Best option trading account shemes

Binary Options. Best Things About Binary Options Trading. High profit rate – up to 90% on a single trade. Fast returns – from 30 seconds to several months. Limited risk – trader knows his potential loss or return. Simple trading – rules are very easy to understand. Low investment – trading amount as little as $5. Wide range of assets – currencies, stocks, commodities, indices. Mobile applications – you can trade any time in any place. The Best Options Trading Simulators in 2016. If you’ve been in the investing game for a little while now you may have overheard at least one person mention the term “options trading” at one point or another. That’s because many savvy investors understand the lucrative potential they possess. There's really no use in learning about options unless you take action. I recommend you First go ahead and sign up for a trading account at OptionsHouse . Then you'll actually get to make some money from all the knowledge you get from reading this article. Before diving into the exciting and complex world of options, you might be wondering what exactly options are.

The short answer is that they’re a type of security, a binding contract that allows the owner to sell an underlying asset at a certain price within a certain amount of time. They have great versatility but come with strict terms and conditions. And while there are many strategies for buying, selling, and trading options, even those with working knowledge of the market is at risk of losing serious amounts of money. Pros and Cons of Options Trading. If you’re knowledge of the market is extensive, that risk becomes less of a threat. However, just know that options trading will not make you rich overnight either. The benefit here versus stock trading is that transactions will typically require less capital. And while they may see smaller returns, they will be greater percentage-wise than returns on stocks. Another factor to consider is that their profit oftentimes is directly correlated to their contract’s premium, and the potential for loss can be large. Leverage also means that returns can be potentially significant and the amount of money required is, on average, smaller than with stock transactions. However, options trading may not be for everyone but they are some of the most flexible choices you can make investment-wise. Potentially, they can either protect or even enhance your portfolio, depending on whether you’re the kind of investor who treds in rising, falling, or neutral markets.

That’s why a serious investors will trade options using a simulator in order to sharpen their skills. By giving users an exact simulation of current market conditions, along with real-time analytics, individuals looking to learn options trading without risking money can do so with any one of these great platforms we’ve listed below. Users will hone their craft through a form of paper trading, where, upon receiving makeshift currency, they participate in virtual options trading and set up their up very own trading account. But while many options brokers create these with their very own options trading software, many can be suboptimal and downright inaccurate in terms of emulating genuine market conditions. With so many choices out there, it can be difficult finding the a well rounded simulator. That’s why I’ve taken the time in order to compile a list of what I believe to be the most useful ones. So without further ado, I present you with the best options trading simulators in 2016. We’ll start off our list with one of the best stock market simulators out there. Investopedia is a great company that can immediately get you started on options trading. The tool allows you to instantly create your own options simulator game, albeit not the most expedited process, customize your contest, and invite whomever you like to participate. Their simulator is a great learning aid and has an intuitive user experience with a good trading feature to boot. In addition, they offer many guides to familiarize yourself with the process if you’re a beginner. To get your feet wet today, be sure to give Investopedia’s simulator a look. Another well-known institution in the world of trading is OptionsXpress.

Their simulator is called Virtual Trade offers great insights that allow you to learn the basics of options trading in an all-encompassing environment. With Virtual Trader, you can put your strategies to the test under real market conditions. They offer many features such as an initial $25,000 of practice money in your paper trading account, real-time quotes and charts, over forty innovative trading tools, advanced ordering tools, and an in-depth Education Center that offers free training and how-to guides for traders of all experience levels. Pro-tip: OptionsXpress requires a large amount of personal information when signing up. Wall Street Survivor. Wall Street Survivor separates itself from the competition by giving you the choice of utilizing your option spreads within your trade method. They also offer a free setup and a mobile app so you can trade on the go. The company puts a lot of emphasis on the educational aspect of options trading, granting its users access to free articles, guides, and real instructors to expand your knowledge. In addition they provide educational tools on a variety of other topics and provide you with quizzes to put your skills to the test. Their trading simulator starts you off at $100,000 in virtual currency, and once you’re ready to take the next step, you can enter competitions through the simulator itself. One example is that one month, the top three investors who earned the most with the practice money given to them will receive prize payouts in real money. Virtual Stock Exchange. Market Watch’s Virtual Stock Exchange’s trading simulator might not look the most glamorous, but their bareboned interface offers great ways to elevate your skills in options trading. It’s also surprising that with such a modest layout, Virtual Stock Exchange allows its users to connect to their personal Facebook accounts and begin the trading process immediately. The program allows you to trade in real-time with your virtual portfolio, discuss strategies with other users within your game, and provide the option to customize and create either public or private games. One thing to note is that Virtual Stock Exchange does not allow trades under $2.00, so keep that information in mind before entering.

