TradeStation was founded in 1987 as Omega Research, a company specializing in the development of trading software. After receiving a listing on the Nasdaq national market, the company launched an online version of its platform and in 2001 began providing brokerage services for the sale of securities under the TradeStation brand.

From 2012 to 2021, the broker's trading platform was recognized ten times in a row as the best in its class according to the resource version StockBrokers.com . In 2020, TradeStation received the title of Broker of the Year at the First Annual TradingView Broker Awards. In the same year, the company entered the TOP 4 best online stock brokers in the United States according to Investor's Business Daily.

Trading services

TradeStation does not provide financial advisory services, which is a distinctive feature compared to such large platforms as E-Trade. The platform is also not focused on managed accounts. However, all staff of the trading bureau have at least minimum stockbroker licenses. TradeStation is most suitable for active and advanced trading, providing a rich set of tools and opportunities for high-level traders.

Investment assets

TradeStation provides access to a wide range of investment assets, including cryptocurrencies and IPOs, as well as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, futures and futures options. Cryptocurrency trading, IPOs and international trading are carried out through separate platforms.

Stocks

The stock trading services on TradeStation are suitable for both novice investors and experienced professionals. The platform offers commission-free trading, access to IPOs, simulation accounts, research and support from certified trading department specialists.

Features:

• Access to thousands of shares on all exchanges.

• Trading penny stocks and pink-leaf securities.

• The possibility of over-the-counter trading.

• Investing in an IPO through ClickIPO.

Mutual funds

TradeStation offers access to over 2,000 mutual funds from well-known fund families. This makes the platform more diverse compared to brokers such as Robinhood and M1 Finance, which do not have access to mutual funds.

ETF

The platform supports commission-free ETF trading and offers:

• Real-time market quotes.

• More than 2000 ETFs tracking indices, sectors, industries, commodities and currencies.

• Strategic ETFs.

• An ETF screener based on various parameters (index, sector, commodity, country, bonds and volatility).

Bonds and fixed income

Bond trading on TradeStation is carried out with the help of a broker, which allows you to get additional guidance and support.

Options

TradeStation is known for its advanced options analysis tools and the OptionStation Pro trading platform.

Features:

• An advanced desktop trading platform with tools for building option chains.

• A graph of option strategy scenarios.

• Direct market trading.

• Customizable view of the option chain to access individual options or complex option spreads.

• Theoretical "what if" scenarios for risk and return analysis.

Futures

Futures traders can take advantage of round-the-clock access to global futures exchanges.

Features:

• Access to a wide range of futures, including indices, Treasury bonds, metals, energy and currencies.

• There are no restrictions on daily trading or a minimum account amount, which makes the platform convenient for active traders.

• The ability to trade Micro e-mini futures.

Cryptocurrency

TradeStation Crypto offers trading of 11 cryptocurrencies, analysis, training and access to storage on the platform. Trading is available around the clock, 7 days a week, with phone support.

Crypto Functions:

• Trading Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, ether, Litecoin and other cryptocurrencies.

• Access to multiple cryptocurrency markets through a single platform.

• Instant execution of orders.

• Trading via mobile apps.

• Tools for analysis and charting.

• Storage using multi-signature from BitGo.

Investing in an IPO

Through the ClickIPO mobile app, users get access to initial public offerings (IPOs), including data on the price range and the expected IPO date.

Features:

• Access to upcoming, current and past IPOs.

• A detailed description of each IPO.

• The ability to set up watch lists and receive push notifications.

• No commissions when buying IPO shares via ClickIPO.

• Investing in an IPO using personal funds (without margin).

Types of accounts

Individual and joint brokerage accounts: 

• Suitable for personal or shared ownership.

Retirement accounts:

• Traditional IRA: Individual retirement accounts with tax benefits.

• Rotary IRA: Allows conversion to other types of retirement accounts.

• Extended IRA: Retirement accounts with additional benefits for investors.

• Simplified Employee Retirement Plan IRA: A plan for small business employees.

• Simple IRA for Businesses: A retirement plan for small businesses.

Corporate accounts:

• Corporations, LLCs and partnerships: For legal entities, including corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships.

• Private entrepreneurs: Accounts for individual entrepreneurs.

Trusts and guardian accounts: 

• Managed accounts for trusts and other legal entities.

