Investor Help (NO Ihub questions)

[ottoman]

great to hear. I'll have to check out Etrade Pro in case StreetSmartEdge does get phased out eventually. I think I might have had it at one point, but settled in with StreetSmartEdge. Early November I am scheduled for migration from TD Ameritrade to Schwab.

[cintrix]

Hi Shawn! So it ends up that they weren't able to migrate any of my positions that had multiple lots into TOS. They told me that anything I buy after the migration will show lots but anything before will not. They told me to go to the website to see my lots. I told them that this isn't 1999 and I don't want to be trading off a website. That's fine for someone who is long term and buys and sells every now and then. For someone who does multiple trades everyday you can't be trading off a website - you need a trading platform. They informed me that this problem will eventually get fixed where my prior history will show lots, but they could not give me a window of when. So I asked them if they could switch me back to StreetSmart and hopefully by the time they phase out that platform they fix that problem with TOS. They agreed and this morning I got my StreetSmart with all my correct positions back.
I haven't tried to see if TOS still works since they already migrated me that may be a chance.
I am totally with you on TOS. Way too many bells and whistles on that platform that I will never use. I still like Etrade Pro the best in terms of what it has to offer and the appearance. TOS is hard on the eyes and you can't change the font to bold where you can do that on Pro. I just hope Etrade doesn't have any ideas about phasing out Pro with a different platform.

[ottoman]

Also, thanks for the heads up about phasing out StreetSmartEdge. I had wondered about that. It's bad news for me, as I use StreetsmartEdge all day for watchlist / positions streaming quotes, and I like the format. I just don't like the "look" of Think or Swim in comparison. I suppose there is a lot of customizing that I could do, which I haven't looked into.

[ottoman]

Hi. Sorry for the late reply. I'm still not used to this new format, so I don't notice messages in the inbox. I have both the StreetsmartEdge and Think or Swim Desktop (separate installed programs) on my computer.

I can use them both currently, (I've had them for a long time). Yes, the ThinkorSwim has lots of bells and whistles. I really don't do much daytrading/flipping, (and when I do I suck lol), so I don't need any of what ThinkorSwim offers. I will log in to see what stocks are tanking premarket (See photo). In one of the side-window "widgets", Or I can follow what stocks are tanking real-time during regular hours.

I don't trade in TD Ameritrade at all, I have a few accounts with them, but no money to speak of. When I do trade (Schwab, Fidelity and others) I just use their web-based trading.

I think that's really dumb that you can't use both ThinkorSwim and StreetSmartEdge simultaneously, so you can have smooth transition

[cintrix]

Dumb arses at SinkorSwim never informed me that once they give me access to the platform that StreetSmartEdge is no longer available to trade off of! So I have this new platform that I have no clue how it works, the account info hasn't been transferred correctly yet - my lots aren't showing up and they don't have me flagged as a pattern day trader on it yet.
I will have to use the website - which is something I never use and am not too familiar with either!
Help! I'm definitely sinking and not swimming - it's rip current season! lol

Which one do you use? The web based one or the desktop platform. I have the desktop right now. From what I understand that one is more involved. I might try the web based one.
One other point. They told me that they will be phasing out StreetSmart so I guess SinkorSwim will be the only trading platform to use with Schwab!

[cintrix]

I first had to sign up for it and have to wait for them to activate it.

[ottoman]

have you accessed it? what do you think? As a "valued" TD Ameritrade customer, I've had access to it all along, but I don't use it much.

I guess

[cintrix]

We're excited to let you know that as a valued Schwab client, you now have exclusive early access to the award-winning suite of thinkorswim® trading platforms. Read on to learn how to use your access to check out these platforms and get your account(s) set up to trade on them.

[cintrix]

I think it was immediately available if you were an Ameritrade customer. I was a new Schwab customer so I didn't have immediate access. I know nothing about OTC share limitations since I do not trade otc stocks anymore.

[Craig305]

I thought Think or Swim (TOS) was immediately available to the TDA to Schwab transfer customers?
Do you know if you are a Schwab client with access to TOS, if with TOS, you can trade OTC shares higher than the Schwab 999,999 trade limitation?

