How to trade on optionshouse

How to trade on optionshouse Suggested Keywords: Account types, DRIPs, Routing number, IP, Penny stocks. Suggested Keywords: Account types, DRIPs, Routing number, IP, Penny stocks. We were the first to give Main Street the chance to trade like Wall StreetЂ”and we're still delivering solutions today. Open a new brokerage or retirement account today. Get 60 days of commission-free trades, plus up to $600. 1 How it works. Seize your competitive edge. At E*TRADE, every trader gets access to professional-grade tools and resources to research ideas, test strategies, and take action on market opportunities fast. Elite-level market data. See deep into the market with the same data used by Wall Street traders. Options, futures, and margin tools. Get the insights to execute complex strategies and manage riskreward. Idea generation and analysis.

Uncover emerging opportunities and test your ideas with real market data. $6.95 (or less) trades 2. Get more, for less. Pay $6.95 per equity and options trade, plus just 75ў per options contract. Active traders pay even less. Filter out the noise. Rumors and speculation drive the markets. We help you make sense of it all with independent analyst research from leading providers like TipRanks, Credit Suisse, 3 and Thomson Reuters. ItЂ™s like having a research team at your fingertips. Knowledgeable support. when you need it. When moneyЂ™s at stake, you need answers fast. In addition to 247 Customer Service, our Financial Consultants are on callЂ”talk to one today. that never clocks out. Your account security is paramount. Along with strong network defenses and encryption, we protect your privacy, assets, and every transaction you make with the E*TRADE Complete Protection Guarantee.

If youЂ™re looking for professional management, we can build a portfolio customized to your needs, monitor, and adjust it to help keep you on track. New to online investing and trading? We've mapped out some ways to get you started on your investing journey. Check out some of these helpful videos and articles. New to Online Investing. See how E*TRADE can help you take control of your investments online. Get a three-minute tour of. Creating an Investment Portfolio. You've identified your goals and done some basic research. You understand the difference between. Businesses sell shares of stock to investors as a way to raise money to finance expansion, pay. Get up to $600, plus 60 days of commission-free stock and options trades for deposits of $10k or more. 1 How it works. 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. Regulatory and exchange fees may apply. Stock plan account transactions are subject to a separate commission schedule. Securities products and services offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC, Member FINRA SIPC . Investment advisory services are offered through E*TRADE Capital Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Commodity futures and options on futures products and services offered by E*TRADE Futures LLC, Member NFA . Banking products and services are offered by E*TRADE Bank, a federal savings bank, Member FDIC , or its subsidiaries. E*TRADE Securities LLC, E*TRADE Capital Management LLC, E*TRADE Futures LLC, and E*TRADE Bank are separate but affiliated companies.

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. E*Trade Is Buying an Online Brokerage for $725 Million. E*Trade Financial (etfc) said it would buy the parent of online brokerage OptionsHouse for $725 million in cash, as the company looks to better compete in derivatives trading. OptionsHouse executed 27,000 daily average revenue trades for the twelve months ended June 30, of which 63 percent were in options, E*Trade said on Monday. Chicago-based OptionsHouse currently operates 154,000 customer accounts and has $3.6 billion in customer assets, including $1.4 billion in cash. E*Trade, which operates a discount broker-dealer and a bank, said it intends to help finance the deal by issuing up to $400 million of preferred stock. The company said it expected the deal, which is likely to close in the fourth quarter, to add to earnings in 2018. OptionsHouse is an indirect subsidiary of Aperture New Holdings, a General Atlantic company. Credit Suisse and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom advised E*Trade. Evercore and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Jefferies are Aperture’s advisers.

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All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. OptionsHouse Review 2017. Editor’s Note: E-Trade has acquired OptionsHouse. Current OptionsHouse customer accounts, assets and positions will be moved to E-Trade on August 4-6. (For more details visit E-Trade’s FAQ.) See NerdWallet. com’s E-Trade review. Sophisticated investors — particularly options traders (no surprise) — get a lot of broker for very little money with OptionsHouse. The firm’s low-cost commissions ($4.95 a trade for stocks and options), $0 minimum to open and maintain an account, and professional-grade research, trading tools and platform earn it NerdWallet’s five-star rating. That said, OptionsHouse is not a one-size-fits-all brokerage solution mutual fund and exchange-traded fund investors can find a much better fit for their needs elsewhere. NerdWallet's rating: 5.0 5. Commissions: $4.95 flat rate Account minimum: $0 Promotion: $1,000 in free trades with deposit of $5,000 or more.

