7 Reasons Why You Need To Trade
With A Broker Who Specializes in Options
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Use an Options Brokerage Specialist or Not?
If you want to test this hypothesis out, call your traditional online broker and ask him to explain to you how the following trading strategies work:
- Butterflies and Wingspreads
- Verticals
- Straddles and Strangles
- Time Spreads
Oh, and forget about learning “The Greeks” from most brokers. You know the term, “it’s all Greek to me”? Well, that’s certainly true of most traditional brokers. We’d be surprised if you could get a sufficient answer to questions like, what is delta, or what the terms gamma, theta, vega or rho mean.
In some respects, it’s not incumbent on most brokers to really have this kind of specialized knowledge. Expecting your average Wall Street Joe to understand complex options strategies and terminology is like expecting your general practitioner to be able to perform brain surgery.
That’s why it’s essential for any serious options trader to do business with a brokerage that specializes in options trading. The firms listed in our Broker Comparison chart are a good place to start because they have they have the trained personnel and the years of expertise to help you execute and/or to explain to you the strategy and details of virtually any type of options transaction.
MORE BROKER ADVICE
Opening Your Options Trading Account
Learn how to open an options trading account and why you need a margin account. more
Is Your Money Safe From Broker Risk?
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5 Tips for Moving Your Brokerage Account
If you're unhappy with your broker, don't let the paperwork scare you out of making a switch. Learn how easy it is to move your brokerage account. more
The Truth Behind Broker Commissions
Learn what commission rates you should be paying the most attention to, and get three steps to help you find the lowest broker commissions available. more
Brokerage Levels and Option Risk
Options expert looks at the risk associated with trading different option strategies -- covered calls, long calls/puts, spread trading and naked shorting -- against the four levels of brokers' approval. more
Option Approval Levels Explained
It is important to know what level of option approval your account has and what strategies you are allowed to employ at each option approval level. Here is a breakdown of Levels 1 through 4. more
Options Broker Review: optionsXpress
Learn the pros and cons of this online options brokerage. more
Options Broker Review: tradeMONSTER
Learn the pros and cons of this online options brokerage. more
Options Broker Review: OptionsHouse
Learn the pros and cons of this relatively new options brokerage. more
Learning Options Lingo
If you want to trade options, you need to know how to talk the talk. Get a crash course in the key terminology you need to know to become a successful trader. more


