FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY USE INTERACTIVE BROKERS?
The most important things for an account are security, trading costs, range of assets, regulation and ease of access. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) ticks all those boxes.
IBKR is US regulated and listed on the NYSE. It has fully segregated client assets. Trading costs can start as low as $0 in the US and usually the lowest around the world. You can access 100% of your money at no cost within a couple of business days.
IBKR has repeatedly been ranked by Barron's as the best International Broker and Best Online Broker.
See important Disclosure Below.
ISN'T "FREE ADVICE" A GOOD THING?
"There is no such thing as a free lunch"
The same applies to investing. Those advisors who provide "free" advice are paid by commissions. That's a big conflict of interest. We've seen many brokers prefer products with the biggest upfront commissions rather than what is best for the client's money.
For our money, we prefer an investment advisor who has the same interests, a steadily rising investment over the long term?
DO YOU TRADE BINARY OPTIONS, COMMODITIES OR LEVERAGED FX
No.
99% of the time we invest in individual stocks and exchange traded index funds.
Then there is the 1% of the time when we need to hedge the market with put options or an inverse index ETF.
But gambling with CFDs, leveraged foreign exchange or derivatives like futures isn't an investment strategy. That's gambling. We don't do that for our own money or for clients.
DO I REALLY NEED 100% ACCESS?
"You don't appreciate what you have until it's gone."
Locking up your money for retirement might not seem a problem today, but is life really that predictable?
What happens if you move and decide to buy a family home? Or get a business opportunity in 5 years time that requires capital?
Life can take unexpected paths and you should be able to access your money if you are investing in the stock market.
ARE YOU A CUSTODIAN? HOW SAFE IS MY MONEY?
We only use large regulated trading platforms and custodians. We'll never ask you to send money to us. Accounts are always in your name - the client.
Our main custodian is Interactive Brokers and they are US SEC regulated and listed on the NYSE.
We have limited trading rights to manage the buying and selling, but that's all. All administration including deposits and withdrawals are under the client's sole control.
Further, you should never send money to an investment advisor or any unregulated platform or investment.
WHAT IS IBKR'S CONNECTION?
Interactive Brokers LLC is a registered Broker-Dealer, Futures Commission Merchant and Forex Dealer Member, regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association (NFA), and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and several other self-regulatory organizations. Interactive Brokers does not endorse or recommend any introducing brokers, third-party financial advisors or hedge funds, including Caterer Goodman Partners Ltd.
Interactive Brokers provides execution and clearing services to customers. None of the information contained herein constitutes a recommendation, offer, or solicitation of an offer by Interactive Brokers to buy, sell or hold any security, financial product or instrument or to engage in any specific investment strategy. Interactive Brokers makes no representation, and assumes no liability to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided on this website.
For more information regarding Interactive Brokers, please visit www.interactivebrokers.com.”