OptionsHouse is best for: Options traders Advanced traders Fee-conscious traders No account minimums or inactivity fees Premium platform and tools. OptionsHouse investments at a glance. Where OptionsHouse shines. Account minimum and fees: OptionsHouse scores big points for requiring no minimum balance to open an account. Even better — and this is a standout among brokerages that cater to active traders — the company charges no maintenance fees to customers who fail to make a certain number of trades per month or year. Similarly, customers pay nothing extra for the platform or data. Options trading platform and tools: OptionsHouse started as a broker for experienced, self-directed investors who were active in options, and it still offers professional-grade tools and execution at a low price. The company’s merger with TradeMonster in late 2014 and full integration in 2015 made a big impact, with OptionsHouse taking on that company’s highly regarded web-based trading platform. It’s designed for fast and easy trade execution. From the trade ticket, users can quickly make changes, walking through trade ideas where everything is customizable. TradeLAB gives investors a profitlossbreak-even snapshot on a single screen as well as the probability of any profit, based on the current stock price and the current implied volatility. Within tradeLAB, investors can play out “what-if” scenarios for every angle they can come up with. The platform also has significant automation capabilities, including trigger alerts that allow users to pre-populate orders.

The platform then pushes an alert to the user when an event is triggered. Investors can then submit already-saved orders directly from the web or via the OptionsHouse mobile app. Another standout tool is strategySEEK, which helps investors scan live market data for options strategies based on specific criteria. The tool turns up a list of matches, allowing the user to quickly create an order, using the above features to analyze the trade within the ticket. On-the-go investors will appreciate that OptionsHouse’s trade platform is browser-based. Any customizations the user makes are saved in his or her profile and available no matter what device is used to access the account. Virtual trading platform: Paper trading (virtual trading without putting real money on the line) is a nice perk for new traders and new-to-the-platform investors. Once customers open a real account (which, remember, has no minimum funding requirement), they can set up a paperTRADE account that mirrors all of the live trading platform’s bells and whistles. Through paperTRADE, investors can get hands-on practice trading virtual currency in a live market environment — a perk that makes OptionsHouse stand out among its peers. Where OptionsHouse falls short. Commission-free ETFs: Having only five commission-free ETFs is disappointing, but not unusual in the realm of discount brokerages.

Active ETF investors who want to keep commission costs down should consider OptionsXpress or TD Ameritrade’s ETF lineups. How OptionsHouse stacks up. OptionsHouse offers some of the lowest commissions and fees, making it one of the most affordable choices in its competitive set. Its advanced tools and fast trade executions, along with a full-service platform, make it well-suited for options traders. OptionsHouse vs. similar brokers. Although OptionsHouse is not the right fit for mutual fund and ETF investors, it’s hard to beat when it comes to serving options traders and active stock investors at every experience level. Rock bottom commissions (just $4.95 a trade for stocks plus 50 cents per contract for options), $0 account minimum, lack of hidden fees, speedy trade execution and free pro-level investing tools and trading platform are why OptionsHouse continues to show up on our best-of lists. Dayana Yochim is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: dyochim@nerdwallet. com. Twitter: @dayanayochim.

Best Online Advisors. Recent Broker Reviews. Recent Online Advisor Reviews. 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. E*TRADE Announces Acquisition of OptionsHouse. Meaningfully bolsters derivatives capabilities by bringing on board the industry's #1 (1) options platform. Adds scale with the addition of OptionsHouse's highly active traders. NEW YORK --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- E*TRADE Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:ETFC) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aperture New Holdings, Inc. , the ultimate parent company of OptionsHouse , for $725 million in cash. The transaction will boost E*TRADE's derivatives capabilities while expanding its customer profile with the addition of OptionsHouse's highly active, derivative-centric traders. The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a. m. ET to discuss the transaction (details are below). E*TRADE intends to finance the transaction through the issuance of up to $400 million of non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, with the balance paid in cash.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. "Today's announcement is momentous. Amidst a steady drumbeat of significant steps to enhance the value of E*TRADE for our customers and our owners, we are pleased to make this move to deliver greatly enriched options capabilities, while capitalizing on our scale with the addition of an active customer base," said. , Chief Executive Officer of E*TRADE Financial . "This is the first acquisition E*TRADE has made in a great while, underscoring our disciplined approach, and commitment to deliver on our growth plans. We believe options are an important component of an investor's arsenal, and this deal will intensify our derivatives firepower. Further, we could not be more excited to show OptionsHouse customers all we have to offer, including deep research and education, long-term investing tools, and a best-in-class mobile experience." "This transaction provides OptionsHouse customers with an expanded breadth of offerings, while they continue to enjoy the same tools, platform, value, and quality services they have come to expect," said. , Chief Executive Officer of Aperture Group, LLC . "E*TRADE has a fantastic array of products and services, grounded in a steadfast focus on the customer.

