NexusFi: Find Your Edge


Home Menu

 





Is Thinkorswim a good Platform for Futures Trading?


Discussion in ThinkOrSwim

Updated
      Top Posters
    1. looks_one Massive l with 28 posts (30 thanks)
    2. looks_two WilleeMac with 21 posts (8 thanks)
    3. looks_3 heywally with 16 posts (11 thanks)
    4. looks_4 Cloudy with 9 posts (7 thanks)
      Best Posters
    1. looks_one timefreedom with 3.4 thanks per post
    2. looks_two ddouglas with 3.2 thanks per post
    3. looks_3 Massive l with 1.1 thanks per post
    4. looks_4 heywally with 0.7 thanks per post
    1. trending_up 150,392 views
    2. thumb_up 136 thanks given
    3. group 57 followers
    1. forum 200 posts
    2. attach_file 7 attachments




 
Search this Thread

Is Thinkorswim a good Platform for Futures Trading?

  #111 (permalink)
 
WilleeMac's Avatar
 WilleeMac 
Prospect, KY. USA
 
Experience: None
Platform: Sierra Chart
Broker: Infinity
Trading: /CL
Posts: 687 since Jan 2012
Thanks Given: 309
Thanks Received: 617

I use TOS for charting

Infinity for for trading futures

The primary reason for doing so is the data feed

For more information please visit thinkscripter.com

I think the info is in the free stuff area

-Bill

In no way is this meant to be a solicitation or promotion for that website

It just happens to be where the information is

Follow me on Twitter Reply With Quote

Can you help answer these questions
from other members on NexusFi?
Deepmoney LLM
Elite Quantitative GenAI/LLM
Better Renko Gaps
The Elite Circle
ZombieSqueeze
Platforms and Indicators
Are there any eval firms that allow you to sink to your …
Traders Hideout
Online prop firm The Funded Trader (TFT) going under?
Traders Hideout
 
  #112 (permalink)
 
Massive l's Avatar
 Massive l 
OR/USA
Legendary /NQ Trader
 
Experience: None
Posts: 2,129 since Mar 2011
Thanks Given: 1,859
Thanks Received: 5,106

I was looking for other platforms that don't include charting.
I want basic buy/sell buttons (lightweight program).
tos' data works fine for me.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote
  #113 (permalink)
 Hguru 
New York City New York USA
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Think or Swim, Infinity Futures
Broker: Thinkor Swim for Charts an Infinity Futures for Trading Dom
Trading: Oil
Posts: 54 since Jul 2012
Thanks Given: 449
Thanks Received: 48


Massive,

I use TOS for charting and Infiitity to trade with. I tested the Infinity Dom in test sim mode for quite awhile before opening an account with Infinity before making the move and I am very happy. The fills are just the way you have them in the test DOM and I have never had any big problems using their DOM. It has frozen a few times but nothing compared to how much I have been on it. I wish TOS's DOM and fills would work the way the Infinity system works because it would be so much easier to be on one system and be able to trade off the charts and see the flags on the screen but the lag on TOS is just to great so I am staying with the current set up for the time being until TOS get's it's act together. I have written them many times and really pushed the point of the lag and fill vs other companies but they have not improved the situation yet so I will stay the way I have it currently till they can show me they have fixed the situation. Yes Infinity does have charting if you want to opt in to use it but I like you do not want it so I do not have it enabled and that is fine it just gives you the option. I just use there DOM and it is more robust with trading stratagies then the TOS one is. Watch the Infinity videos and test the DOM for free(and put it right up to the TOS DOM and watch the difference in the speed. I trade Crude oil and when things move fast the differnce on the TOS DOM can be off by 10 ticks) and without talking to anyone to sell you on it by just downloading there test DOM which is exactly like there live and live mode sim DOM. In addition Infinities commissions are much cheaper then TOS as I have found out but TOS will negociate based on your volume but it is easier to negociate when you have a history and a written price to show them.

Just some thoughts to help you with. If you do want to talk to someone at Infinity my contact is Andy Delap 800.634.7907 tell him Eric Gershon sent you. I do not get anything from recommending him but he is a good guy and has been very helpful and you might get my negociated commission rate.

Hguru

Reply With Quote
  #114 (permalink)
 
Massive l's Avatar
 Massive l 
OR/USA
Legendary /NQ Trader
 
Experience: None
Posts: 2,129 since Mar 2011
Thanks Given: 1,859
Thanks Received: 5,106

I don't have a problem with tos' data or lag. My prices that I want, I always get.
That's never been an issue for me.
I saw that CQG was $25 a month and .25 per contract. The main reason for a switch would
be the cheaper commissions. Right now I'm at $2.50 per contract with ToS. I spend roughly $150/month
on commissions. So what I'm looking for is a similar stand alone product that just has order entry/exit and I want it to be lightweight since tos is system intensive.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote
  #115 (permalink)
 meyer99 
Charlotte NC
 
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Charts:TOS, execution:TOS
Broker: TOS
Trading: SPX, RUT. TQQQ, Stocks, /YM
Posts: 234 since Jul 2009
Thanks Given: 99
Thanks Received: 122


Massive l View Post
I'm thinking of running the CQG trader through Variance Futures while using ToS for my charts.
Anyone do something similar? What do you use?

