What Trading Platform do you use

[leanmass]

Gents and Ladies,

Really enjoyed the book!! I'm about to join an on-line brokerage and am curious as to what trading platforms you guys use. I've read a couple of reviews about Scottrade, E-Trade, Ameritrade, and Options Express..but I wanted to hear opinions from Rule #1 investors as to what their favorite platform is and why. Thanks

[JayC]

I opened a Scottrade Roth IRA account for the no fees and $7 trades. I was pleasantly surprised with the charting, the news, the insider trading information they present. I was able to configure it for Phil's recomended 30-day MA, 8-17-9 MACD, and 14-Stochastics. I also added Volume and was able to save that chart display. I have not traded real money yet so I can't comment of that part of the system, but I'm happy with my choice at this point.

FWIW,
Jay

[Gunnski]

Ditto on Scottrade. I left & went to Sharebuilders. Big mistake. I am back with Scottrade & very satisfied. Flexible, great tools, quick execution of orders & seamless. In for the long haul.

But, please do not rush into anything. I suggest kicking some tires and go with what makes you feel comfortable. Good investing!

[Gunnski]

Yes. You can open a Watch List or Portfolio. Much like you can on Yahoo>Finance.

You can jump into a contest at VSE, if you Google VSE the link will com right up. Its a fun way to track your selections for free.

Have fun!

[leanmass]

Thanks for the info. Can you do a Practice account on Scottrade to refine your paper trading while getting familiar with Scottrade tools?

[Vega$Chri$]

For me it came down to TradeKing and Scottrade. I researched both the way I would a Rule #1 Company (3M's instead of 4M's however, unless you look at the number of investors as your MOS, figuring that the more people on the site the better the long term stability).

Ultimately, Scottrade got the nod (although just slightly) in all of the first 3M's. Meaning & Management for me were important - I'm from St. Louis and it's a St. Louis based company, the CEO is from there, he went to Mizzou and he's also the person who founded the company. Moat for me was more difficult, but I feel the number of people that I know of or have read of who used other sites and ended up liking Scottrade more won the day. I give it a Brand Moat edge (at least against TradeKing).

On the other side of that coin, I REALLY liked how TradeKing was established, obviously loved the low commissions, and how they structure them (beginner or advanced, minimal shares or many shares - one price). I think their integration of social networking within the trading community is genius, and I plan to begin a smaller trading account with them in the future. Depending on my side by side comparison down the road, I could be swayed...

At the end of the day, you need to research as much as possible (I must have called or chatted live with 10 different places when I started) and see where you feel the most comfortable. Best of luck!

My $0.02...

[Gunnski]

Nice job V.C.! I agree with you 100%.

[mrmondok]

I am with Scottrade. I was with options express before but the fees are to expensive and now that I am trading stocks primarily, scottrade really is the best deal that I have found.

[investor999]

Hi, Im based in the UK - what brokers do other UK residents use!?!?

Are there ANY Rule 1 Investors in the UK? I feel very alone!

Thanks!

Investor999

[investor999]

i guess im the UK mascot for Rule 1 investment then, since im the only here in the UK!