Bringing OptionsHouse's best-in-class derivatives platform within the E*TRADE family will mean our customers can do more under one roof. My leadership team and I look forward to shepherding a smooth transition for our customers and colleagues alike." OptionsHouse , which merged with tradeMONSTER in 2014, is an indirect subsidiary of Aperture New Holdings, Inc. , a General Atlantic company. OptionsHouse is headquartered in Chicago and currently has 154,000 customer accounts with $3.6 billion in customer assets, including $1.4 billion in cash. The Company executed 27,000 Daily Average Revenue Trades for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016 , of which 63 percent were in options. Revenues for the last twelve months were $104 million . E*TRADE expects the transaction to be relatively neutral to earnings in 2017 and accretive in 2018, when full run-rate synergies of approximately $65 million annually are expected. "From a capital utilization perspective, this transaction is incredibly attractive," said. , Chief Financial Officer of E*TRADE Financial . "Beyond creating compelling long-term returns through expansion and synergies, the introduction of preferred equity optimizes our capital structure and enhances flexibility. Importantly, it supports our consolidated Tier 1 leverage ratio to remain above target, while creating flexibility to continue marching forward on other capital actions, including share repurchases and balance sheet growth." E*TRADE was advised by Credit Suisse and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom .

Aperture was advised by Evercore and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison . Jefferies was also a financial advisor to Aperture. Investor conference call Webcast. The Company will host a conference call to discuss the transaction at 8:30 a. m. ET today. This call will be available to domestic participants by dialing 888-223-5127, while international participants should dial +1 303-223-4368. A live webcast will also be available on about. etrade. com. About E*TRADE Financial. E*TRADE Financial and its subsidiaries provide financial services including online brokerage and related banking products and services to retail investors. Securities products and services are offered by E* TRADE Securities LLC (Member FINRA SIPC ). Bank products and services are offered by E*TRADE Bank , a Federal savings bank, Member FDIC, or its subsidiaries. More information is available at etrade.

com. About Aperture New Holdings, Inc. OptionsHouse operates under the holding company Aperture New Holdings, Inc. OptionsHouse ( optionshouse. com ) is an online broker and value leader dedicated to active traders, rated "Best for Options Traders" by Barron's 1 . OptionsHouse offers advanced trading technology, a full-suite of investment products including equities and futures, and first class customer service to all online traders. Additionally, OptionsHouse offers a robust five-star rated mobile app available on all major mobile platforms and devices. All securities and investments are offered by OptionsHouse . Member FINRA SIPC NFA. (1) Based on ratings of OptionsHouse for Barron's annual ranking of the Best Online Brokers, 31916, based on Trading Experience and Technology (4.4 stars), Usability (4.6 stars), Mobile (5.0 stars), Range of Offerings (3.7 stars), Research Amenities (4.8 stars), Portfolio Analysis & Reports (4.7 stars), Customer Service, Education and Security (4.6 stars), and Costs (2.9 stars). OptionsHouse overall received 4.5 out of 5 stars. E*TRADE Financial , E*TRADE , and the E*TRADE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of E*TRADE Financial Corporation . ETFC-G. Forward looking statements. The statements contained in this news release that are forward looking, including statements regarding the proposed transaction between E* TRADE and Aperture Holdings, L. P. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U. S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the benefits and timing of the proposed transaction, such as areas of potential synergies from the proposed transaction and impact of those potential synergies on E*TRADE's financial and operating results, the companies' products, customers and markets, E*TRADE's anticipated capital structure and future capital actions, the availability and potential sources of financing for the transaction and the impact and regulatory implications of a potential preferred equity financing.

These statements are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. The uncertainties and risks include the following, among others: closing of the transaction may not occur or may be delayed expected synergies and other financial benefits of the transaction may not be realized integration of OptionsHouse post-closing may not occur as anticipated regulatory risks associated with the transaction unanticipated restructuring costs may be incurred or undisclosed liabilities assumed attempts to retain key personnel and customers may not succeed financing for the transaction may not be available on acceptable terms and there may be negative changes in general economic conditions in the regions or the industries in which the businesses operate. Further information about these risks and uncertainties can be found in the annual, quarterly, and current reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K E* TRADE Financial Corporation files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including information in these reports under the caption "Risk Factors"). Any forward-looking statement included in this release speaks only as of the date of this communication E*TRADE and Aperture disclaim any obligation to update any information, except as required by law. © 2016 E*TRADE Financial Corporation . All rights reserved. OptionsHouse Review. OptionsHouse is fantastic for options trading, providing investors with industry-leading tools and extremely competitive commission rates. By Blain Reinkensmeyer February 21st, 2017 Updated: September 12th, 2017. IMPORTANT NOTICE JULY 2017: OptionsHouse is now a part of E*TRADE. Please read our E*TRADE Review for a full breakdown of the combined brokerage. OptionsHouse has come a long way. After its establishment in 2005, the online broker grew until May 2014 when it was announced the company and tradeMONSTER would be coming together under one roof.