[cintrix]

It is??? What a bunch of morons! They have hired so many people who have no experience. This guy told me that it is a new rule and that they require 25k in all margin accounts now regardless of whether you day trade or not.

[ottoman]

It's still $2000 for a "regular" margin account. Etrade just has to screw everything up.

https://us.etrade.com/trade/margin-trading

still states $2000 at the bottom of page

[cintrix]

Yeah what the heck with this 25k minimum? Is that an actual new rule or is it a new rule with Etrade. Why should they put a 25k limit on margin if you aren't daytrading? And what kind of bs is it where they pick and choose who they will lift restrictions from?

[ottoman]

Ugh, what a nightmare. I hope it's sorted out for you soon. Yeah, I received a message last week from Etrade about an account restriction for my margin account. I had daytrade status on it, but haven't had over $25k in it for years.....I moved over to Fidelity, Schwab etc.

I called in, and customer service dude seemed to know what he was doing. (lol) Decided to keep it a margin account, but just remove the daytrader status. It took 2 days for the message warnings to go away, so I assume it's ok now

Sometimes I play these crazy fractional share round up stocks. That pay a special dividend (extra shares) as a result of a reverse split. Recently, there was one that did a "reverse split followed immediately by a forward split" and you'll get (for instance) 200 shares afterward when you only bought 1 share initially.

Etrade is the only broker to charge two separate $38 mandatory corporate-action (reorganization) fees for each of the reverse and forward splits. I've tried to call in and have a gratuity removal of fees, since no one else charges it twice. Nope, they might (just maybe) remove one, but I've got multiple accounts with them, multiple $76 fees.

When I had much more money with them, all accounts would have the $38 reorg fees reimbursed, but now, they couldn't care less.

At least TD Ameritrade (which has a $38 reorg fee) will reimburse if you call in. I think it's very unfair that those TD Ameritrade customers (I'm one of them) who have not yet been transitioned over to Schwab, are still stuck with the $38 reorg fee, where Schwab does not have it. Many TD Am customers have already been transitioned over to Schwab, but I have to wait until November.

I was told by a previous customer service rep at TD Am, that it "wouldn't be fair" to charge me for the reorg fee, so I should call in and ask for them to be reimbursed. I have a few times, and had the fees reimbursed.

But, Last time I called in to get my fees reimbursed, I was told it's the last time. I called in and asked specifically for a customer service woman who was very happy to reimburse all fees, last guy was a jerk, and had to check with management and stir up the pot lol.

I may still try again, and ask for someone else.

BTW, I always record all my phone conversations, and save them so I can refer back to the person, place or thing the conversation is about.

[cintrix]

Eturd is the pits of the world. This account that I have had for years fell under 25k over the past few months. I had taken most of the money out of it when I changed over to Schwab. As a result they flagged the account and sent me emails stating that I could no longer day trade in the account or they would restrict it. Fair enough. I made it a point not to daytrade out of this account anymore while it was under 25k and would buy something eod and then get rid of it the next day. Did my day-trading exclusively with Schwab. Worked fine.
Until it didn't!
On 7/29 I went to purchase something and I got the "your account has been restricted to placing closing orders only." Looked at all my trades to make sure I didn't accidentally day trade something which I didn't. Called them up and was informed that there are new rules now that even if you don't day trade and you have a margin account you have to keep it above 25k. Never heard of this new rule.
So I told them to switch the account to a cash account since I wasn't day trading it anymore. They did it and the next day everything was fixed and I was able to purchase new positions again.
Until I wasn't!
Morgan Stanley did their account transition from the old Etrade account numbers this past weekend. Somehow when they transferred this account it stayed a cash account but with a minimum equity call against it as if it were still margin. So they once again put the account back on restriction where I can't purchase even though it is officially a cash account.
Called yesterday and the broker assured me that it had to do with the account transition and they are fixing it and I should be good to go in 30 minutes. Well it didn't happen. Waited until this morning to see if the restriction was lifted and it is still there.
Called them today and they tell me that the rep from yesterday was wrong and it could take a few days because the margin department is so swamped and over loaded with problems they need to fix. I asked for some type of credit for the inconvenience and I was refused.
Only good thing I could report from Eturd was their phone response is getting better - no waiting for an hour anymore.

