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I've heard they are using Apex to clear their trades. Not sure if that's true and haven't looked into it but would be curious if anyone knows for sure.
For Stocks/Options, that's who my trades clear through in my Roth account - I think was the same with TDA/ToS, if I remember correctly. Not sure about Futures, sorry.
I eagerly opened a Tastyworks (TW) account a few months ago to trade options thinking that the costs would be must lower than TOS and E-Trade Pro/Options House. Admittedly, I had confused the TW $5 equity trade costs and the options trade costs.
After six months of trading I tried to reconcile my trading journal results with my TW net liquidation balance. Then I saw that the commissions and fees impact was much higher than expected.
Unlike TOS and E-Trade Pro/Options House, the options commissions are not shown at the entry verification window on TW. TW claims to be working to add that component to the verification window.
Further, in comparing the same pending trade on the different platforms, I discovered that the options commission costs at TW for many trades were higher than the Options House costs, particularly if the options expire OTM, since TW essentially charges the round trip commissions up front. For example, the round trip costs to trade Costco options were much lower on Options House. I may get better pricing on Options House due to my portfolio balance at E-Trade.
Please compare the commission and fee costs on the different platforms on a few different option trades before deciding on which broker to use for a certain trade. Or you could end up like me, down $4k in commissions and $1k in fees after 7 months of trading in my TW account.
I'm trading 1 lot spreads and buying OTM calls in a ROTH IRA account and am only seeing $1 commision + 14 - 15 cent fees on the open and the same fees on close (with no commision) ... dunno.
Edit: To be clear, it is $1 per contract so each spread has a total commission + fees of $2.30 to open.
I do wish they'd break it out for you - I have to look at the statement to see the effect of the commission and fees, but the Account Transactions to get the list of the fees.
Everyone has their individual approach and "trading 1 lot spreads and buying OTM calls" may work for you. I have been trying to sell option premium to generate income with defined and undefined risk trades.
My 20 contract GLD iron condor trade with a profit target of $340 (50% of $680 max profit) before commissions and fees entered at 45 DTE, 56% PoP, has now incurred $240 in commissions with a couple of rolls. I am now just trying to break even on the trade. Perhaps it was a dumb trade to begin.
Options House is .50 per contract per transaction, so 1/2 the cost of TW if held to expiration or the same cost as TW if closed out.
For any Traders who are newer to Options, you should always be aware and consider the commission costs when looking to enter and roll sizable trades.