OptionsHouse was best known for its highly competitive commission rates, while tradeMONSTER was known for its terrific web-based options trading platform. From 2014 until the summer of 2016, the combined OptionsHouse brand thrived, ultimately being purchased by ETRADE for $725 million. At the time this review went to press in February 2017, OptionsHouse continued to run as a stand-alone entity and brand, doing what it has always done best, providing clients fantastic options tools with highly competitive commissions. Stock trades are a flat rate of $4.95 per trade and options trades are just $4.95 + $.50 per contract. This flat-rate commission structure is significantly less expensive than those of all the large, full-service brokers, such as TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity. What we also deeply appreciate is that OptionsHouse’s structure is clean cut, with little or no gimmicks or special-case scenarios that can ramp up costs in a hurry. In fact, when you break these rates down against the entire industry, OptionsHouse finishes No. 2 overall behind Interactive Brokers. For equities and options traders this is a seriously competitive commission structure that cannot be overlooked. What we also deeply appreciate is that OptionsHouse’s structure is clean cut, with little or no gimmicks or special-case scenarios that can ramp up costs in a hurry. No platform fees or data fees either – the rates are all inclusive.

To provide its active options trading customers with an even better deal, OptionsHouse kicked off 2016 by implementing a new Dime Buyback program, under which the company removed commission charges tied to closing short options contracts of $.10 or less, no matter what the spread type is. For example, if a customer makes a two-legged options trade and one leg was a buyback for $.10 or less, the second leg commission would be reduced to $0. OptionsHouse competes with the best in the industry when it comes to powerful platforms for trading options. Built as a web-based platform, OptionsHouse innovates and delivers speed, quality, ease of use, and the tools needed for options traders to succeed. For newer investors, there isn't a better platform on which to learn how to trade options. OptionsHouse offers both virtual trading and regular trading. For newer investors, there isn't a better platform on which to learn how to trade options. Pulling up quotes is a breeze, and OptionsHouse makes it easy to file personal notes with each trade. Regarding OptionsHouse’s streaming charts, the functionality is good but there are drawbacks. First, the interface is not user-friendly and, compared to other brokers, it took us significantly longer to become acquainted with making customizations. Second, there are limited tools (just nine) with which to mark up charts. Third, there is a lack of technical studies available – only 35, compared to the industry average, which is close to 100. This extends to study customizations, which we also found to be limited. On the plus side, you can place limit orders on the chart itself, then access a pre-filled order ticket to review and submit the trade. OptionsHouse also allows you to view your past buys and sells right on the chart, a feature few other brokers offer.

Moving onto options capabilities, OptionsHouse shines. The option chain screen displays a fully customizable streaming real time option chain with 30 different optional columns, including every greek. Once you find an option of interest, clicking it pops open OptionsHouse’s summary window, which includes key metrics alongside different quick links for further analysis. Click Analyze and the tradeLAB Snapshot Analysis pops open. Not only is RiskReward completely broken down with simple smiley faces to translate the pros and cons, but key events to watch out for are displayed alongside a P&L chart. It’s a work of art. If that isn’t good enough, OptionsHouse then provides a Spectral Analysis, which includes all the data needed to make an informed decision. My favorite feature on this tab is Risk Metrics, which displays the option greeks. Since not all investors understand greeks, OptionsHouse has a simple pull-down menu to change from "Greek" to "English," making the data user-friendly for new investors. Awesome. Once you have finished analyzing, you can quickly import the data into a fresh trade ticket, use the trade calculator to find the right position size, add optional notes, and then place the trade.

(Note: This intuitiveness with design and UI continues beyond researching and placing trades. All live positions are completely customizable. OptionsHouse automatically groups options into spreads for you, then allows you to completely regroup them and customize them to your liking using a simple drag-and-drop interface.) Even with all these capabilities, the highlight for options remains the strategySEEK tool, which is where you will find the platform’s option screener. strategySEEK is hands down the best options scanner in the industry. Even with all these capabilities, the highlight for options remains the strategySEEK tool, which is where you will find the platform’s option screener. strategySEEK is hands down the best options scanner in the industry. First, you forecast the price at which you think the stock might end up down the road. Next, you drag and drop to set and order your priorities for the trade: Profit, Return, Probability, and Safety. Lastly, you click “Show Strategies” for a list of the best possible matches. From here, you can create an order and place the trade, analyze the trade (see above), or adjust the scanner and rerun.

