Online Brokers

[Bluerobin]

Who do you use? I am with Scottrade, but since they put in the new system, I am having problems. Half the time I cannot log into the streaming quotes. Their FAQ indicated I should contact my antivirus provider - sorry, their product should be complete before they put it out there.
Ok, I am tired of the hassel and am looking to switch online brokers. Who has good software, research tools and cheap trades?

[yclept]

I use Scottrade. I use the "elite" platform, mostly because the simple website platform would continually log me off after only a few minutes. The "elite" stays on all the time.
I've never used streaming quotes, so, sorry, can't comment on whether it's better or worse than whatever they had before.
I know my normal amount of trading also qualifies me for free level II data, but have never bothered to check it out. I haven't found any of the tools at Scottrade very useful, and use other sites for virtually all of my stock selection. Scott's charting is okay -- I use it quite a bit.
I guess the only use this post might be is to suggest the "elite" platform if you are not already using it. My broker before Scott was Schwab, but that was back in the stone age when Schwab's lowest commission rate was ~$30 and not much in the way of tools was available from any on-line broker.

[Bluerobin]

yclept, I qualify for elite, just never liked it. Schwab looks interesting and they have an office about an hour away. $8.95 per trade. Scottrade made a good streaming trade screen, but half the time the trades don't stream. I really dislike programmers that say "you" have to fix it. NO, I don't. You made, you make it work. I am pretty sure I am going to another broker. Funny thing is I was going to switch a Roth IRA to Scott before this present mess.

[architecto25]

well, I use Scottrade....for my account; and I watch it for 2 more. I've had no complaints with them & there's an office about a 30 minute drive from me. I've been there very few times. I'm dreading the new "streaming quotes" thingee they keep advertising. 29 more days. When it first got posted I spent about 2 minutes exploring it.... so just standing at parade rest....until I have to use it. Since I have more grey hairs, and have had them longer than most of you, I've watched lots of brokers...way before the Discount Brokers came in. As a parting thought: I enjoy the Scottrade system as I'm now using it...

[Bluerobin]

Architecto, You just need the most current version of Java. Otherwise it is an improvement. However, almost every other time I log on, it doesn't stream. They blame my antivirus. I blame their poor programming.

[klewcm]

I've used Scottrade for years with no issues. About a year ago started directing all financial statements & correspondence to a PO box. Completed change of address forms as they requested. Now 3 phone calls later and 2 additional trips to their branch office here in St. Louis, they can not seem to get it correct. The Post Office doesn't help much, they cannot seem to decide what city I live in. Pretty annoying.

[architecto25]

Thanks, bluerobin, we old men are just set in our ways....... we don't like changes.... we didn't like it when phones got invented.... we thought smoke signals worked o.k. (back in the olden days)....LOL

[yclept]

Reckon if'n you'll set me out with a .54 Hawkin, a good hawk 'n skinnin' knife, a line or two of traps, on a strong horse with a smart mule to carry the traps an' the rest o' my possibles (chaw, flour, pan, coffee, powder, lead, flints, mirrors an' other shiny trade items), then I'll bring back 'nough beaver plews ta hat-up all of London town. Don't see as how a body could need anythin' more fer ta be livin' in shinin' times. Don't need no cellular phone nor global positioning system to know up is up, down is down, streams run down to rivers and the sun rises in the east and the Crow is bad people -- everbody knows that be they Sioux, Mandan, Shoshone, Flathead why even Nez Perce way over on the far coast knows Crow is bad. Although ya got to be kerful 'round them Sioux as well -- they been known to lift a scalp or two. Never been lost, I always knew whar I was -- a few times been powerful confused about whar everthin else was, but always knew whar I was.

[2kids10horses]

I want some of that stuff yclept's smoking!

[mtntigger]

I use OptionsHouse --- pretty much as cheap as you can get. I don't care for their research tools, so I doubt if that is what you are looking for. You can set up a virtual account there to test it out if you wanted, although most sites probably have that same capability.

[tyfighter3]

This message has been deleted.

[Bluerobin]

Thanks folks. I would stick with Scottrade, but the trades only streaming sometimes is sorta a big drawback. Their FAQ blames it on "the antivirus you are using". Really? If that was so, I wouldn't get it at all. If they fix it great. If not, I am going elsewhere.
I want cheap and need simple tools.

[yclept]

Blackfoot -- how could I forget ta mention the Blackfoot; well, I reckon thar's kinder souls than Blackfoot, if thars only a few of 'em, yer best-off ta take 'em at night with yer hawk and scalp 'em. That way they'll likely figure it was Crow and devote their kind attentions elsewhar. If thar's lots of 'em, best move over a valley or two. Blackfoot country is whar it's good to be trappin' with a partner or two, and each of you havin' at least two rifles, a couple of hawks, and maybe even one of them pistols. Never much cared fer pistols myself, waste of powder and lead -- almost guaranteed to miss, and even if ya hit, it's more likely ta just make him mad than ta do him serious harm. Pistols do make tolerable clubs, but nowhar near as good as a hawk.