Pro-tip: If you are looking for a advanced level day trader simulator check out this one out from MarketWatch. The Options Industry Council (OIC) The OIC is a group whose sole purpose is dedicating itself to bettering the education of individuals, including investors, advisors, and managers. In addition to their core program, they provide many learning tools such as a multi-part overview of how options work, detailing the benefits and risks of trading, and courses on options pricing. Additionally, their comprehensive website offers seminars, on-demand videos, and even events you can attend. Their trading simulator differs in that users do not use virtual currency but rather the OIC uses a Position Simulator that explains what affects the price of options and uses a mathematical formula with specific inputs to calculate the new price. Because of this, the OIC does not provide a traditional simulator but offers a sophisticated online calculator that can price American stock options given the specified data. A great, proactive learning environment and extremely user-friendly. How The Market Works. Similar to the Options Industry Council, How The Market Works is another educational company that teaches aspiring investors about their namesake. Their sophisticated options trading software has put their simulator on the map, where it’s currently used by over 350,000 individuals worldwide along with 10,000 high school and middle schools every year. And like with all simulators, How The Market Works teaches you how to invest in the market through trading games online, creating a virtual portfolio using real-time market conditions. The company’s simulator differs from others on this list due to its in-depth environment and numerous features. The program allows users to access Forex portfolios, penny stocks, and mutual funds in both the US and Canadian markets.

With their simulator, you can have up to three stock and Forex portfolios and start between $100 to $500,000, They also offer contests each month within different formats, such as penny stocks or short sells, and offers prize payouts. OptionsHouse is a broker that offers the unique feature of using their platform before starting a paper trading account with them. They have what it takes to compete with the industry’s finest due to their efficiency, product quality, and fantastic user-experience interface. Their intuitive platform and functionality provide investors of all levels the tools they need to succeed. Their virtual trading feature is a great way for amateur investors to woodshed their skills and compete with the pros. It’s easy to find quotes and their filing system allows the user to create notes after each trade. Back in 2015, OptionsHouse also expanded their chart trading feature which conveniently allows you to adjust trades onto the actual chart. You can also see and review an order ticket that’s already filled out before submitting your trade. Their charts also contain all of your past buys and sells, something many other brokers don’t offer. What Else To Look For. Now that you’re better informed of the various brokers that offer options trader simulators, there’s just a few more things we need to review before you begin your exciting new paper trading career.

In the process of choosing the broker with the best online simulator, be aware that you’re looking for a multi-level platform that give you things beyond just the numbers. By that I mean a platform that gives you reports analyzing and detailing the ‘how’ and ‘why’ a price changed. Another aspect to consider are the overlying factors affecting an option’s price. It’s very important that you find a medium that is not only fast and efficient but also analytical enough to improve your trading method. Furthermore, analytical reports are a great way to track your own progress as you make your way through the learning process. Along with numbers, things such as line and bar graphs and charts, along with growth and loss indicators, are crucial as they should reflect actual reports and explanations explaining why certain options prices rose or fell. While analytics is a key factor in your decision-making process, you must also consider their software and its features. Probably even more important for beginners, finding software that’s sophisticated, yet user-friendly, is a great combination for when you finally practice options trading yourself. Tutorials are always a good feature to have and help buttons can offer immediate assistance when you can’t figure out something yourself. Additionally, each trading simulator offers different features so always be prepared to consider what truly motivates you when you finally make your choice. If it’s the thrill of the market and your competitive nature that drives you to becoming a better investor, find a broker that offers games and competitions.

That way not only are you furthering your own growth in this field but you’re enjoying yourself as well. The gaming aspect of options trading is a great way of gauging how you fair with the rest of the competition while earning real prizes and money along the way. If furthering your own financial knowledge seems more appealing to you, then be sure to direct your attention to the educational materials a broker offers in addition to their simulators. Theory is just as important as practice and if you feel you need to expand your knowledge some more before getting your feet wet then be sure to find a broker that offers extensive articles, guides, and even videos that teach you about the subject matter. For even further assistance, look for a platform that not only gives you tutorials but will interact with you in real-time. Many of these will not only give you the literature to learn more about options trading but they will also offer suggestions for trading based on current market conditions and trends. The flipside to this is that these recommendations tend to be a little bit “by-the-book” so if you are testing out a new method you should take these with a grain of salt. With all this information under your belt, you are now more fully-equipped to choose a simulator that suits your needs and style of investment. The key is to take small steps in achieving your goals and don’t get frustrated if you’re not seeing positive returns right away. These simulators are a safe place to make mistakes as well, so the decisions you make in these versus real world conditions may vary. Just make decisions as if you were actually spending money. With that said, I wish you luck on your newest venture in options trading. No related posts. Leave a Reply Cancel reply.

COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE. Top 10 Explosive Penny Stocks to Invest In 2017 (Hot Picks) Methods For Building And Repairing Credit. 3 Best Small Business Credit Cards for 2017. Popular Categories. Tom Smallwood. Tom is a former accountant turned entrepreneur. He is not a financial adviser but does tend to give a lot of financial advice to his friends and colleagues. He currently runs a small online venture and blogs about his research and experiences. Best Brokers for NRI trading in India-2017. In this article we are listing best brokers for NRI trading in India.

NRI ("person resident outside India" who is a citizen of India or is a person of Indian origin), PIO or OCI card holders can trade in Indian stocks under Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS). NRI accounts are controlled both by SEBI and RBI, so there are some restrictions in NRI trading. NRI can trade only in equity delivery, no exposures, no short selling, no BTST (Buy today sell tomorrow), no Currency derivative trading. NRIs can invest in mutual funds and IPOs through NON PIS NRENRO saving accounts. With the recent amendment in FEMA regulation, NRIs can now invest in Equity Market like resident individuals. Earlier NRIs were allowed to invest in Equity market through a PIS account only. Now PIS account is required only if you have NRE Account by which you can repatriate (take out the funds out of the country) the sale proceeds. NRI with NRO Account can trade in Equity Delivery as normal resident Indian. You just need to open a normal trading and demat account and link it with your NRO Saving Account. NRI is no longer required to open PIS Bank Account for investment in Indian stock market without repatriation benefits. Zerodha started offering NRI Services @ Rs 200 per executable order for Equity and F&O. Zerodha NRI account features are : Should have PIS Bank account with Axis or HDFC bank. Rs 200 Per executable order for Equity & F&O. By mapping your NRE account, you can only trade in the Equity segment whereas through an NRO account, you can trade in both Equity & Derivative segment.

