Is anyone actually making money using Think or Swim?

Discussion in 'Trading' started by mktrdr, Jul 11, 2025 at 4:23 PM.

  1. mktrdr

    mktrdr

    One review site I looked at gives it a 1.7 rating out of 5. Seems like another software program designed by people who don't actually trade.
     
  2. demoncore

    demoncore


    Quite possible. Sosnoff may lose all of his capital markets haul by trading vol. He's the worst trader I've ever met.

    Now, TOS/Schwab has some benefits. Integrated futures/FOs in a single account. Beta-weighting on the Monitor page. They know enough to prioritize it. Cross-instrument/intermkt what-if is also a plus. Webull offers Hanweck but what good it is if all that you can stress is a calendar/diag at expiration of M1?

    Individual implied vol under calcs so that you're not too optimistic on your stress. Global vol-shift or individual legs. System default for static pages is individual.

    A decent vol-scanner which is essentially only useful for term-structure but that's really all any of them can do.

    IBKR is better in a number of ways; SPX vol overnight, a true VaR/ES (shortfall), but zero what-if capability.

    For retail there isn't a lot of choice here. BD's don't think you need it and if you do you prob have access to PB. They also don't want to be responsible for their beta vals. At least Schwab is focused there.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
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  3. MarkBrown

    MarkBrown

    i know big fund that trades stat-arb with tos.
     
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  4. mktrdr

    mktrdr

    But are you actually making money with it? Most active traders seem to try it and realize theory won't necessarily make you money.
     
  5. demoncore

    demoncore

    FWIW, I've used it off and on since 1999. Sheridan opened my account in person.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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  6. demoncore

    demoncore


    Yeah, but what does using BSM have to do with the frontend? I have a feeling you're like Day 1 newb.
     
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  7. MarkBrown

    MarkBrown

    i don't think making money is a software thing it's a person thing - people make money without any software.
     
  8. mktrdr

    mktrdr

    Most of the money made in trading is in making markets. One fund might use it but they may have other trading edges to offset TOS disadvantages.
     
  9. demoncore

    demoncore

    You should be concerned about three things:

    1) Fill quality
    2) Data/analytics quality
    3) Commissions

    Arguing the merits of the Greeks isn't worth our time.
     
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  10. demoncore

    demoncore


    Nobody makes markets with any retail frontend. Bye.
     
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