Try Ritmic trader with optimus Futures.

Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #116 (permalink)
csjohnson65
Tampa, FL
 
Posts: 1 since Feb 2013
Thanks Given: 0
Thanks Received: 0

I've been on ToS for 5+ years. I've tried other options like TS, IB, Multicharts, NinjaTrader, other data services. Side-by-side I can see lead/lag differences in quotes/charts/fills, but I usually use limit orders and haven't been unhappy with slippage.

I find ToS to be an easy, single vendor solution. I can trade futures, options, equities and currencies, and all from one account. If you have a lot of funds available, it may not be a big deal to divide them among several accounts, but I haven't reached that point. And I didn't find working with different vendors for platform, data, broker, etc. to be efficient.

The commissions are a little higher than other options, but there aren't any other fees. With other options I was paying upwards of $200/mo for data, platform, and other fees. That's almost 30 futures trades with ToS. I have a job and family, and sometimes stop trading for weeks or months. When I return, my account balance is right where it was.

Sometimes I envy those able to backtest and automate their strategies, or the charts/indicators they can create. But at least my present trading methods don't need those.

ToS won't work for all, maybe even most. If you make a living scalping the ES, speed and low commissions may be priorities over multiple vendors and monthly fees. But, do consider how you trade, how often, and the total of all the fees you pay to all vendors required.

Reply With Quote
  #117 (permalink)
 trendfriendpa 
philadelphia USA
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: TOS, Webull, Ninja 8
Broker: TD Ameritrade
Trading: options, ES/NQ futures, stocks
Posts: 79 since May 2011
Thanks Given: 54
Thanks Received: 53

I started trading futures with TOS as I trade stocks/options through them and was happy with the fills. Commissions can be found lower on optionshouse.com.

I did find TOS futures dome to be lagging by as much as .05-.10 at times when comparing it to other platforms side-by-side. I found their commissions to be higher by $1 or more/contract round trip. i also found their fills to be bad and had a stop-loss .20 above my entry on a short which was taken out immediately while the price was moving down. After that experience I moved to Infinityfutures.com.
They have lower commissions, their fills were good and never experienced a stop-loss being filled without it being correct.

I use TOS charting along with Sierra Charts because trendlines cannot be drawn on TOS tick charts nor custom aubile alerts with studies. Both one can do with Sierra Charts.

I understand these can be done with Ninja Trader as well.

Reply With Quote
  #118 (permalink)
 
Crude Man's Avatar
 Crude Man 
New York
 
Experience: Advanced
Platform: thinkorswim
Broker: thinkorswim
Trading: NQ, ES, CL
Posts: 14 since Feb 2013
Thanks Given: 8
Thanks Received: 23


pbenson68 View Post
TOS through ameritrade is $3.50 a contract is that expensive?

ask them to bring it down and they will.

Follow me on Twitter Reply With Quote
  #119 (permalink)
 ClemDuper 
Denver, CO
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Thinkorswim
Broker: NinjaTrader/Kineticks
Trading: ES, NQ, CL, ZB, ZN, NG
Posts: 8 since Sep 2012
Thanks Given: 19
Thanks Received: 15


Crude Man View Post
ask them to bring it down and they will.

What sort of trading volume is required to get a discount on futures commissions? I have traded 3-10 round trips per day for over a year, but never thought to ask. I pay $3.50 per contract...I know it is high, but like the convenience / familiarity of the platform.

Reply With Quote
  #120 (permalink)
 
Massive l's Avatar
 Massive l 
OR/USA
Legendary /NQ Trader
 
Experience: None
Posts: 2,129 since Mar 2011
Thanks Given: 1,859
Thanks Received: 5,106



trendfriendpa View Post
I use TOS charting along with Sierra Charts because trendlines cannot be drawn on TOS tick charts nor custom aubile alerts with studies. Both one can do with Sierra Charts.

? Here's a 133tick chart with a trendline and an audible alert using tos. It's the exact same with the time based charts.
[img]https://nexusfi.com/v/bupfa9.png[/img]

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote




Last Updated on June 22, 2019


© 2024 NexusFi™, s.a., All Rights Reserved.
Av Ricardo J. Alfaro, Century Tower, Panama City, Panama, Ph: +507 833-9432 (Panama and Intl), +1 888-312-3001 (USA and Canada)
All information is for educational use only and is not investment advice. There is a substantial risk of loss in trading commodity futures, stocks, options and foreign exchange products. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
About Us - Contact Us - Site Rules, Acceptable Use, and Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy - Downloads - Top
no new posts