hello TS traders

I'm puzzled by TS commissions structure they don't seem to be very transparent about it at least to new traders or compared to Ninjatrader all-in rates table on pdf!

I thought I'm only one but turned out that even BENZINGA wrote about it 2 years ago!!

"CONS:
Confusing pricing structure to leave new traders with a weak understanding of what they pay" https://www.benzinga.com/money/author/munyicharles-ggmail-com

I had short chat with online support staff about their commissions and he wrote $1.5 per contract, per side.. when asked him what does per side mean he said per open per close then through me a link (running away sign) 😅 then he is gone.

I opened their link I read it reread it and still confused it has nothing related to my enquiry.

so please if anyone figure out their final all-in commission tell me and also doe per side mean per bar open-close or per position open-close? are there hidden fees I need to be aware of? are their entire futures have same rate $1.5 per contract/per side?

looking forward to hear an answer to this mysterious hidden commissions 😂

My Tradestation rep can give you the full scoop. I don't want to post his e-mail address, so just PM me.

Don't know why it is referred to per side (has been that way for decades) basically it means side is each half of a trade: long + long exit or short + buy to cover = 2 sides of a complete trade.

The cost to trade futures is made up of three major components.

• Exchange Fees
• NFA Fees
• Broker / FCM / Software / Data Fees

In its simplest form Exchange Fees are the same for everybody. (In reality its more complex than this as there are exchange memberships and discount programs that can give you a discount but if your using a retail broker then this probably doesn't apply to you). So it doesn't matter which broker you use the exchange fee will be the same. (Note in some cases the exchange splits this between what they call an exchange fee and a clearing fee - doesn't really matter though, still just the same thing).

NFA Fees are 2c for non-members and 0c for members. So I have a NYMEX seat so If I'm trading Crude/CL I don't pay an NFA fee. I don't have a CME seat though so if trading S&P500/ES I do pay 2c.

Where the difference comes in is with the Broker / FCM / Software / Data Fees. Different brokers charge different things. Some software has a routing fee

Don't know why it is referred to per side (has been that way for decades) basically it means side is each half of a trade: long + long exit or short + buy to cover = 2 sides of a complete trade.

The 'Broker / FCM / Software / Data Fees' allows brokers a lot of flexibility. Brokers like Tradestation (and Interactive Brokers) have different commissions structures depending upon on your needs. My primary broker Advantage Futures has a commission calculator on their website which gives an estimate of what they would charge based upon your volume. More volume = lower fees. So a lot of the non-exchange fee, non-NFA fee, part of trading costs is completely negotiable.

Because you don't have to 'trade' out of a position hence you don't always pay per side * 2.

Obvious examples I can think of quickly (there are probably more) include

• If I buy 10 MES and sell 1 ES I can have them offset and pay no fees for the offset.#
• If I buy ES I could let it go financial settlement and then I believe the exchange fee is 40c instead of $1.30
• Exchange fees for some spreads are lower than outrights. So buy Jan, Sell Jan/Feb spread, Sell Feb does not equal 4*normal commissions.#

# Of course I'm not sure that brokers like Tradestation would let you do this.

wow touchy....