Barron’s 2017 Best Online Broker Ranking
has just been released (if no subscription, google line above and click through to article).
http://www.barrons.com/articles/barrons-2017-best-online-broker-ranking-1489811850
For the first time that I can remember, IB is not the least expensive broker for frequent traders.
Barron's calculates a frequent trader's cost at IB around $800 monthly, while they list a new firm, Tradier, at just $200.
This is what they had to say about it:
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"Assumes customer opts in to the all-you-can-trade-plans for stocks and options"
"In April, Tradier will offer its customers monthly flat fee possibilities for unlimited trading: $19.95 for equities, and $99 for options. Currently the flat fee is available through a handful of partners including EF Hutton (the direct investment platform that owns the storied name), Chart IQ, Equities.com, and Key2Options. Very frequent traders could save a lot of money using these flat fees."
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I haven't found any info yet on the Tradier page regarding these plans. EFHutton offers a 30 USD monthly flat fee for stocks, not including SEC or exchange fees (makes sense). So this should be rather compared to IB's unbundled commissions.
I haven't done any further research on any of these firms yet. There are many considerations besides cost for choosing a broker. Please do not see this as a recommendation, and do your own DD.
Personally, I find it a little strange that Barron's includes future pricing plans in their analysis. This is a bit like incorporating a firm's promise to provide better service in the future in their current rankings
But I am nonetheless happy that Barron's brought this development to my and our attention, and I think it will be interesting to watch.
has just been released (if no subscription, google line above and click through to article).
http://www.barrons.com/articles/barrons-2017-best-online-broker-ranking-1489811850
For the first time that I can remember, IB is not the least expensive broker for frequent traders.
Barron's calculates a frequent trader's cost at IB around $800 monthly, while they list a new firm, Tradier, at just $200.
This is what they had to say about it:
------
"Assumes customer opts in to the all-you-can-trade-plans for stocks and options"
"In April, Tradier will offer its customers monthly flat fee possibilities for unlimited trading: $19.95 for equities, and $99 for options. Currently the flat fee is available through a handful of partners including EF Hutton (the direct investment platform that owns the storied name), Chart IQ, Equities.com, and Key2Options. Very frequent traders could save a lot of money using these flat fees."
-------
I haven't found any info yet on the Tradier page regarding these plans. EFHutton offers a 30 USD monthly flat fee for stocks, not including SEC or exchange fees (makes sense). So this should be rather compared to IB's unbundled commissions.
I haven't done any further research on any of these firms yet. There are many considerations besides cost for choosing a broker. Please do not see this as a recommendation, and do your own DD.
Personally, I find it a little strange that Barron's includes future pricing plans in their analysis. This is a bit like incorporating a firm's promise to provide better service in the future in their current rankings
But I am nonetheless happy that Barron's brought this development to my and our attention, and I think it will be interesting to watch.

