Tradestation

[TinGull]

Hi there,

I had a couple of questions regarding Tradestation for those that use it. I realize it's one of, if not the top used software trading platform out there. For those that use it, what are your total costs per month to trade with them excluding your commissions? Are there certain add on costs that you feel you can't live without? I'm trying to decide if this is the way I should go or not. I'm pretty much satisfied with who I've got, but if there's something out there that's better, I'm willing to look. Especially if it's an all in one sort of thing. Right now, I have 2 softwares open to trade, one is my charting package (InvestorR/T) and the other is my brokerage (thinkorswim). ToS has been great to me, and would hate to leave 'em, but again, if something out there would better suit me, I'll do it.

Thanks!!!

Chris

[Gav]

I am Tradestation user. Switched from Strategy Runner. For futures trading, as long as you have made 10 round turns a month, software is free of charge. Excluding commission (which is considered low), you need to pay some fee for data. CME, CBOT, Nasdaq, NYSE, ARM cost me total around USD25 monthly. That's all.

To me it is overall cost effective.

Gav

[TinGull]

Thanks Gav. When you say you pay a fee for data...you're just paying the exchange fees, right? Not a real time data feed? Does TS supply you with a data feed or is that something you need to source elsewhere?

THANKS

[Soultrader]

The exchange fees are the fees you pay for the data. Each exchange has their own fees for Tradestation. So if you want Level 2 you pay level 2 data fees. If you want emini's, you pay emini data fees.

I dont clear with Tradestation so I pay for the software fees. My combined fees monthly including platform and data (exchange fees) are roughly $150. I subscribe to various exchanges because I like to watch different things.

Similar to when you buy a car... the more options you want the more it will cost you. Take a look at the link. I took a picture of the fee structure for TS.

http://www.traderslaboratory.com/Pic...ion%20fees.jpg

[Blu-Ray]

Tin

I would recommend it for the charting software, as Gav says you only need to do 10 R/T's a month and you get the platform free. You can also get radarscreen free if you do the 10 R/T's. Even if you like ToS that much, you can just fund the account and do the minimum 10 contracts to get the platform for free.

Andy

[Gav]

I think James answered the questions for me.
Software fee and data fee are business cost. So , pay only what you really need.

Have a great day.

Gav

[TinGull]

Very cool. Thanks all!

[Robert2617]

Here is a link to the TS fee page.

TradeStation Platform & Data Fees

[TinGull]

Thanks Robert!

[nicknextmove]

Let me add my 2 cents as well:

I got caught with the IB propaganda on EliteTrader and joined them.
While cheap, the charting sucks. Gave up on 3rd part charting software after trying a few.

I then moved onto TS and 'am not planning to move to any other anytime soon. The only time I will move is when I write my own system (and that is still one year away).

I do agree that the brokerage part could get a makeover (too slow fills for large contract users) - but I trade very few NQ contracts and 'am happy.

There is a movement by some users to move over to NeoTrader (see kreslik.com - Traders Community :: Index) because of unhappiness over TS concentrating more on the brokerage part than on the software. But I don't see Neo having a large user base - plus you need to get data from someone like eSignal, etc.
I like the user base that TS has and the number of users contributing indicators freely.

Having said that, TS is not perfect, but I am a happy TS user even with all its warts.