Trading Tools

Learn about specialized tools traders may use to make trading decisions.

futures margin margin order types forex options futures trading options research technical analysis

5 Types of Alerts on the thinkorswim® Platform

Schwab's thinkorswim® trading platform offers a wealth of alerts to help you keep tabs on your trades and the market. Here's how to use them as your virtual trading assistant.

Futures

How to Trade Futures on thinkorswim® for Beginners

Learn the risks and benefits of futures trading and how to get started with practice trades using the paperMoney® feature on the thinkorswim® desktop platform.

Trading Tools

Analyze Vertical Spreads with the Risk Profile Tool

Learn how to set up and analyze an options spread using the Risk Profile tool on the thinkorswim platform for more complex trades like vertical spreads.

Trading Tools

Using thinkorswim® to Find Long-Term Holdings

The thinkorswim® platform has plenty of useful features for long-term investors. Here we break down how to use the Stock Hacker to find long-term candidates for your portfolio.

Stocks

Why and How to Invest in Dividend-Paying Stocks

Dividend stocks deliver regular payments to investors and can be an essential part of portfolios. Learn how to assess dividend stocks and understand reasons to choose or avoid certain ones.

Market Volatility

Grab Your Coffee: Election Night, thinkorswim, and You

Election night 2016 featured haywire markets as results trickled in. Get ready for a possible repeat of that volatility by learning more about overnight trading on thinkorswim.

Trading Tools

5 Elements of a Smart Trade Plan

Find out why you should have a trade plan—and the five elements that may help you put it to work successfully.  

Trading Tools

4 Reasons to Try Paper Trading

Paper trading isn't only for beginners. Here are four reasons you might benefit from a simulated trading experience.

Trading

Trading and Social Media

Social media is full of trading tips—but should you listen?

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner or investment manager.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Hedging and protective strategies generally involve additional costs and do not assure a profit or guarantee against loss.

Options carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain requirements must be met to trade options through Schwab. Please read the options disclosure document titled "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options" before considering any option transaction. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

With long options, investors may lose 100% of funds invested.

Covered calls provide downside protection only to the extent of premiums received, and prevent any profitability above the strike price of the call.

Cryptocurrency- related products carry a substantial level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Investments in cryptocurrencies are relatively new, highly speculative, and may be subject to extreme price volatility, illiquidity, and increased risk of loss, including your entire investment in the fund. Spot markets on which cryptocurrencies trade are relatively new and largely unregulated, and therefore, may be more exposed to fraud and security breaches than established, regulated exchanges for other financial assets or instruments. Some cryptocurrency-related products use futures contracts to attempt to duplicate the performance of an investment in cryptocurrency, which may result in unpredictable pricing, higher transaction costs, and performance that fails to track the price of the reference cryptocurrency as intended. Please read more about risks of trading cryptocurrency futures here.

Futures, futures options and Forex trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Risk Disclosure Statement for Futures and Options prior to trading futures products.

Forex trading involves leverage, carries a substantial level of risk, and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Risk Disclosure for Forex.

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