It isn’t just the interface that makes strategySEEK impressive, it’s also the data and behind-the - scenes calculations taking place to power the tool’s recommendations. The OptionsHouse platform calculates EVERY possibility, millions of them, using a plethora of data, and displays results in milliseconds. This attention to detail is also seen throughout the rest of the platform in tools such as the liveACTION scanner. All in all, the arsenal of tools available to options traders is truly impressive. OptionsHouse has a clear understanding of what options traders want, and delivers it in stunning fashion. And, as far as equities trading goes, while the platform has a strong foundation of functionality, the overall trading experience could be better. This is especially true for the charting interface, which needs an overhaul. That said, when it comes to browser-based platforms, options trading, and ease of use for new investors, OptionsHouse is king. On the right sidebar of the Quote screen is OptionsHouse’s take on stock research, which is a breakdown of company information and fundamentals. OptionsHouse offers its own Fundamental Report Cards for each company, which, until October 2015, also included letter-relative ratings. While I applaud the OptionsHouse platform team for thinking outside the box, I found the data difficult to interpret and unimpressive. With such competitive commissions, OptionsHouse must cut somewhere, and research is where the broker shaves cost.

Beyond the Fundamental Report Cards, not much else is offered. There are no third-party research reports, no way of conducting metric comparisons against other companies, no SEC filings, and you cannot even view a simple balance sheet. With such competitive commissions, OptionsHouse must cut somewhere, and research is where the broker shaves cost. Similarly for ETFs and Mutual Funds research, the experience is poor. The data is very limiting and the only real positive is being able to see a Morningstar star rating for both ETFs and mutual funds. OptionsHouse is not recommended for research-hungry investors. In late 2016, OptionsHouse released a brand-new mobile experience, completely rebuilt from the ground up. In prior years, OptionsHouse’s mobile apps suffered in the speed department because of their HTML 5 core. Thankfully, speed is no longer a worry and the broker now has a fantastic foundation to build from. Looking at the features of the new experience, on the plus side, the app has the strong core functionality traders desire: real-time streaming quotes, excellent position management capabilities, and synced watch lists. The app also enables traders to place basic and complex options orders, view post-hours charts, and more. OptionsHouse also ties in some creative design elements, such as a fanning out the five most recent quotes when you tap on “Quote” on the bottom bar. On the cons side, the app is still so new there are features missing that are still under development and awaiting release later in 2017. When looking at stock charts and trying to perform technical analysis, you cannot rotate the screen horizontally to view the chart cleanly.

Studies are fairly limited at 11 (although they can be deeply customized, which is nice) and there are no tools beyond pinching to zoom in and out. OptionsHouse has left its previous app in the app store for this reason, which makes sense. All data considered, while OptionsHouse clients are stuck using two separate app experiences until the new app is fully featured, the mobile offering is still great. OptionsHouse placed fourth out of 16 brokers. OptionsHouse delivers customer service that is on par with industry standards. The broker is certainly not industry leading, finishing eighth overall, but it delivers a quality experience that should appease most clients. Also not covered in my review commentary is OptionsHouse’s educational resources. While these resources improved in 2016 with the addition of webinars and more educational content on the company’s blog, OptionsHouse still lacks across the board. Education is limited to just options, there are no videos, organization is poor, and there is a lot left to be desired. OptionsHouse has proved to be a terrific home for options traders over the years.

There was no better confirmation of OptionsHouse’s dominance than the firm’s acquisition by ETRADE for $750 million in July 2016. For now, OptionsHouse remains a stand-alone brand that continues to do what it does best. While it is weak in its offering of education, research, and tools catering to active stock traders specifically, OptionsHouse is on par with the industry with its customer service and shines everywhere else. For options trading, OptionsHouse is No 1, thanks to its discounted pricing structure and industry-leading tools. For our 2017 Stock Broker Review we assessed, rated, and ranked sixteen different online brokers over a period of six months. In total, we conducted 349 customer service tests, collected 5,277 data points, and produced over 40,000 words of research. How we test. OptionsHouse Review. OptionsHouse has a winning combination of low trading costs and fees plus some of the best options trading tools around. They may not offer the same additional resources as other brokers, but that wouldn't be your primary reason for choosing OptionsHouse in the first place. Latest Update November 11, 2015. Extremely low trading costs and fees. Probably the single best thing about OptionsHouse is their competitive prices. Trading rates for new clients recently got bumped up from $3.95 to $4.95 per trade, but these rates are still among the lowest in the industry.

Plus, OptionsHouse has a unique pricing structure for options traders where you pay $4.95 for an options trade plus $0.50 per contract. Variety of proprietary tools built into web-based platform. OptionsHouse doesn’t simply offer you a clean, modern web-based trading application—they also include a number of proprietary tools to aid your trading. One of those unique trading tools is the Trade Generator, which produces a set of potential trade ideas based on criteria like risk appetite or time frame. If you’re a more advanced trader, you will find that the Spread Investigator tool comes in handy. It scans all of the equity options for call and put debit spreads that can potentially deliver high returns. Fully customizable trading interface. The web-based trading platform offered by OptionsHouse is simple to navigate and understand. Perhaps the best feature is the ability to customize the entire interface by minimizing, adding, or removing different sections to the home screen layout. In addition to that, you can open one of these sections as its own separate window so it will detach from the main browser window you originally opened it in. This gives you the ability to spread your trading experience across your entire screen if you wish.