Detail article on Zerodha NRI Trading. ProStocks NRI Investment Services include trading in equities, futures, and options on NSE and BSE at the cheapest brokerage of Rs 100 per executed order . ProStocks NRI Account features include. Trading and Demat Account Opening charges: Free AMC for Trading Account : Nil (Zero) Demat account AMC : Free with Rs 1000 refundable one time deposit. Brokerage Charges :Rs 100 per trade (all segments). Online EKYC, fill your form online. Sharekhan offers NRI Investment Services to trade online on NSE, BSE, trade in mutual Funds on any of the trading platforms Sharekhan offered. Sharekhan NRI account features are: Integrated RBI-approved bank account with HDFC Bank. Research report for every asset class, single location for Trading & Demat account. Real time portfolio tracking, fast trading platform, secure transactions.

Seamless transactions and Paper free trading. Geojit BNP(GBNPP) have branch offices in Kuwait, Oman, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Oman and providing NRI service to invest in India Market. They have joint venture with local group and providing service to NRI customer to invest in local market as well as Indian stock market. Geojit don't have any office in US or support US persons or US investors via their platform. HDFC Securities NRI Offering - With 3-in-1 account, Bank, Trading and Demat HDFC Securities is offering seamless and hassle free trading for NRI's. 3in1 account is one key advantage Tax Reports, Paper free trading USA and Canada base can't open 3in1 account with HDFC. Kotak Securities' NRI account gives you the power to buy equities, futures or options, and transferring funds between accounts. Basic Features of the NRI Account are: Transfer funds safely via net-banking between your savings bank and trading accounts using the Kotak Payment Gateway. Investment option in IPO, ESOPS, bonds, derivatives and ETFs through seamless 3 in 1 account. Free access to Kotak's trading software and mobile app. Reserch report, SMS alerts, CallnTrade and more. Process to open a NRI trading account: Need to open RBI-approved bank account, PIS(Portfolio Investment Scheme) approval require. Client can trade only with one bank account. Trading & Demat account opening forms with brokers using KYC 'Know Your Client' guidelines.

This process can be done only when person is in India for visit because Passport and Visa copies are mandatory. Document required to open a NRI account: Indian Passport or Foreign passport with place of birth as India accompanied with PIOOCI card. If on Indian Passport then Valid Visa. PIS permission letter from RBI approved bank & Bank Account details. PAN card. Overseas Address Proof - driving licenseBank StatementLease paper. Indian Address Proof (Aadhar CardVoter IDDriving LicenseBank StatementUtility bill) Latest photographs of applicant. Enquire Trading Account: By Popular Trading Brokers. Fix Price - Rs 15 Per Trade Rs 899Month,8999Year for. Equity Cash and F&O Rs 499Month,4999Year for. Currency Derivatives Lowest Transaction Charge. Lowest Call & Trade Fee. Lowest Stamp Duty. Free Delivery trading.

Max Rs 20 Per Trade for F&O. Beginner, seasoned investor, active trader or HNI. Get customised solutions. Rs 0 account opening fee on Online Trading and a Demat Account. Options. Powerful tools, great service, and excellent value. Among the lowest options fees in the market Best-in-class platform for trading options on equities, indexes, and futures Support from knowledgeable options specialists Dime buyback program for buy to close option transactions. 50ў equity and index options. per contract when you place 30+ stock or options trades per quarter 2. $1.50 futures options. Get up to $600 plus 60 days of commission-free stocks and options trades for deposits of $10k or more. 1 How it works. Get up to $600 plus 60 days of commission-free stocks and options trades for deposits of $10k or more. 1 How it works. Best-in-class OptionsHouse trading platform.

ItЂ™s in the name for good reasonЂ”a best-in-class platform for option trading on equities, indexes and futures, built by those who have won both BarronЂ™s ЂњBest for Option TradersЂќ and StockBrokers. comЂ™s ЂњBest in ClassЂќ awards for Option Trading seven years in a row. 4. Dime buyback program. You will pay no per contract or base commission charge when you buy to close an equity option for 10 cents or less. This allows you to close short options positions that may have risk, but currently offer little or no reward potentialЂ”without paying any commissions. ThereЂ™s no sign up required. This program automatically applies anytime you buy to close an equity option for 10 cents or less. Dedicated support for options traders. Have platform questions? Want to discuss complex trading strategies? Our dedicated trader service team includes many former floor traders and futures licensed specialists who share your passion for option trading.

Discover options on futures. Same option strategies, more hours and markets to trade. Option on futures offer nearly 24-hour access and diversification. Trade options on oil, gold and corn as easily as you do on the S&P 500 Index. Preferred 30+ Trades QTR. Standard <30 Trades QTR. plus $6.95 base . Options trading doesnЂ™t have to be difficult, especially if you have the right education to take your trading to the next level. 5. Getting Started with Options. There are so many available options and ways to trade them that you might not know where to. Options Fundamentals: Introduction. Review the fundamentals of options before you start trading.

