OptionsXpress Review

OptionsXpress is a pioneer in equity options and futures trading, the company offers an innovative suite of online brokerage services for investor education, strategy evaluation and trade execution.

In our optionsXpress Review below we will help you learn more about the company so that you can come to your own conclusion if this is the best choice online brokerage company for your specific needs.

Charles Schwab OptionsXpress Acquisition Merger

OptionsXpress was formed in 2000 to offer better equity options trading solutions for investors. In 2011 optionsXpress Holdings, Inc. was acquired by The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) in a friendly $1 billion all-stock takeover deal in order to expand the online brokerage products and services that they offer. After the merger was completed, $7.9 billion in client assets and all of the 379,000 former optionsXpress brokerage clients became clients of Charles Schwab.

OptionsXpress Education

OptionsXpress has taken on the daunting challenge of trying to educate beginning options traders and the company encourages you as an investor to make the best use of your money. Even though they offer traditional products, nearly all of their educational material and trading tools relate to options trading.

OptionsXpress, as a leader in online investing, is committed to providing the self-directed investor with the best overall online trading experience and value. For the self directed investors who want to use options to increase investment income, protect portfolios and maximize returns on stock movements, then optionsXpress is the best online option for stock brokerage.

OptionsXpress Mobile Apps

OptionsXpress provides their customers with mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle Fire. By taking advantage of these mobile apps offered by the company, you can trade options and stocks, get real-time live quotes, set up option chains, create and manage watch lists. The only drawback of the optionsXpress online brokerage's mobile app is that at this time you don't have the option to create, setup or manage alerts.

OptionsXpress Trading Platform Fees and Commission

As an online broker they offer a large number of ways to trade. Their suite of applications consists of a standard web based trading platform, desktop applications as well as a mobile trading platform. OptionsXpress clearly shines in the areas of options and futures. They’ve got strong technical support in these areas, but also offer a great environment for those investing in stocks, ETFs, bonds and mutual funds.

The trading platform is very easy and convenient to use. OptionsXpress carries a $0 minimum account value, making it easy for investors on a shoestring budget to begin trading. The commission rates are based on how many trades you make. OptionsXpress charges a very reasonable fee for broker assisted trades. Please contact optionsXpress directly to confirm their commission schedules and fees.

OptionsXpress by Charles Shwab beat out all of its competition by offering an easy to understand fee schedule, a good collection of trading tools and a low margin rate.

OptionsXpress Virtual Trading Software

OptionsXpress’ virtual trading software is a real find, enabling paper trading to hone one’s investing skills. The company provides virtual trading account holders with streaming level I and level II quotes in addition to news feeds, charting tools, and research reports.

Is optionsXpress a Good Broker?

OptionsXpress is a very good online broker, who is best known for its routing technologies to get you the best execution (ie, fastest order execution at the best price available). In addition, they are very good with their tools, especially in the arena of options.

In Conclusion

OptionsXpress clearly has done something right in order to be very highly rated by its users when compared to the competition. As an online brokerage firm OptionsXpress by Charles Shwab scores extremely high in trade tools and usability thanks to a recent site redesign that has made navigation a snap.

Our Verdict

PROS /Comprehensive trading platform with a lot more investment choices. Fast order execution.
CONS / Some of the other online trading brokers have lower fees.