that you got them not to charge you a minimum, no matter what.

Don-
More...
 
Optionsmart can have 4 open trades open at the same time between the two QQQQ strategies....Crowder can have one open trade open per strategy at a time, I have both of Crowders stategies...

So here is how I allocated the 7k in her account ...(this will be re-evaluated each day or after trades are put on)
  • 2k Optionsmart QQQQ spreads (two can be open at the same time) I am heavy here as these are more conservative.
  • 1K Optionsmart QQQQ options (two can be open at the same time)
  • 1K Crowder SPY Gap (one can be open at the same time)
  • 1k crowder SPY and ETF's Extreme. (one can be open at the same time)

Michael B.

P.S. I will add Wifey's 5k contributution for her IRA this year after I get the 6k together for the IB project. Then I will get back on the $1.25 commish schedule with TOS. By the way...OptionSmart just banked 500 bucks last week which was a 12% gain in 9 days!! We have been with Optionsmart for two years and they provided us our downpayment last August on our "metro Denver studio condo".
 
You guys...I have been looking at Peak Investing for a long time...you might check them out from the autotrading menu at TOS...

it's just that I am full up on advisories just now...but this would be a great OEX diversification...

Michael B.
 
From: Tom Sosnoff <tom@thinkorswim.com> Mailed-By: thinkorswim.com
To: James Mowery <jmowery@gmail.com>
Date: Apr 7, 2006 10:22 PM
Subject: Re: thinkorswim Access 2nd Notice


Sorry Jim. It's been a long day and I haven't even started drinking yet! I'm sorry for the wrong name and feel free to use the software for as long as you need.

Take care,

Tom



-----------------------------------

Sorry, it was just too hilarious.
I was asking about the demo being extended, first he called me Marvin, and then I replied saying that my name is not Marvin, it is James, and then he replies with that.

It was too funny not to post.
Ahhhh gotta love Brokers :D

But I do like the platform, I was only using it to actually learn about Options because I didn't have the slightest idea how they work. But that was just hilarious :p Had to post that, even if it is off topic a bit.
 
Quote from ElectricSavant:

I am small potatoes...and all I paid for my first two trades were $1.25...I was over the minimum...12 contracts=$15.00. I simply told them I was an OX convert. and click...click my commish was changed...

Now I pay $1.50..so I went up a little...But I can trade 2 contracts if I wish....for 3 bucks...

The next step is to get some size in the account and ask for $1.25 again..they said all I must do is call when I am ready...There was no hard bartering and everything is so easy...just don't be a pig and allow them to make some money...it will all come to you as you grow don't worry!

Michael B.
More...
if you do 40 trades a month, they will rebate you for the broadband cost.
 
40 trades? Is that 40 trades of one contract? or 20 trades of 2 contracts?...is it 40 round turns or 20 roundturns?


Quote from WD40:

if you do 40 trades a month, they will rebate you for the broadband cost.
More...
 
Anybody can offer new customers commission-free trades for a month. We will rebate the cost of high-speed Internet access ($39.95 per month) every time you make 40 or more trades per month.
 
Wifey likes the monkey...she put it on our floor lamp behind the sofa....It hade convienient velcro to wrap the "hands around the pole".


Every customer who funds their account will receive a monkey as a token of our appreciation. (Bananas not included)
 
When managing multiple advisory allocations, it is difficult to predict how many trades will be open at the same time. You can use the statistics from the Advisories websites to try and gauge exposure to commit to, from the beginning to the end. I use a dollar amount with a "1.5 ratio to option BP" currently, instead of a percentage.

Simply update your allocations after each event of an entry, rollover, close, balance change, or exit..Spreadsheets are nice to make line entries with, after each event occurs.

I made a handy spreadsheet for allocations to multiple advisories (I made it on a 21" monitor so you might have to size it and remember to copy the existing line entry to the next line for editing):
 

Attachments

If you folks wish, I can keep you updated as to the progress with TOS and their autotrade services that Wifey and I have used. We do not understand options and choose to trade Options through these advisories, until we understand more.

Please note that your choices are greater with TOS than OX, because OX requires that their advisories be registered Money managers. But again, I wish that TOS would send an email like OX does after each event, instead of collecting them on their website.

Michael B.
 
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