[cintrix]

Mine has been ok all morning. No problems here.

[ottoman]

Streetsmart Edge is back up and running.

[ottoman]

Current interest rates paid on brokerage cash sweep funds. "Average 7-day yield"

The highest I personally have, and know of, is Vanguard which pays 5.28%
Number 2 is T Rowe price which is 5.07%
Number 3 is Fidelity which is 4.97%
I don't count Schwab, as it's not a "sweep", (proceeds from stock sales do not automatically sweep into the high interest rate fund)

I don't know about Etrade,

Vanguard


T Rowe Price


Fidelity

[ottoman]

Schwab's StreetSmart Edge is DOWN! ARgh! due to a technical issue. Try plugging it back in!!!!

I need to have a backup streaming watchlist at the ready, in case something like this happens. I guess Think or Swim, or maybe even (gasp) Etrade

[Mr. Al]

Thank you. I will do some research on these stocks

[cintrix]

This is my watchlist for AI tickers: AI, AIEQ, AMD, AMZN, ASML, AVGO, BBAI, DT, FVRR, GFAI, GOOGL, IBM, INTC, ISRG, JG, MRVL, MU, NVDA, PATH PLTR, RELX, SOUN, SSTK, TSM, WDAY, WETG, ZM

Here is another one from a site:

https://www.barchart.com/investing-ideas/ai-stocks?orderBy=percentChangeYtd&orderDir=desc

[Mr. Al]

Didn't know that. Thanks. Just wanted a list of AI stocks to do some research.

[cintrix]

Read the iBox - no stock picks on this board. If you would like a list of AI tickers I can post that for you but we do not allow stock picks.

[Mr. Al]

What would be good AI stocks to invest in?

[cintrix]

Yep! Exactly! There are still people who don't use smart phones so I guess they still have to offer an alternative.

[ottoman]

oh ok got it. So it's a physical device they send you in the mail. Ah. So that answers the question about what people do who don't have smart phones.

That reminds me of a credit card sized pin number generator I received from Merrill Lynch years ago (must be 12 years now at least). It was the size of a credit card, and had a little digital display that showed a different pin number every time you pressed a little button. Needed it to confirm buys and sells I think. (its been so long).

Thanks Pat. I hope your stock trading is going well, as well as life in general!!

[cintrix]

Got to this page: https://us.etrade.com/security-center/securityid#tab_1
Sign into your account and order the hardware token. You see that pic of that black token? It's the size of a key lengthwise. It's free. Nothing to download. You get that gadget and after you put your user name and password in and it asks for a code, you press the button on that token and enter the code that comes up. This device is actually old school. It's been around for years - before cell phones were the big thing. I've been using it for years. They send you a new one every few years.

[ottoman]

Instead of using that route, I use the Symantic key code gadget. Aren't they offering that anymore?

Well the Norton VIP Authenticator app for mobile devices is Symantec. So that's what Etrade offers as far as 2 factor security for mobil app. That's what I was told to download and install on my phone in order to login. Yes, I guess they also offer some sort of hardware token (whatever that is). Which is what you have. I assume it's something you install on your computer? I just hate installing extra stuff that I don't necessarily trust.

I never have any issues with Schwab logging in. Unless I clear my cookies for the login website, then I need to receive a phone call or text etc.

Not sure why all of a sudden you couldn't sign in and it was a fiasco. Has it been a long time since you logged in?

Yes. I rarely use Etrade now. I think I was getting messages that they will have 2 factor authentication for a while, but I ignored it because I didn't want to opt in. I figured it was something they will offer, but didn't realize it would be mandatory. I don't know why the first few customer service people didn't know what the issue was. The whole signed letter, and photo of my driver's license was a joke, and that went unanswered without the problem being solved.

So It's somewhat my fault for not reading and keeping up with every detail of Etrade's new security policies.

