Their website states they will “reimburse you for the cash or shares of securities you lost.”. This is actually twice as expensive as some other discount brokers. In fact, this is fantastic when compared to pricing at other competitors, where account minimums can range from $500 to $10,000. And if you do have six figures or more ready to invest, you can find many good fits for your portfolio here as well. Reviews and research show TD Ameritrade don’t score so well in terms of margin rates and commission fees. Keep up the good articles! This brokerage competes with other major discount brokerages seriously and is worth consideration. Good thing I wasn’t using real money. At TDAmeritrade, Think or Swim is by far the best data provider. You can trust the integrity of our balanced, independent financial advice. Agents are well trained with an in-depth knowledge of both trading platforms and accounts. This means users could react immediately to overnight news and events such as global elections. Supervisor told me that he did not know when my funds would be available. Apple users can also reach customer service via iMessage on their iPhones. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers … Streamer is a TD Ameritrade application that serves streaming market data to internal and external clients of TD Ameritrade. Same with interest. Hope the Scottrade clients give them a chance – they do offer direct deposit – just type direct deposit into Ask Ted and he’ll share how. So while it can be faster from bank to bank, the third party process makes it a bit longer. And there is no charts or info on the stocks or funds, like Scottrade had. Since when is “conservative” synonymous with incompetent? When you put TD Ameritrade vs OptionsHouse and other competitors, you realise TD Ameritrade’s commission rates for stocks and ETFs, in particular, are well above the industry norm. However, if you want to trade a no-load fund, not on that list, you'll still pay $49.99 per trade. Securities and other investment and insurance products are: not a deposit; not FDIC insured; not insured by any federal government agency; not guaranteed by TD Bank, N.A. Helping make finance easy. In addition, clients accounts are protected under FDIC (deposit accounts held at TD Bank) and SIPC. In the off-hours between Sunday 20:00 EST and Friday 20:00 EST, customers can trade 12 ETFs. Even banks place holds on debit ACH. No way I’ll ever be a complex trader, but for the average investor, they serve me well. However, there remain numerous positives. The base margin rate is 7.75%, while the maximum rate is 9%. Consult relevant financial professionals in your country of residence to get personalised advice before you make any trading or investing decisions. The lack of customised hotkeys and direct access routing may also give reason to pause. Once your confidence has grown, it’s then straightforward to close your demo account and upgrade to a live trading account. Thanks for the comment. Thanks! For specific stock and other investment analysis, TD Ameritrade gives you access to New Constructs, Jaywalk Consensus, Research Team, Market Edge, S&P Columns, and S&P Research. Its comprehensive offering facilitates trading in stocks, forex, futures, options, ETFs, and other securities. The interface is sleek and easy to navigate. Fidelity is 2500 which is why I am thinking of leaving them. I’m not sure how much longer this rally can last, and I think it might be smart to start hedging your portfolio over the next few months. But let me cut right to the chase and say that if you’re an experienced trader who relies on filters and such tools to suss out potential trading opportunities then Ameritrade is absolutely not the platform to use. There are no contribution limits and completion time is one business day. They roll right into after hours with no option to look at the actual close. They also can’t give you a feed for closing prices. Also, Schwab’s no fee ETFs and mutual funds are as exciting to follow as watching paint dry, but they’re steady growers that usually come out above the combinations of individual high fliers selected the neophyte investor. Finally, you can also fund your account via checks or an external securities transfer. I came from OptionsHouse (now E-Trade – still have an account with them) with these funds. This is a brokerage firm that like most, provide you the ease of doing things like bill pay, using a debit card, etc. TD Ameritrade now offers 24/7 support via email, text and even Facebook Messenger. If you wish to use margin you will require a minimum balance of $2,000. For example, domestic wire withdrawal will cost $25. Investor Junkie does attempt to take a reasonable and good faith approach to maintaining objectivity towards providing referrals that are in the best interest of readers. Like when you receive a dividend you don’t know who it’s from. ... TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation. Of course, you should always do your own analysis and never invest in something you don't understand or purely by a research report recommendation. 