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Is Thinkorswim a good Platform for Futures Trading?


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Is Thinkorswim a good Platform for Futures Trading?

  #81 (permalink)
 smik 
cleveland
 
Experience: Advanced
Platform: NT
Trading: currency futures
Posts: 3 since Dec 2011
Thanks Given: 1
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heywally View Post
I don't routinely use T&S but I saw your post and am running it on /NQ -- set to TS >=1 -- during the first half hour of this rather wild action and I haven't seen any lag at all on my machine. Have 'refresh' set to 'realtime'.

This was not first time that it has occurred and it was seen many times before by others. Whether one sees it or not could be many factors. Opened a ticket with support and the response was "those may be off by a few seconds its a known issue".

I noticed there was a update this weekend, lets see if there is any change.

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  #82 (permalink)
 Futures Operator 
New York, NY
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Sierra Chart, thinkorswim
Broker: Amp-Rithmic/TT, IB
Trading: CL, GC, NQ
Posts: 601 since Nov 2010
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zcui View Post
After all, it depends on your style of trading. If you are placing your orders from 5 min chart or 1 min chart like I do, I'll not suggest TOS. If you are trading larger swings, TOS is still one of the most competitive platforms.

Why not if using 1m or 5m chart, is the lag that bad? What if using TOS for charting, but executing on a faster platform?

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  #83 (permalink)
 
heywally's Avatar
 heywally 
Pismo Beach CA
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: TOS, IB, Fidelity for 'swing' trades
Trading: ES, NQ, IBB, IWM, NG
Posts: 159 since Apr 2010
Thanks Given: 80
Thanks Received: 90



Futures Operator View Post
Why not if using 1m or 5m chart, is the lag that bad? What if using TOS for charting, but executing on a faster platform?

I have absolutely no problem with a 1 or 5 min chart on TOS (have recently compared to Kinetick) and my executions, for futures or equities, appear to be near instantaneous. What you could do is to open an account over there with a minimal amount of money and see what you think. One thing - make sure you understand the distinctions between the several flavors of the TOS platform, depending on what type of TDAmer account you open .... there are some subtle differences and several levels of the TOS platform within TDAmer.

"The Future Ain't what it used to be"
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  #84 (permalink)
 
TonyB's Avatar
 TonyB 
Bay Area, CA - US
 
Experience: Beginner
Platform: TOS, TS & MC
Broker: TDA & TS
Trading: Stock, Options and now Futures (ES)
Posts: 516 since Dec 2010
Thanks Given: 227
Thanks Received: 140


heywally View Post
I have absolutely no problem with a 1 or 5 min chart on TOS (have recently compared to Kinetick) and my executions, for futures or equities, appear to be near instantaneous. What you could do is to open an account over there with a minimal amount of money and see what you think. One thing - make sure you understand the distinctions between the several flavors of the TOS platform, depending on what type of TDAmer account you open .... there are some subtle differences and several levels of the TOS platform within TDAmer.

heywally, are you able to elaborate further? I recall some discussion a while ago about "green" accounts, maybe "organge" ones too...

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  #85 (permalink)
 
heywally's Avatar
 heywally 
Pismo Beach CA
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: TOS, IB, Fidelity for 'swing' trades
Trading: ES, NQ, IBB, IWM, NG
Posts: 159 since Apr 2010
Thanks Given: 80
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TonyB View Post
heywally, are you able to elaborate further? I recall some discussion a while ago about "green" accounts, maybe "organge" ones too...

The differences were fairly subtle from what I remember; mainly re some order types I don't use but that might be significant to others. Please check with them. One thing - TDAmer/TOS no longer allows futures trading in IRA accounts .....

Someone also recently mentioned some discrepancy between the T&S trade numbers and the data on the charts which supposedly, TOS acknowledged. Didn't see it myself in the several days I was watching but then again, I don't use T&S and didn't give it a multi-day look. The other TOS chart/price data I look at for futures and equities has all been in sync with the Kinetick stuff (which I no longer use.) The futures/equities executions and TOS up-time have all been solid for me in the three months that I've been a steady customer. Really short-term tick/scalpers have had a more negative viewpoint of TOS .....