TradeStation offers a wide range of account types suitable for most investors, from individual to corporate and pension accounts.

Mobile application

TradeStation is a broker suitable for both active traders and passive investors. The company offers favorable conditions for investments in mutual funds, ETFs and IPOs. All transactions are made through TradeStation's own platforms, including mobile applications. A special ClickIPO mobile platform is used to invest in IPOs.

IPO Investment Opportunities through TradeStation:

Access to the IPO via ClickIPO:

• The ClickIPO platform provides potential investors with access to data on the price range and the expected IPO date.

• After selecting assets and depositing at least $500 to the balance, investors can start investing.

• The trading robot from TradeStation automatically buys shares at the time of their placement and adds them to the investor's portfolio.

Features and benefits:

• The ClickIPO app displays not only upcoming IPOs, but also current and past IPOs, as well as secondary offers.

• A detailed description of each product is available.

• Investors can set up watch lists for IPOs of interest and receive push notifications about new and updated offers.

• When using ClickIPO to purchase assets, the broker does not charge a commission on transactions.

• Investing in an IPO requires a sufficient amount of personal funds in the account, as buying shares using margin is not allowed.

Requirements and risks:

• To participate in the IPO, you need to open a brokerage account with TradeStation and make a deposit of $500 or more.

• IPO investments should be considered as long-term investments, as income can be earned within 1-3 years.

• The main advantage of investing in an IPO is the opportunity to purchase shares that may be difficult to access on the secondary market.

• The main disadvantages are high risks and temporary stay in a loss—making zone, since the invested funds begin to generate income only after a certain time.

TradeStation provides a convenient and effective tool for investing in IPOs, but investors should be prepared for potential risks and take into account the long-term nature of such investments.

Commissions and fees

TradeStation only charges trading fees, and no non-trading withdrawal fees are charged. Free trading is only available for American stocks and ETFs, but if the 10,000 share limit is exceeded, the broker starts charging $0.005 per share. When trading securities of international companies, the fee increases to $5 per transaction. Additional fees may be charged when using the desktop terminal if the account balance is less than $2,000. Withdrawal fees depend on the selected service level, from $0.50 to $0.60, depending on the type of account. Free real-time data is only available to non-professional customers. If we compare the size of TradeStation's trading commission with popular stock brokers such as Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab, we see that TradeStation offers a low commission level of about $0.55, which makes it an attractive option for many traders.

Safety

TradeStation Securities, Inc. He is a licensed broker-dealer with regulators SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission of the USA) and CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission). The company is also a member of FINRA (CRD:39473/SEC: 8-48711), SIPC, CME and NFA (0307871), which confirms its status in financial markets and compliance with regulatory standards.

However, the division of TradeStation Crypto, Inc., which provides accounts for trading cryptocurrencies, does not have the status of a securities broker and does not have the aforementioned licenses. This is important to consider when considering the services provided by this department. TradeStation Crypto, Inc. is included in the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System and Registry (NMLS), with identification number 1843762. NMLS is a website accountable to the U.S. government that publishes data on the financial performance of public companies, although it is not itself a regulatory body.

Support Service

Methods of communication with the operators of the TradeStation support service:

By phone: You can call the support service from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00 Eastern European time.

Via online chat on the company's website: An online chat is available to communicate with support representatives. However, it is worth noting that it does not work around the clock and on weekends.

By e-mail: You can also contact support by email.

Through your Personal account: If you are registered on the platform, you can log into your Personal Account and contact technical support specialists.

Via Chatbot: In addition, a chatbot is available to get answers to frequently asked questions and solve common problems.

This gives users several options to contact TradeStation technical support according to their preferences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TradeStation is a brokerage platform that provides a wide range of investment opportunities for traders and investors. With access to various assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, futures and cryptocurrencies, users can diversify their portfolio according to their investment goals and strategies.

TradeStation is distinguished by advanced trading platforms, as well as offers a variety of tools and analytical opportunities for trading. Through licensing and regulation by leading financial institutions such as the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, SIPC, CME and NFA, the platform provides reliability and security for its customers.

Despite some disadvantages, such as limited support hours and fees for certain types of transactions, TradeStation still offers attractive opportunities for those looking for high-quality investment services and trading platforms.