Why is this a problem? They can't limit the ever present risk of the client being a degenerate gambler and blowing their cash on a stupid play. They can only insure the person can cover up to their losses.
You want to trade with the broker. The broker's requirements are that they (really the clearing corporation) isn't stuck with a bounced check and nothing to pay out. Are you implying it should be okay for you to not fulfill your end of a contract? How would you feel if the other end of your massive SPX play didn't get paid out because the guy didn't have enough money? You'd probably be livid!
When I buy a bottle of whisky at the local liquor store I pay in full. I don't get margin to buy 9,000 bottles of whisky deliverable in 3 months. You'd be certain to have some financial checks if that was true. When I gamble at the casino I pay in full, if I am staked they will credit check me (cage staking at least) and I can be certain to have people collecting on me if I fail to pay my debts. Another (better) case you could've used was housing - but after 2007 the level of financial checks required to get a mortgage is absolutely insane.
As for the OP, sounds like you need more cash in your bank account and a better job to trade spreads. You might be able to ask them exactly what it was that made them reject.
We have financial requires for each option level except level 1, most brokers do. You need a minimum income, net worth and net liquidating equity.
Or do some brokers allow traders to trade future options without tier 3?
So what are your requirements for future options?Our requirements for PMA approval are much higher than TD and we require $175K to start and must maintain $150K
Portfolio Margin for us requires level 6 options.
(NYSE Rule 431(g)(5)(B) and NASD Rule 2520(g)(5)(B) state that eligible participants must be approved to engage in uncovered short option transactions pursuant to NYSE Rule 721 and NASD Rule 2860.)
Options on futures have no option level system.
So what are your requirements for future options?
To trade futures with us at all, we have a minimum income, net worth and liquid net worth. Happy to discuss over the phone and I don't feel like asking compliance if I can post these metrics.
bob
- We offer CQG- Integrated client, QTrader and Desktop. http://www.cqg.com/products
- $25,000 deposit (If you do not trade Options on CQG-$10,000)
- Pre-approval of each future and option on future by symbol with max order size and max position size. (We also offer Realtick (RT) where pre-approval is not required, but RT does not offer access to options or the CFE)
- For options, we ask your strategy-we do not allow aggressive option selling.
- For futures, we can offer up to 25% of SPAN margin for Day trading.