"The Future Ain't what it used to be"
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  #86 (permalink)
Chris Johnston
san diego + CA/United States
 
Posts: 2 since Sep 2012
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One comment I would make about TOS, TD Ameritrade has probably the most security on your money of any firm in the US due to the daily sweep into an FDIC insured account. As a result firms that are playing games with seg funds, likely most of them, will not be able to hurt you as much if the firm blows up. IB would probably be the next safest place due to their universal account option which I think also can be daily swept into an FDIC insured account.

I think this platform is far inferior to others, Navigator in particular, but I am putting up with it for the security aspect of my money at TD. I had a very large amount stolen from me in the PFG situation, and cannot afford to have it happen again. That is why I am at TD and using TOS and putting up with how ponderous it is to get things done there that you can do in seconds elsewhere.

Just wanted to post this as something to consider.

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  #87 (permalink)
 smik 
cleveland
 
Experience: Advanced
Platform: NT
Trading: currency futures
Posts: 3 since Dec 2011
Thanks Given: 1
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smik View Post
This was not first time that it has occurred and it was seen many times before by others. Whether one sees it or not could be many factors. Opened a ticket with support and the response was "those may be off by a few seconds its a known issue".

I noticed there was a update this weekend, lets see if there is any change.

No change with the patch. Support went in remotely to my system to verify settings and issues(prior to patch). Ending the support session with lets see if the patch would correct the issues. It did not. Not sure what is causing, TOS was excellent in their approach trying to resolve the issue and I am grateful for their attempts.
Ending it with no clue as to what is causing, whether my end or theirs Tend to think after patch its their side and have seen others state in chat room similar issues.
Oh and I've been trading with this platform aprox 5 yrs now full time not just 3 months.

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  #88 (permalink)
 Futures Operator 
New York, NY
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Sierra Chart, thinkorswim
Broker: Amp-Rithmic/TT, IB
Trading: CL, GC, NQ
Posts: 601 since Nov 2010
Thanks Given: 2,039
Thanks Received: 258


heywally View Post
The other TOS chart/price data I look at for futures and equities has all been in sync with the Kinetick stuff (which I no longer use.) The futures/equities executions and TOS up-time have all been solid for me in the three months that I've been a steady customer. Really short-term tick/scalpers have had a more negative viewpoint of TOS .....

@heywally,
When you say TOS futures were in sync with Kinetick, you mean it was always right on, no lag/second delay at all?

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  #89 (permalink)
 shzhning 
Madison, NJ
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: CQG/TOS
Broker: Optimus/CQG
Trading: ZN/TN/ES/NQ
Posts: 134 since Jun 2010
Thanks Given: 65
Thanks Received: 112

I've been using TOS as my charting platform for over 2 years. As many on this forum, I never stopped looking for better alternative, in vain. Then recently I realized TOS is really the best for my trading style. Here's what I like about it:

1) There's an active community of TOS users (yahoo group and thinkscripter.com).
2) Thinkscript is easy to start for non programmers. Plus, thinkorswim publish new studies frequently.
3) Volume profile is natively supported, and you don't have to pay a penny for it.
4) The charts are highly customizable. I can set grid for multiple markets, or detach/attach chart for that matter. Plus all the charts line up neatly. IMO no one can beat TOS in terms of aesthetics.
5) ETH and RTH is a breeze for all markets
6) Chart styles/templates are saved on their server. That means you can use TOS on different computers, and easily access your chart
7) The OnDemand feature is handy for market replay. On my PC, it goes back to 2009 for tick/minute data.

If you're not scalping or trading super short term, you should give TOS a try.

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  #90 (permalink)
 
heywally's Avatar
 heywally 
Pismo Beach CA
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: TOS, IB, Fidelity for 'swing' trades
Trading: ES, NQ, IBB, IWM, NG
Posts: 159 since Apr 2010
Thanks Given: 80
Thanks Received: 90



Futures Operator View Post
@heywally,
When you say TOS futures were in sync with Kinetick, you mean it was always right on, no lag/second delay at all?

That's correct, not to my eyes. Then again, I only watched it closely on/off over a period of a few days.

And the executions are very quick, as quick as Interactive Brokers.

It could be, that people that are having a data lag problem (which some think has been fixed by TOS over the last 1/2 year or so) are doing more stuff than me and the platform can't handle it, I don't know. But if you look around on the net, you won't find a lot of complaints at this point, I don't think. Then again, I've adjusted my trading style over time where even if there was a 'mini-lag', it wouldn't be a factor in what I do.

"The Future Ain't what it used to be"
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