This seven part series will help. Options Fundamentals: Options Pricing. Review the fundamentals of options before you start trading. This seven part series will help. Service  Connect with us. Check the background of E*TRADE Securities LLC on FINRA's BrokerCheck. PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES BELOW. Commissions for equity and options trades are $6.95 with a $0.75 fee per options contract. To qualify for $4.95 commissions for equity and options trades and a $0.50 fee per options contract, you must execute at least 30 equity or options trades per quarter. To continue receiving $4.95 equity and options trades and a $0.50 fee per options contract, you must execute at least 30 equity or options trades by the end of the following quarter. Stock plan account transactions are subject to a separate commission schedule. Securities products and services offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC, Member FINRA SIPC.

System response and account access times may vary due to a variety of factors, including trading volumes, market conditions, system performance, and other factors. ©2017 E*TRADE Financial Corporation. All rights reserved. E*TRADE Copyright Policy. Finding the Best Options Broker Online. When opening an option brokerage account, don't just go with the cheapest broker. You will find it worthwhile to spend some time evaluating their quality of service first. Read on for tips on how to find the best online options brokerage for your trading needs. Full-Service Broker vs. Discount Broker. There are two main types of options brokerage firms in the market - the full service brokerage and the self-directed discount brokerage. Full service or traditional brokerages provide a wide range of services at extra charges. Their services include advice to their clients on where to place their investment money.

Discount brokers are geared towards the self-directed trader. They do not provide any investment advice, leaving their clients to make their own financial decisions. Discount brokerages merely execute your orders and consequently their charges are much less than their full-service counterparts. There are also brokerage companies that offer both services to their customers, letting them to choose the level of service they require. Most option traders that I know opt to go with the discount brokerages since anyone who is confident enough to trade complex instruments such as options are usually financially savvy enough not to require trading advice from their brokers, especially when the broker's renumeration is based upon the frequency of trades rather than the quality of their recommendations. When determining which is the best options brokerage, commission charges should not be the only consideration. When it comes to online brokers, site availability, speed of execution and ease of use are just as important, if not more so, than price. Availability & Speed of Execution. Site availability and responsiveness are perhaps the most crucial aspects to look out for when selecting an online brokerage. No matter how low the commission charges, if the trade does not get through because the brokerage site is overwhelmed by ultra high load and becomes unavailable, the amount of transaction fees you save is not going to be worth it. Responsiveness of the site affects the timeliness of the real-time price quotes you get. Remember, we are living in the information age. News travel fast, round the globe, 24 hours a day.

Markets react to breaking news events faster than ever before. You don't want to be lagging, even if its just seconds behind, especially when the trading action is fast and furious. Note: Your own internet connection should also be up to speed. You should upgrade to a broadband connection if you are still using dial-up. If you are using wireless, check that your connectivity is good before connecting to the brokerage site. Quality of Execution. The National Best Bid or Offer (NBBO) is an SEC requirement that brokers must guarantee customers the best available ask price when they buy securities and the best available bid price when they sell securities. Look for brokers that guarantee trade execution prices that meet or exceed the NBBO. With option trades already complicated enough on their own, it sure doesn't help when you still have to puzzle over how to use the order placement form. An easy to understand user interface helps minimize errors, which can be extremely costly when thousands of dollars are changing hands every trade. Look for option trading brokerages that offer single-screen order entry forms for covered calls, condors, butterflies and other multi-legged option strategies.

Commissions and Fees. To differentiate themselves from their competition, options trading brokerages are very creative when charging commissions. For options trades, if you take a look at their commission and fees page, you should see two charges: 1) a per trade fee and 2) a per contract fee. Per Trade Fee (or Ticket Charge) - There is usually a minimum fee per transaction, regardless of how many (or rather, how few) contracts are involved in each trade. Per Contract Fee - This fee is charged for every option contract involved in each trade. It is important to know how they are used to calculate the total commission costs per transaction. Usually, the following method is used: Total Commission = $X per Trade + $Y Per Contract. But some brokerages use the following formula: Total Commission = $X per Trade or $Y per Contract, whichever is higher. Market or Limit Order. Some companies charges different brokerage fees for different types of orders. You should note the fee for limit orders since you almost never place market orders. Internet or Broker-assisted Trade.

Broker assisted trades can cost as much as several times more than internet trades. The only reason to place a broker-assisted trade is when you are cut off from the internet and a very good trading opportunity happen to arise. There are options brokerage houses which charge a lower rate if your trading frequency exceeds a certain threshold. So, if you are an active trader making dozens of trades a month, it makes sense to look out for a brokerage firm that offers such a discount scheme. To offset their low commission charges, some discount brokerage firms charges a slew of hidden fees. So if an option brokerage charges an unusually low fee compared to the industry norms, make sure you find out whether there are other fees that you should be aware of. Some common hidden fees include: Account Inactivity Fee - Some brokerages charges a fee if you did not make any trade after a certain period of time. Annual Maintenance Fee - This is a fee levied every year as long as you have an account with the brokerage firm, whether or not you have made any trade. Minimum Balance Fee - This is a fee that is levied peroidically (say monthly or quarterly) when your account balance is below a certain threshold. Commissions can have a significant impact to an option trader's overall profit or loss, especially if your trading capital limits you to prudently buysell only 1 or 2 contracts per trade or if you are just starting out and your winloss ratio is 6:4 or lower. Finding a low-commissions options broker can boost trading profits by as much as 50%. Recommended Options Brokerage. If you are new to option trading, we recommend you sign up with OptionsHouse . They provide quality trade execution, intuitive, user-friendly interface while maintaining low commission charges. optionshouse also provides a Virtual Trading Tool where beginners can try out options trading in real market conditions without risking real money. Continue Reading.