79% of retail accounts lose money with this provider. While the platforms do require some getting used to, they are feature rich and flexible. Plus you pay the Fee for the trade on top of that. Have one written calls on that platform. TD Ameritrade does not make recommendations or determine the suitability of any security, strategy or course of action for you through your use of our trading tools. General education resources include articles, videos, webinars, courses, and live in-person events. There are a range of account options which also cater to different types of trader. Very strange. One platform may show a security gaining 18% while the other may show losses on a daily gain view. TD Ameritrade is a huge company, so many customer service options are available 24/7. TD Ameritrade; Claim Share Print. You may be called upon at short notice to deposit additional margin funds. There were multiple other problems too. Back in the ’90s, I helped create some of the first financial websites for firms like Chase, T. Rowe Price, and ING Bank, and later went on to work for Nomura Securities. The technology has worked fine on my MAC. I was on Scottrade, but since they’ve sold all of us down the river, I will be looking for a new place. The system has also been streamlined so completing basic tasks, such as placing stop-loss limits and trailing stop orders is quick and hassle-free. Cashier’s checks can be subject to forgery and fraud, but regardless as soon as a deposit is posted, you can trade on those funds, you just can’t withdraw. This is, in part, why we offer several different media for our clients to conduct their account activity.”. The exit trade on the loss side could be a stop-loss order to buy the puts if the price rises to $3, which would exit the trade with a loss that’s about 50%. However, trading on margin can also amplify losses. TD Ameritrade generally offers well-rated customer service. In fact, it is so sophisticated, that only TradeStation offers such a comprehensive platform. With Scottrade what you see is what you get when it come to a trade. I don’t know about the advantages of Ameritrade’s “Think or Swim” to the occasional investor (as opposed to a regular trader), but Schwab has completed an integrated platform that enables intensive research at several locations and among several accounts–usually without a hitch. He told me that there isn’t one person on earth who knows all 100% of the platform’s capabilities. Brokerages are originators, not ODFI/RDFI and funds availability rules of NACHA are for banks and typically apply to direct deposits, not debit originated ACH. Unfortunately, the ‘Ask Ted’ live chat support is only for clients using the thinkorswim platform. Accessing data feeds is straightforward, you can customise charts, plus you have 30 stock and option screeners. Please note that I am referring to the amount of time that it takes them to post DEPOSITS. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, and TD Ameritrade brand names. TD Ameritrade offers investors free access to several different trading platforms. Commissions are higher than the industry average at $6.95 per trade for stocks and ETFs. The brokerage has nearly 50 years of experience in industry firsts, including: So, over the years they have continuously made news headlines providing innovative solutions to traders issues. It may very well be that there is a disconnect between they way customers use their platform and their perception of it. Once you have filled in the necessary forms and TD Ameritrade have finished their checking, you can start trading. TD Ameritrade came about as a result of a series of mergers and acquisitions. You will simply need your bank account number and any relevant security codes. Unfortunately I’ve been sick since Friday, so I’ll been hard to write much. The bigger a loss, the harder it is to recover. You also have stringent margin maintenance requirements to contend with. The system has also been streamlined so completing basic tasks, such as placing stop-loss limits and trailing stop orders is quick and hassle-free. That means you can trade stocks, ETFs, and options for free (except for a 65-cent contract fee). The money market funds they do sell have high transactions fees. But Schwab now has a handy feature ,”Trade Source,” that gives the investor up-to-the-minute info on the stock’s candidacy for buying at any given time. They are licensed in numerous locations, from the USA to Hong Kong. At first glance Ameritrade/TOS appears to be a robust trading and analytics platform that’s included with having an account at Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade’s fees depend on the investment product and the level of service you require, but all online trades of U.S. exchange-listed stocks, ETFs and mutual funds require $0 commission. Once you download this desktop platform, serious traders can benefit from all of the features found in Trade Architect, plus advanced trade capabilities. I am seriously considering moving my portfolio to a different company. If you want to switch to a new broker, do NOT sell. Also note, all three platforms can be used to trade a huge range of instruments, from penny stocks to cryptocurrency, such as ethereum and litecoin. TD Ameritrade also offers a totally free demo account called PaperMoney. My WTF fund is slightly under value. I see most of these robo invester outfits will help manage IRA’s. As a result, Trade Architect is a good choice for traders with some experience looking to invest a modest sum of funds. The former is designed for beginners and casual investors. They should be able to help you with any TD Ameritrade.com login problems, or when the website goes down. Ameritrade must have bought out Scottrade to stop the loss of customers to a far superior platform. People are speculating that the … I found out Joe Ricketts (who is on the board of directors for TD and was the founder) contributes to Super PACs that don’t focus on real issues and I am looking to move my money ASAP. From their headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, TD Ameritrade have been serving customers since 1971. The BID(sell) price you get is lower and the Ask(buy) price is higher. Here are my reasons: 1. Now I have to get the data by hand and enter it into a spreadsheet. The company is regulated by FINRA. Note, they don’t charge you to do ACH transactions, whereas my bank (BOA) charged me $5.00 to initiate a transfer to another bank. Schwab’s own ratings are usually behind the curve, so buying them as A stocks often means they’ll be B and C stocks in the near future. You will interface with senior leaders, and you will have active roles in community service projects. TD Ameritrade is a huge company, so many customer service options are available 24/7. Once you’re into the app, you can customise positions and watch list views. at what is 10 to 20 basis points under market rates. So, there is room for improvement in this area. These resources can help you learn more about basic investing principles and get detailed views into specific securities. All products are presented without warranty. That's pretty much everything you can buy! I must be on a different Ameritrade platform. As a result, novice traders may want to look for a cleaner more streamlined trading platform. One of the largest discount brokers in the US, with a fixed trading commission and access to a large array of trading products and securities. After I finally got access on Sunday night I stayed up for hours and finally realized that Scottrade was far superior to Ameritrade and I was being screwed by the merger. Every now and then, they have to deviate from the effing process, and they are totally unable to explain why. Funded with simulated money, you don’t have to risk real capital until you feel confident. Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors as the special risks inherent to options trading may expose investors to potentially rapid and substantial losses. Most significant brokerages offer resources for beginners to advanced investors to level up their knowledge. The company was one of the first to announce it would offer 24-hour trading. On top of the deposit bonuses, TD Ameritrade occasionally release promo offer codes, as well as giving users up to 500 free trades. I like TDA. Clients can make direct deposits and withdraw funds with relative ease through the TD Ameritrade network. If you can't manage your accounts digitally, you can place orders by phone for an added fee. Account transfers will cost $75, and a forced margin sellout is charged at $25 plus broker commission. Money Talks, Bullsh*t Walks. Also their fees are worse than others and others have good research too. Whether you live in the UK or Canada, once you sign in to your brokerage account you will have access to the same robust TD Ameritrade trading platforms. Overall then, if you’re a moderately active trader who wants a powerful platform and access to extensive research, then TD Ameritrade could well be the right choice. So, for those interested in premarket hours and a range of instruments, from index funds to bitcoin (BTC) futures and options, there will always be a trade opportunity at TD Ameritrade. Once your account is open and funded (typically, there is no minimum opening deposit at TD Ameritrade), you can invest in pretty much anything available in significant stock, bond, mutual fund, and other investment markets. Daytrading.com may receive compensation from the brands or services mentioned on this website. Not sure if they still offer that at E-trade. This review will examine all aspects of their service, including account fees, trading platforms, mobile apps, and much more. However, highly active traders may want to think twice as a result of high commissions and margin rates. There are automated trading capabilities, including robo-advisors from their Investment. Both brokers offer excellent service, with the consistency among the reps who answer the phone about equal (if you call at off hours, either one may provide a new and “overly-earnest” rep whose indirectness or slowness is merely an apprentice’s defensiveness about what he doesn’t know). HOWEVER, while Think or Swim is first class, in my experience, nothing else at TD Ameritrade is. I contend, if they cannot solve simple problem, how a complex product would be more reliable. They are just deaf or simply incompetent to listen to the repeated complaints. This wastes my time. You simply select the quotes tab, choose a colour next to the search bar that matches in thinkorswim, pull up a quote and thinkorswim will follow your lead. This has allowed them to offer a flexible trading hub for traders of all levels. It takes a lot of time to learn how to use it and, even after a year, I still think I have only scratched the surface. In fact, you will have three options, TD Ameritrade.com and Trade Architect which are web-based, as well as desktop application thinkorswim. TD Ameritrade Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. I lost the income manager which I had used since the second day it was installed. The most outstanding features TD Ameritrade has to offer is its array of account offerings, a wide range of investment choices, educational resources, and diverse trading platforms.