It can also be beneficial to have multiple windows open so you can look at a number of indicators at the same time you are researching or executing your trades. Quick order entry and account navigation. When you open the OptionsHouse trading platform, you will notice that options trading is a heavy feature (hence the product’s name). The quick order entry ticket allows for some of the fastest options trading in the industry. You can instantly add an option leg or a stock leg in one click after typing in a stock quote. OptionsHouse also offers a Quick Launch button in the bottom-left corner of the screen that will completely simplify your navigation. Just click the button and anything you would need is launched in a separate window. Extensive options trading tools. A review of OptionsHouse wouldn’t be complete without commenting on their options tools, which are some of the best and most useful around. Within the Options tab in your account, you can view options chains, vertical options, an options calendar, and several types of option spread choices. In addition to the aforementioned Spread Investigator and Trade Generator tools, OptionsHouse also offers Risk Viewer, which provides insight into your profits and losses, market risk, and options exposure. Innovative mobile application. The OptionsHouse mobile application is available for Android and iPhone.

The iOS application will also work on an iPod or iPad. The app is simple to use and easy to navigate. You can make trades, set up watch lists, and create alerts. One nice feature about the mobile app is that it provides you with tips to help you navigate when you log in. This is useful because oftentimes iPhone applications have some unique features that you won’t even notice unless you stumble upon them by accident. One feature highlighted by the app is the ability to quickly place a trade by clicking on the bid or ask price of a stock. Limited investment product access. By name, OptionsHouse primarily exists for options traders, but they still offer access to a variety of other investment products. Unfortunately, you can’t access forex or international markets with an OptionsHouse account. It’s the assumption, though, that you wouldn’t be interested in trading with OptionsHouse if you are placing a high value on having access to these investment products, so this shouldn’t be a deal breaker for most traders, especially options traders. Lacking financial resources offered by major brokers.

If you choose OptionsHouse as your broker, you should know that you will not have the same type of additional financial resources that a full-service broker provides. Thus, if you need banking services or access to credit and debit cards, you should look elsewhere. OptionsHouse also does not offer college savings plans or small business tools. No asset protection guarantee. In terms of account security, many brokers offer an asset protection guarantee against any unauthorized access to your account. OptionsHouse does not offer this guarantee, which means that the assets in your account are not covered should an unauthorized person to use your account. Without the knowledge of how often this activity occurs, it’s difficult to say how significant that guarantee may be. However, it is comforting to know that you are not on the hook for any losses you may not be responsible for. Limited research and charting capabilities. One of the major knocks on OptionsHouse is the minimal amount of research they provide. There is no third-party research available and many of the other research amenities don’t have the level of depth that you will find elsewhere.

The charting capabilities are pretty weak overall, so if you trade with OptionsHouse you may want to consider using a third party to view charts, which can be somewhat frustrating. Broker Assisted Trades: $25 Futures Contract Fee: $2.00 Maintenance Fees: $0 Margin Rates: 2-6.5% Minimum Account Balance Fee: $0 Mutual Funds Fee - Load: $9.95 Mutual Funds Fee - No-Load: $9.95 Options Contract Price: $0.50 Options Flat Fee: $4.95 Stock Flat Fee: $4.95. ACHEFT Withdrawal: $30 Bounced Check: $30 Check Withdrawal: $0 Domestic Wire Withdrawal: $25 Forced Margin Sellout: Regular commission Full Account Transfer: $50 IRA Annual Fee: $0 Partial Account Transfer: $0 Stop Payment on Check: $30 Telephone Orders: Not offered. We find the best of everything. How? We start with the world. We narrow down our list with expert insight and cut anything that doesn't meet our standards. We hand-test the finalists. Then, we name our top picks. OptionsHouse: A Review for Options Trading. Is OptionsHouse the best choice for stock options traders? Let's review this popular discount broker, with a focus on commissions, functionality, and other OptionsHouse account features. For many discount brokers, stocks and funds are the main breadwinner, and stock options are just a sideshow. Before opening a new brokerage account, options investors should be especially thorough in shopping for a brokerage, as options trading capabilities, commissions, and research vary wildly throughout the industry.

Let's review how OptionsHouse stacks up for options investing and dig into the details you should know before opening an account. OptionHouse's commission prices. Let's start with one of the most important factors of choosing a broker: how much it costs to place a trade. OptionsHouse uses a standard commission schedule in which its clients pay a base rate per trade plus $0.50 for each options contract. Stocks and ETFs. $4.95 per trade + $0.50 per contract. Data source: company website. Keep in mind there is often more to a broker's commission schedule than just its published prices, which we'll explore in more detail. Importantly, new customers can frequently qualify for sign-up bonuses and commission-free trades when they open a new account. Learn more about special offers for new accounts to see if you qualify. Multi-leg options and exercise and assignment fees. Some investors simply buy and sell calls and puts.