Buying Straddles into Earnings. Buying straddles is a great way to play earnings. Many a times, stock price gap up or down following the quarterly earnings report but often, the direction of the movement can be unpredictable. For instance, a sell off can occur even though the earnings report is good if investors had expected great results. Read on. Writing Puts to Purchase Stocks. If you are very bullish on a particular stock for the long term and is looking to purchase the stock but feels that it is slightly overvalued at the moment, then you may want to consider writing put options on the stock as a means to acquire it at a discount. Read on. What are Binary Options and How to Trade Them? Also known as digital options, binary options belong to a special class of exotic options in which the option trader speculate purely on the direction of the underlying within a relatively short period of time. Read on. Investing in Growth Stocks using LEAPS® options. If you are investing the Peter Lynch style, trying to predict the next multi-bagger, then you would want to find out more about LEAPS® and why I consider them to be a great option for investing in the next Microsoft®. Read on. Effect of Dividends on Option Pricing.

Cash dividends issued by stocks have big impact on their option prices. This is because the underlying stock price is expected to drop by the dividend amount on the ex-dividend date. Read on. Bull Call Spread: An Alternative to the Covered Call. As an alternative to writing covered calls, one can enter a bull call spread for a similar profit potential but with significantly less capital requirement. In place of holding the underlying stock in the covered call method, the alternative. Read on. Dividend Capture using Covered Calls. Some stocks pay generous dividends every quarter. You qualify for the dividend if you are holding on the shares before the ex-dividend date. Read on. Leverage using Calls, Not Margin Calls. To achieve higher returns in the stock market, besides doing more homework on the companies you wish to buy, it is often necessary to take on higher risk. A most common way to do that is to buy stocks on margin. Read on. Day Trading using Options. Day trading options can be a successful, profitable method but there are a couple of things you need to know before you use start using options for day trading.

Read on. What is the Put Call Ratio and How to Use It. Learn about the put call ratio, the way it is derived and how it can be used as a contrarian indicator. Read on. Understanding Put-Call Parity. Put-call parity is an important principle in options pricing first identified by Hans Stoll in his paper, The Relation Between Put and Call Prices, in 1969. It states that the premium of a call option implies a certain fair price for the corresponding put option having the same strike price and expiration date, and vice versa. Read on. Understanding the Greeks. In options trading, you may notice the use of certain greek alphabets like delta or gamma when describing risks associated with various positions. They are known as "the greeks". Read on. Valuing Common Stock using Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Since the value of stock options depends on the price of the underlying stock, it is useful to calculate the fair value of the stock by using a technique known as discounted cash flow. Read on. Follow Us on Facebook to Get Daily Strategies & Tips! Options Strategies.

Options method Finder. Risk Warning: Stocks, futures and binary options trading discussed on this website can be considered High-Risk Trading Operations and their execution can be very risky and may result in significant losses or even in a total loss of all funds on your account. You should not risk more than you afford to lose. Before deciding to trade, you need to ensure that you understand the risks involved taking into account your investment objectives and level of experience. Information on this website is provided strictly for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a trading recommendation service. TheOptionsGuide. com shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The financial products offered by the company carry a high level of risk and can result in the loss of all your funds. You should never invest money that you cannot afford to lose. Best Options Trading Brokers and Platforms. NerdWallet offers financial tools and advice to help people understand their options and make the best possible decisions. The guidance we offer and info we provide are deeply researched, objective and independent.

We spent over 300 hours reviewing the top online brokers before selecting the best for our readers. And to help you find the one that’s best for you, we’ve highlighted their pros, cons and current offers. Who is the best options broker today? The answer depends on whom you ask and what they value. For some investors, the best broker for trading options is the one with the cheapest commissions. Others prioritize trading tools, platform design, research, customer service or all of the above. While most of the brokers on our best-of list below would be a good, all-encompassing choice for many investors, we’ve also highlighted the standout candidates in specific areas that matter most to options traders. Unsure what you’re looking for? See how to choose an options broker for more on what can make or break an options trading experience. Summary: Best online stock brokers for options trading. Best for low-cost. Best options trading platform. Best for research and education.