[mtntigger]

And this, folks, is why men need to ask for directions, else they would all end up like yclept. <<shakes head>>

[yclept]

And this, folks, is why men need to ask for directions, else they would all end up like yclept

Dont say another damn thing -- squaws, like chillen should be seen and not heard. Git that fire going and pound some coffee. Then git the saddles and packs offen them animals and hobble 'em up fer tha nite. Damn lazy squaws -- hardly worth the trouble ta beat em.

[rovo]

Blackfoot -- how could I forget ta mention the Blackfoot; well, I reckon thar's kinder souls than Blackfoot, if thars only a few of 'em, yer best-off ta take 'em at night with yer hawk and scalp 'em.

Promoting violence is against the CofC. ;D As someone with a little Blackfoot blood, I might just seek out those wishing to scalp us.

[mtntigger]

Mar 31, 2011 9:54:04 GMT -5 @yclept said:

And this, folks, is why men need to ask for directions, else they would all end up like yclept

Dont say another damn thing -- squaws, like chillen should be seen and not heard. Git that fire going and pound some coffee. Then git the saddles and packs offen them animals and hobble 'em up fer tha nite. Damn lazy squaws -- hardly worth the trouble ta beat em.

So you want me to light a fire under your feet? DONE! As for that coffee, would you really drink coffee that I prepared for you?
Here is another difference between men and women.... women don't mind the extra work in beating the poor lost souls that need to be set straight.

[architecto25]

Since we're into discussions about Indians;. I'll offer this. And it's a true story.
When I was born (in a farm house in West Texas), a neighbor offered my parents $1. if they would name me QUANNAH PARKER, who I've heard was a famous Indian Chief in the Okla. territory. And the name is prominent to this day. I'm thankful they didn't need the dollar that bad.... LOL

[yclept]

We're talking tradin' all the time here. What could be more violent than that?

[yclept]

So you want me to light a fire under your feet? DONE! As for that coffee, would you really drink coffee that I prepared for you?
Here is another difference between men and women.... women don't mind the extra work in beating the poor lost souls that need to be set straight.

Yer ta git that coffee pounded and boiling, see to them animals, then git back ta chewen that elk hide to soften it -- I'm gonna be needen some new moccasins soon an a shirt before winter an you better have the hides ready to make em. Iffn ya dont git movin, first chance, I'll trade ya off to Quanah Parker or one o them other Comanches -- they'll cut yer nose and work ya hard.

[mtntigger]

I'm gonna be needen some new moccasins soon

Of course you do! That fire I lit under your feet ruined the old ones.
I don't much care for coffee, but I'll get ya one of these...

[yclept]

Ya brung beer? Trappin? No wonder them poor mules has been workin so hard. We got to dispose o that beer right now to lighten up tha load. That's why we never bring whiskey -- it's too heavy, and ya can't bring enough of it ta last anyway, just becommin a source of hard feelins and grief when it runs out. Best to drink yer fill of whiskey at rendezvous and then just let it go fer a year.

[mtntigger]

That's why we never bring whiskey -- it's too heavy, and ya can't bring enough of it ta last anyway

We don't? Oh, yeah, that's right... we don't.
Here, have some more while I... um... get the horses hitched.

[yclept]

Urrp. Ya can fergit that coffee fer tonight -- we shoulda put the beer keg in the stream to get cold, but it'll do. An the animals need to be unsaddled an hobbled fer the nite. Hitched? We ain't hauling no wagon or cart -- these animals never git hitched -- like ta see ya try ta hitch Ol' Red over thar, ya'd be wearin yer teeth on a necklace. Stubborn animal, Ol' Red, but a good fighter -- mean bite -- an he kin smell an Injun (no offense) a mile off.

I reckon all this palaver is given bluerobin plenty ta consider about choosin what he wants to do about his broker.

[mtntigger]

We ain't hauling no wagon or cart -- these animals never git hitched

Schwoops! I guess I can't do anything right. Oh well, you know that ol' saying... if you want something done right, do it yourself.



<<SBS sits back and waits for yclept to do all the work.>> ;D

[yclept]

Urrp.

[mtntigger]

I think I broke yclept.

[yclept]

It'll all be aright fer tonite. The horses'll smell anythin comin and the mules'll hear. Thar's good grass here, they won't wander far, specially since that lazy squaw didn't take off their packs n saddles. Is thar annymore o that beer? I gotta pee.

Or to quote the bard:
Drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things . . . nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance.
William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Didn think us trappers knew about the bard, did ya? Well thar's a lot about trappin that'd surprise ya. Gotta read somethin on them long summer nights. A book's better'n a keg of whiskey or beer. When the keg is empty, it's gone. The book can be read again, or if it warn't no good makes tolerable hindside paper.

[Bluerobin]

Is this EE?

[ilovedolphins]

I have been with Etrade for some 10 plus years. Haven't had any problems with them so far. I can get the streaming quotes as well.