I haven't really done stock-account stuff since I was a SOES Bandit. Well, that's not entirely true, but I can say that Tradestation Securities, or anybody affiliated with Refco who also does stock, I would assume offers a good service.
Timber Hill used to give the worst pit fills in Chicago, but so far as I know IB is the best full-spectrum/big-time/online/discount shop for electronic/direct-access stuff today. But there are a lot of platforms out there, from big firms and fly-by-nights, and they are pretty much all the same.
I know there are boutique shops, like Preferred Capital Markets (formerly Preferred Technology) and Benjamin and Jerrold, but what I do not know is how far electronic routing and matching in options has come since I was last on the floor - meaning how homogeneous their fills are.
Are these all pit fills, are there runners and paper brokers? If so, go with the boutiques.
Are there radio-screen brokers? If so, I guess it's Timber Hill or something, though who knows the fill-quality differential.
Or are these electronic matches? If so, just go with anyone with a fast server and a low rate, I guess.
I don't know. I don't trade stock options, and the only interest I have in them is because straight-stock margins for longer-term trades tie up way too much capital for a piker like me.
Then there is also stuff like the International Stock Exchange, and I don't know where it figures in. Didn't the options exchanges recently - like last year - implement some kind of a no-trade-through agreement, whereby you get the best price of every floor?
If so, that would simplify things.
$150,000.00 is more than enough to bet on stocks, using options. But if you are trying to pull cents out of spreads - to bet on options using options - and you're going to leave a naked call or put out there somewhere for five minutes, aren't you the one who pointed out they will absolutely handcuff you with margin requirements?
Since I have completely failed you, just get on Google and punch up options, or, better yet, post your question at:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...invest.options
leroy