Best overall for options trading. Our top picks cover all the option trader needs — access to high-quality research, analytical tools, a user-friendly platform — at reasonable prices. TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers earn high marks for options investors for their advanced trading platforms, deep bench of research and tools, plus their high-caliber options trading capabilities. TD Ameritrade handily serves option traders no matter where they are on the learning curve. The broker’s thinkorswim platform offers a robust options trading experience for active investors seeking professional-grade tools to identify trading opportunities, analyze potential risks and rewards, test trade strategies and quickly place even the most complex options trades. The broker’s web-based Trade Architect platform is for investors just getting into options or those who don’t require a high-octane platform. Its stripped-down, easy-to-use interface won’t overwhelm newbies. And although Trade Architect isn’t as fully stocked with tools and data as thinkorswim, it’s no slouch, either. Intermediate investors will find advanced features like a marketoptions heat map, screening and tradefinder tools, and streaming news. Get details in our TD Ameritrade review. For cost-conscious, active options traders looking for low costs and a platform with a lot more meat on its bones, Interactive Brokers may be more your style. Interactive Brokers charges just 70 cents per contract with no base fee ($1 minimum order), plus discounts for larger volumes, if you can manage the $10,000 account minimum. Its Trader Workstation platform (with an options method lab) is considered one of the best and most sophisticated around.

But watch other fees to ensure that the lower commissions pay off. Both brokers allow prospective clients to test-drive the goods without putting any real money on the line. TD Ameritrade offers a paperMoney virtual trading account to test out the thinkorswim platform. At Interactive Brokers, once customers open a real account (which has a $10,000 minimum funding requirement), they can set up a paper trading account that offers them hands-on practice using IB’s Trader Workstation platform and tools. Best brokers for low-cost options trading. These brokers offer competitively priced options trading commissions and have eliminated or dramatically capped minimum trading fees. In early 2017 most of the mainstream online brokers slashed commissions to levels once reserved for their deep-discount peers. That doesn’t mean that they’re the best deal in town for every investor. For active options traders, eOption earns five stars from NerdWallet for its low options trade commissions. The company charges a fixed $3 base plus 15 cents per contract. Another plus: eOption is known for having some of the lowest margin rates available. Although eOption charges a $50 annual inactivity fee on accounts that have placed fewer than two trades in the past 12 months or have less than $10,000 in credit or debit balances, the minimum trade workaround isn’t onerous, even for infrequent traders. Charles Schwab’s trade commission of $4.95 base rate plus 65 cents per contract puts it within spitting distance of deep-discount peers. Schwab recently fully took over the old OptionsXpress and incorporated that broker’s options experience into its own platform, with both web-based and mobile functionality.

Commissions aren’t the only costs associated with trading options. Platform, data and other fees can quickly cancel out what you save on commissions. See our full reviews of Charles Schwab and eOption for details on what they offer. For those simply looking for a cheap way to execute options trades, Charles Schwab and eOption get the job done. Best options trading platforms. These brokers offer some of the most powerful trading platforms available for a reasonable price. Judging a broker’s trading platform by the number of features it offers is like buying a car based solely on what you read in the dealer brochure. While all investors have their must-have features, what’s more important is how the platform feels when it’s in their hands. The trading platforms at Ally Invest and TradeStation offer a wide variety of analytical tools, provide stable and speedy trade execution, and allow investors to customize the tools and design to best suit their needs. Unlike TradeStation, Ally Invest (formerly TradeKing) is technically a deep discount broker as reflected in its commissions (options traders pay a $4.95 base plus 65 cents per contract with only one base charge per spread), $0 account minimum and free access to research and data. Frequent traders (those who place 30 or more trades per quarter or who carry a balance of $100,000 or more) pay a discounted $3.95 base and 50 cents per contract.

But don’t be fooled by the lower prices: Customers get a lot of platform power for free. Ally is suitable for newer options investors. The browser-based platform resembles the offerings of its pricier competitors and comes with free options trading tools for screening and advanced charting. Navigation is easy and streamlined. Customers can create a custom dashboard with movable modules with the data and features they want to use. The setup extends to what users see across all devices, including mobile and tablet. TradeStation is best left to more experienced, tech-savvy investors who want to experience options trading using the same tools as pro traders. The broker provides all the tools needed to design, test-drive, monitor, automate and speedily execute the most complex trades via direct-market access (no pesky middleman to slow down the process). Its OptionsStation Pro platform is fully integrated into TradeStation’s regular trading platform. An added bonus is the broker’s active investor forums, where traders discuss ideas, ask questions and get help. Access to all of TradeStation’s bells and whistles used to come at a steep $99.95 monthly platform fee for those who didn’t meet account balance or trading activity minimums.

But in March 2017 TradeStation eliminated the service fee, lowered its trade commissions for stocks and options and tossed in free real-time market data and free access to its market-monitoring and portfolio-level back-testing tools. Educational tools and platform tutorials are plentiful, which is a plus: Because of the sophisticated nature of the platform, it may require some time to become familiar with all that it offers. See more in our TradeStation review. Best research and options trading education. Both offer extensive research and data for free, as well as live classes and webinars for beginning and advanced options traders. If you’re new to options trading or want to expand your trading strategies, a broker that devotes its resources to research and customer education is a must. Because Schwab and Fidelity each have offices across the country in addition to their online options education libraries, they’re able to offer in-person guidance and free seminars on how to trade options, as well as one-on-one guidance on using the tools each platform offers. Fidelity’s constantly refreshed library draws from more than 20 providers, including Recognia, Ned Davis, S&P Capital IQ and McLean Capital Management. The full suite is available to customers when they sign into the broker’s web-based platform. And you don’t have to stop digging when you’re away from your computer: Fidelity has a strong mobile app that lets customers access the company’s full suite of research through a mobile browser.