[cintrix]

Wait, not following. You couldn't log into Etrade because they wanted a code? Don't they give you that as an option for additional security? I don't like their authentication code procedure because they require that you download a third party app. Why do they do that? Schwab just texts me the code every morning directly to my cell the same way most banks do. Instead of using that route, I use the Symantic key code gadget. Aren't they offering that anymore?
https://us.etrade.com/security-center/securityid#tab_1
called the Hardware Token

Not sure why all of a sudden you couldn't sign in and it was a fiasco. Has it been a long time since you logged in? Etrade has been a total disaster since Morgan Stanley took it over. And this weekend they are changing it up with all new account numbers - they are shutting it down the entire weekend to make the transition. Hope it won't be a disaster.
Might be a good idea to print out account info before they do this.

[ottoman]

hmm, I don't think I received that one, but it's possible, because I usually just delete broker solicitations immediately lol.

Apparently, I have to wait until November for my TD Ameritrade accounts to be absorbed into Schwab, but many customers' accounts have already gone through the process. So they are doing it piecemeal

On another note, Etrade was a fiasco recently. I was unable to log in to my accounts. (well, I could if I tried 25 times or so).

I called in, and got the run around from "kids" in customer service ( I think working from home....probably with a bowl of Captain Crunch while watching cartoons lol). The first 2 or 3 people did not know what they were talking about. I was told I had to verify my identity to log into my accounts. So I had to send in a letter, along with my driver's license photo. Which I did. I raised heck about it, knowing it was BS, but I did it. And naturally, nothing changed.

Eventually (about the 3rd time or so I called to complain) I was accurately told, that I need to download and install the Norton VIP authentication app on my phone, and use the auto-generated PIN number to log in every time.

I'm old school, and don't like being forced to use authentication apps to log in. What if I don't have a smartphone? Or my phone dies on me, or I can't find it? lol

I think an email verification, or automated phone call would work fine for 2-step verification. I just don't like being forced to download their app, and keep in on my phone all the time.

But the funny thing is, I was able to log in, if I kept trying and trying. Eventually after about 20-30 times I would get in, then I would just put the webpage on "auto-reload" so I would not get logged out lol. So much for security.

Well, I hope you will find some use from Think or Swim. I occasionally use it just for screening stocks that are tanking. There are SO many bells and whistles that it's overwhelming to me. But for avid traders, I hear it's excellent.

[cintrix]

Did you get this email from Schwab? We're upping our trading game. thinkorswim is coming to Schwab.

Looking forward to see if I like Sink or Swim better than Eturd Pro! lol

[ValueCumulation]

Understanding the surprising facts behind every investment strategy

I am trying to understand how people evaluate stocks. Please share your thoughts in a few sentences as it will help me a lot.

1.) Can you tell me about a time when you had difficulty finding the financial information you needed?

2.) How did you solve that problem?

3.) How time-consuming or difficult was it to get the information you needed?

Thanks in Advance…!

[Latoria]

Yes, on such platforms it is essential to make your own decisions and base on your knowledge. Although you may find good advice, your should be responsible for your actions.

[amymailey]

Thanks for sharing useful information.

[ottoman]

happy to help! hope your trading is fruitful lately, and always

[cintrix]

Thanks for posting that!!

[ottoman]

Reverse Stock Splits and Increases in Authorized Shares Will Become Easier under Delaware Law

On July 17, 2023, the Governor of the state of Delaware signed Senate Bill 1141 amending the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (DGCL), which will become effective on August 1, 2023.

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/reverse-stock-splits-and-increases-in-8537623/

[Soog]

Th e I use this trying y we

[BullNBear52]

I am going to do some trading next week with Fidelity. I'll post what happens.

[littlejohn]

If you aren't on your broker site...

barcharts.com has detailed options

info if you click on 'option prices'

on any quote symbol page...

https://www.barchart.com/etfs-funds/quotes/QQQ/options?expiration=2023-06-30-w

You can tab it up to see cost to

bet on 5, 20 or ?50 times out of money...

less ads to cloud reviews than a good

site like Yahoo Finance...

So we watch...LJ