Others write covered calls for income. And a smaller number of investors use complex options strategies that involve buying and selling multiple contracts simultaneously. OptionsHouse caters to all types, as it offers basic options trading capabilities, as well as the ability to place multi-leg options trades for complex options trading strategies. Type of Transaction. Fees and Commissions. Up to 4 legs (one $4.95 base commission) Fee for low-price options. Free for options priced at $0.10 or less. Data sources: company website, Barron's . OptionsHouse commissions are favorable for those who use complex trades because it doesn't charge its $4.95 base fee on each leg of a trade. Thus, an options trader could complete a long straddle trade to simultaneously buy one put and one call contract for a price of $5.95 ($4.95 plus $1.00 for two contracts). Importantly, OptionsHouse also waives commissions to close low-priced options contracts when the options price is $0.10 or less. This can be advantageous, as commissions are especially onerous on low-priced options contracts (a fee of $0.50 per contract equates to a 5% commission rate on options priced at $0.10 each).

Commissions for each leg on a multi-leg trade can make for a frustrating experience. OptionsHouse charges just one base rate on a multi-leg trade. Image source: Getty Images. Options research tools. Discount brokers rose to popularity by eliminating many of the costly services of full-service brokers, enabling them to pass on the savings to their customers in the form of lower commissions. As time goes on, though, discount brokers are increasingly offering more research and trading tools to their clients free of charge. OptionsHouse caters to options traders (hence its name) and thus many of its tools are designed with a focus on options. The company's proprietary tradeLAB tool enables its clients to view options strategies graphically, charting the the maximum gain, loss, and break even point of a particular trade. Its strategySEEK tool can be used to comb the market for trading opportunities, and find trades to make based on factors like return potential, safety, probability, and potential profit. Depending on your needs, OptionsHouse probably has a tool for you. Minimum deposit requirements for options trading. OptionsHouse doesn't have a minimum deposit requirement to open a new account, so you don't need to worry about having to empty your savings account to get started. That said, some strategies that expose investors to elevated risk (like shorting puts or calls) will require a higher balance depending on the trade size.

All brokers have risk-management parameters in place to reduce the risk that a trader creates a loss so large that it exceeds his or her account balance. Review: OptionsHouse for options trading. Realistically, there isn't any one broker that is best for all option traders, but there is a broker that is a best fit for any given investor. Some investors may like that OptionsHouse offers competitive commission prices, particularly for multi-leg options trades, as well as the fact that its trading and research tools are all designed with a focus on options trading first and foremost. That said, those who trade options less frequently than they invest in stocks or funds may not make full use of its functionality, or may prefer brokers that offer more commission-free ETFs, for example. To be clear, The Motley Fool does not endorse any particular brokerage, but we can help you find one that is a good fit for you. Check out the Fool. com Broker Center to compare several brokers all on one page and to see if you qualify for extra perks just for opening an account. I think stock investors can benefit by analyzing a company with a credit investors' mentality -- rule out the downside and the upside takes care of itself. Send me an email by clicking here, or tweet me. How to trade on optionshouse Our servers have seen too many requests from you recently. If you feel this block is in error, please contact us using the form below. In order to control abuse and prevent automated scrapers, we limit the rate at which you can request content from Graphiq. Your browsing activity seems to have activated our rate limiter, which may be the result of your computer sending too many requests in a short timeframe, or other signs that may appear to our servers as an automated scraper. Crawling and scraping are not permitted by our Terms and Conditions.

E*TRADE Announces Acquisition of OptionsHouse. Meaningfully bolsters derivatives capabilities by bringing on board the industry’s #1 (1) options platform. Adds scale with the addition of OptionsHouse's highly active traders. NEW YORK--( BUSINESS WIRE )--E*TRADE Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:ETFC) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aperture New Holdings, Inc., the ultimate parent company of OptionsHouse, for $725 million in cash. The transaction will boost E*TRADE’s derivatives capabilities while expanding its customer profile with the addition of OptionsHouse’s highly active, derivative-centric traders. The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a. m. ET to discuss the transaction (details are below). E*TRADE intends to finance the transaction through the issuance of up to $400 million of non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, with the balance paid in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. “Today’s announcement is momentous. Amidst a steady drumbeat of significant steps to enhance the value of E*TRADE for our customers and our owners, we are pleased to make this move to deliver greatly enriched options capabilities, while capitalizing on our scale with the addition of an active customer base,” said Paul Idzik, Chief Executive Officer of E*TRADE Financial. “This is the first acquisition E*TRADE has made in a great while, underscoring our disciplined approach, and commitment to deliver on our growth plans. We believe options are an important component of an investor's arsenal, and this deal will intensify our derivatives firepower. Further, we could not be more excited to show OptionsHouse customers all we have to offer, including deep research and education, long-term investing tools, and a best-in-class mobile experience.