Charles Schwab’s options trading capabilities and lineup of trading data and research got a big boost as the company integrated its purchase of OptionsXpress. In October Schwab re-launched its online platform under the StreetSmart name, with both web-based and mobile functionality, though for now only former OptionsXpress clients have access to the new platform. In the first quarter of 2018, Schwab will begin rolling out the new platform to all clients. While the platform name is changing, Schwab still provides a fully realized suite of offerings for options traders, including trade assessment tools, customizable screeners, access to Schwab analyst options-market commentary, live online webinars and pre-recorded seminars. Best brokers for beginner options investors. These brokers provide ideal conditions (educational resources, user-friendly platforms, customer support and low minimums) for investors just learning the options trading ropes. TD Ameritrade — one of our top overall brokers — ranked highest in this category, too. But since there are many types of beginners with many different preferences, instead of highlighting the category champions we’ve focused on brokers that are excellent candidates in three key areas: Low minimum opening balance requirements. Ally Invest, TD Ameritrade, Merrill Edge: If you’re not yet ready to devote a lot of your capital to options trading, you don’t want to tie up much in an account to meet the minimum. Many of the brokers on our list require no money to open an account. However, industry regulations require that traders maintain a $2,000 minimum to trade options.

Strong customer support. Scottrade and TD Ameritrade: On-call help is particularly handy when starting out. One way to test a broker’s level of service is to contact the company with any questions you have about its option trading offerings before you even open an account. Scottrade is known for its standout customer service and huge physical presence of 500 branches. So is TD Ameritrade, with around-the-clock phone and email support and 100 branches where clients can attend seminars and meet with investment associates. At the end of 2017, TD’s acquisition of Scottrade will be complete, increasing each broker’s ability to serve clients. User-friendly platforms. Ally, Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade: There’s nothing better than test-driving a broker’s platform before you commit. Check to see if the broker you’re considering offers paper trading (virtual trading on a platform that mimics the real deal) or contact customer service to see if they will set you up with a demo account. As for brokers discussed in this review, Ally Invest’s browser-based platform is intuitive and easy to customize. And both Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade have multiple platforms customers can use to start learning the ropes, then graduate to more sophisticated tools and trades if desired.

Best options trading brokers: summary. Updated June 30, 2017. Disclaimer: NerdWallet has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain broker-dealers under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partner broker-dealers andor submit an application or get approved for a brokerage account. At times, we may receive incentives (such as an increase in the flat fee) depending on how many users click on links to the broker-dealer and complete a qualifying action. Options Trading. Once upon a time there was an intelligent guy with movie-star good looks. With only one year of option trading experience, at the age of 42, he left his job to become a full-time trader. In between tennis matches and golf games, he traded and traded. In his first 6 months, he made twice his usual salary as a brain surgeon. He laughed heartily, his golden hair glistening in the sun. Next, he took an extended 2-year holiday on his fabulous shiny yacht in the Mediterranean, with a harem of beautiful, scantily clad girls half his age.

By day they would bask in the sun and swim in the ocean. By night they would drink cocktails and admire the perfect sunset before retiring to their cabins. Trading options was so much easier than he had ever expected… Quick reality check … this is a fairytale. To trade options effectively will take a little more effort than that. However, once you’ve got the swing of these fabulous leveraged tools, you may just surprise yourself with how much you can make! What the heck is an option? Exchange traded options (ETOs) are generally the first form of derivative that traders are exposed to, and much to our dismay it has become the practice of spruikers of ETO trading schemes to suggest to people that they move straight into option trading without any prior exposure to the markets. Before we begin talking about exchange traded options, it is necessary to be able to distinguish between ETOs and company issued options. Most traders are familiar with company issued options. These are options issued by companies as a means of raising capital and are traded on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). They are generally European in nature, which means they may only be exercised on the day of expiry.

Upon exercise the number of shares on issue will rise as the options are converted to ordinary shares. It is this conversion to ordinary shares that enables companies to raise equity. ETOs are not issued by the company and are traded on the Australian Securities Market. ETOs are known as American options they can be exercised at any time. And their exercise does not result in any change to the capital structure of the underlying company. ETOs fall into that class of securities known as a derivative, their existence and price is derived from an underlying security, in this case an ordinary share. What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You! It’s important to note that if you cannot successfully trade shares then it will be impossible for you to trade any form of derivative. All derivatives trading will allow you to do is to be more successful and more flamboyant in your failure. As a share trader you should be able to answer the following questions with ease.

What is your entry trigger? Do you believe this to be the secret of successful trading? What is your position sizing methodology? What is your exit method? What is the expectancy of your trading system? If you cannot answer these questions then your chances of succeeding at options trading will be quite small. You will need to set yourself the task of learning about these facets of trading. If you know the answer to these questions and you’ve had a chance to gain a bit of trading experience, then yippee! You’re ready to take the next step and investigate leverage with options. Options Trading – the Basics. Even though this definition sounds a bit confusing, it’s important that you spend some time considering it. An ETO is the right but not the obligation to buy or sell a given security at a certain price within a given time. So if I purchase a BHP call option I have bought the right but not the obligation to buy BHP at a set price by a given time. As an example if I have bought the BHP July 3000 call I have bought the right to buy BHP at $30.00 on or before the expiry date in July. You will notice that when I write $30.00 I write it as 3000.

