Foliofn

[WTMHouston]

I understand that their window trades program may not fit everyone's trading needs or styles, which, I suppose, is also why there are so many different brokerage houses floating around with many catering to niche segments.

I had not closely looked at the 4600 stocks included in the window group, but suspected that many small companies (particularly BB and pink sheet stocks) were likely not on the list. Your review in that regard certainly does not surprise me.

That said, Folio-fn also functions as a regular brokerage house. The difference between the $299 and the $399 level, aside from the extra window trades, is 10 regular trades (market, limit, etc.) a month, which works out to about $3.33 each over the course of a year. Additional regular trades are $3.95. Thus, even aside from and not considering the fractional and dollar amount features of the windows trades, the price for regular trading services looks appealing -- assuming that someone does enough trades monthly to justify the flat expense. By the same token, I also understand that for 100-200 trades a year, the $1 difference is probably not worth the hassle of moving an account: that threshold will be different for everyone. For someone for whom the window trades and the diversification it offers is the primary appeal, the regular trades are simply a bonus.

To get the 10 free monthly regular trades, one must bump from the $299 to the $399 level, of course. The $100 difference there is worth it to me for the 10 free trades a month -- 120 a year, especially if I get into active AIMing a variety of stocks. It basically takes commissions out of the equation in trading.

Thanks for the review and input. The more perspectives I get on this (and I was very happy to have found a couple of people who use them and are satisfied -- no complaints from anyone so far, which is also unusual), the more confidence I have in making an informed decision.

I am about 90 percent certain that I am going to give them a shot and see how it works out.