” “This transaction provides OptionsHouse customers with an expanded breadth of offerings, while they continue to enjoy the same tools, platform, value, and quality services they have come to expect,” said Michael Curcio, Chief Executive Officer of Aperture Group, LLC. “E*TRADE has a fantastic array of products and services, grounded in a steadfast focus on the customer. Bringing OptionsHouse’s best-in-class derivatives platform within the E*TRADE family will mean our customers can do more under one roof. My leadership team and I look forward to shepherding a smooth transition for our customers and colleagues alike.” OptionsHouse, which merged with tradeMONSTER in 2014, is an indirect subsidiary of Aperture New Holdings, Inc., a General Atlantic company. OptionsHouse is headquartered in Chicago and currently has 154,000 customer accounts with $3.6 billion in customer assets, including $1.4 billion in cash. The Company executed 27,000 Daily Average Revenue Trades for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, of which 63 percent were in options. Revenues for the last twelve months were $104 million. E*TRADE expects the transaction to be relatively neutral to earnings in 2017 and accretive in 2018, when full run-rate synergies of approximately $65 million annually are expected.

“From a capital utilization perspective, this transaction is incredibly attractive,” said Mike Pizzi, Chief Financial Officer of E*TRADE Financial. “Beyond creating compelling long-term returns through expansion and synergies, the introduction of preferred equity optimizes our capital structure and enhances flexibility. Importantly, it supports our consolidated Tier 1 leverage ratio to remain above target, while creating flexibility to continue marching forward on other capital actions, including share repurchases and balance sheet growth.” E*TRADE was advised by Credit Suisse and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Aperture was advised by Evercore and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Jefferies was also a financial advisor to Aperture. Investor conference call Webcast. The Company will host a conference call to discuss the transaction at 8:30 a. m. ET today. This call will be available to domestic participants by dialing 888-223-5127, while international participants should dial +1 303-223-4368. A live webcast will also be available on about.

etrade. com. About E*TRADE Financial. E*TRADE Financial and its subsidiaries provide financial services including online brokerage and related banking products and services to retail investors. Securities products and services are offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC (Member FINRASIPC). Bank products and services are offered by E*TRADE Bank, a Federal savings bank, Member FDIC, or its subsidiaries. More information is available at etrade. com. About Aperture New Holdings, Inc. OptionsHouse operates under the holding company Aperture New Holdings, Inc. OptionsHouse ( optionshouse. com ) is an online broker and value leader dedicated to active traders, rated “Best for Options Traders” by Barron’s 1 . OptionsHouse offers advanced trading technology, a full-suite of investment products including equities and futures, and first class customer service to all online traders. Additionally, OptionsHouse offers a robust five-star rated mobile app available on all major mobile platforms and devices. All securities and investments are offered by OptionsHouse.

Member FINRASIPCNFA. (1) Based on ratings of OptionsHouse for Barron's annual ranking of the Best Online Brokers, 31916, based on Trading Experience and Technology (4.4 stars), Usability (4.6 stars), Mobile (5.0 stars), Range of Offerings (3.7 stars), Research Amenities (4.8 stars), Portfolio Analysis & Reports (4.7 stars), Customer Service, Education and Security (4.6 stars), and Costs (2.9 stars). OptionsHouse overall received 4.5 out of 5 stars. E*TRADE Financial, E*TRADE, and the E*TRADE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of E*TRADE Financial Corporation. ETFC-G. Forward looking statements. The statements contained in this news release that are forward looking, including statements regarding the proposed transaction between E*TRADE and Aperture Holdings, L. P. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U. S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the benefits and timing of the proposed transaction, such as areas of potential synergies from the proposed transaction and impact of those potential synergies on E*TRADE’s financial and operating results, the companies' products, customers and markets, E*TRADE's anticipated capital structure and future capital actions, the availability and potential sources of financing for the transaction and the impact and regulatory implications of a potential preferred equity financing. These statements are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. The uncertainties and risks include the following, among others: closing of the transaction may not occur or may be delayed expected synergies and other financial benefits of the transaction may not be realized integration of OptionsHouse post-closing may not occur as anticipated regulatory risks associated with the transaction unanticipated restructuring costs may be incurred or undisclosed liabilities assumed attempts to retain key personnel and customers may not succeed financing for the transaction may not be available on acceptable terms and there may be negative changes in general economic conditions in the regions or the industries in which the businesses operate. Further information about these risks and uncertainties can be found in the annual, quarterly, and current reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K E*TRADE Financial Corporation files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including information in these reports under the caption "Risk Factors"). Any forward-looking statement included in this release speaks only as of the date of this communication E*TRADE and Aperture disclaim any obligation to update any information, except as required by law.

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