This is a form of shorthand that is used to describe the strike or exercise price of an option. So an AMP June 825 call is an AMP $8.25 call option. Conversely, a put option is the right but not the obligation to sell a given security at a certain price within a given time. So if I purchase an ANZ 3100 June put I have bought the right but not the obligation to sell ANZ at $31.00 on or before the end of June. Notice how when an option is described, there are four components that make up the description. The stock being traded, this is referred to as the underlying stock, the expiry date, the strike or exercise price and whether it is a put or a call option. All option description contains these four basic elements and this is how an order is conveyed to the broker. When an option is purchased it has to be purchased from someone. It is important to note that there are two sides to an options transaction and it is here that we run into our first piece of jargon. If I buy an option as an opening position I am said to be an option taker or buyer.

So if my instruction to my broker is to buy 10 NAB July 5000 calls to open I am an option taker. In performing this trade I am said to be long that particular option. The maximum potential loss for an option buyer is limited to the amount they paid for their option. Option buyers are also said to have undertaken a debit transaction. It has cost money to initiate the position. If my instruction to the broker had been to sell 10 NAB July 5000 calls to open then I have initiated a short options position and I am referred to as an options writer. A trader who sells an option as an opening transaction is said to be an option writer. The option writer receives a premium from the option buyer short that particular option. A call option writer can be either covered or naked. A covered option writer will own the underlying shares against which the call option has been written. For example a trader who owned 5000 ANZ and then wrote 5 ANZ calls against this position would be referred to as a covered writer.

A trader who simply writes options without the underlying security is said to have taken on a naked position. All sounds rather glamorous, doesn’t it! Naked option writers are liable for margins to be levied against their account by the ASX. Option writers are said to have undertaken a credit transaction since they receive an option premium when the position is initiated. In some instances, option writers can face theoretically unlimited losses. Option writers and buyers can make great money , if they are consistent, know the ins and outs of the market, and focus on their money management. Your financial future is in your hands. It is very important that traders understand the distinction between being an option buyertaker and an option sellerwriter. Each has a differing set of obligations and a different risk profile. Option buyers have the right but not the obligation to exercise their option for this they pay a premium, this premium is the maximum amount they can lose. For example if I had paid $0.35 for a given option then the most I can lose per option contract is $0.35, I cannot lose any more than that. Option writerssellers are under a potential obligation to either deliver stock if they are a call option writer or buy stock if they are a put option writer.

For this obligation they receive a premium from the option buyer. It is possible for an option writer to face a potentially catastrophic loss. It is for this reason that option writers must not only be aware of their obligations but should also have a firm exit method. I might add that hoping and praying are not acceptable as strategies. It is very important for option writers to understand their obligations and the potential for loss that such positions carry. To illustrate this, consider the following. If I write a RIO June 8000 put I am obligated to purchase RIO at $80.00 if the option buyer chooses to exercise their part of the contract. Remember there are two parts to the contract, there is the option writer and there is the option buyer, the buyer has the right but not the obligation to sell RIO at $80.00 on or before the expiry date of the option. My view in writing this put is that I believe RIO will go up, the aim of being an options writer is to buy the option back at a price that is lower than what it was sold for. Option writers have the opposite view to option buyers so if I write a put option I am bullish, if I write a call option I am bearish. Let’s assume that my view of RIO is incorrect and RIO falls precipitously to $60.00 and the put option buyer exercised their right to sell RIO at $80.00 and I have the stock put to me. Irrespective of the price RIO is trading at in the market I have to pay $80.00, I now face a loss of $20.00 per share since I will be forced to buy the stock at $80.00 yet I can only sell it at the market price of $60.00. This loss will be somewhat offset by the premium I received when I sold the option but in reality this would only just cover the brokerage costs in such a transaction. Difference between options and CFDs.

Both ETOs and CFDs are derivatives – their existence and pricing is derived from an underlying security. ETOs like CFDs can be used to trade trends they are also highly leveraged instruments favoured by speculators. However ETOs have a slight advantage over CFDs in terms of the range of market conditions they can be applied to, a CFD like a share and a futures contract requires the price to be trending. If price stops trending they lose their utility. This is not the case with ETOs since strategies can be generated that actually take advantage of a hesitation in price. ETOs can also be used to trade both time and volatility since these are both components of an ETOs price they also form variables that traders can generate strategies to trade. Whilst such strategies are slightly more complicated than simply buying a call, they nonetheless give the trader the opportunity to trade all market conditions. Take the guesswork out of Options. If you’re keen to learn more about options, you need to turn to experienced traders who have the knowledge, experience and cutting edge techniques to help drive your account into profit. Chris Tate and Louise Bedford are among the best in the business, and have several products focused on options trading. Chris and Louise Can Help You! The Art of Options Trading in Australia.

Dive head first into the world of options and see how other traders are taking control of their own equity. Click here to read more about Chris Tate’s book. The Secret of Writing Options. This book by Louise Bedford is written in easy-to-understand language, is highly recommended for newcomers to options trading in Australia, and those already trading the options market. Click here to read more. Trading Plans Are Like Oxygen to Traders. The only option traders who consistently make money are those following an effective trading plan . Need some help to kick off? Download our FREE trading plan template right now. Register here for your FREE Trading Plan Template and Louise and Chris will email one to you straight away!

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