Brief Overview of Day Trading
Day trading is an investment technique where traders open and close their positions within a single session and hold zero securities overnight. In contrast to buy-and-hold investors who look for home run stocks, and plan long term, day traders utilize technical analysis to plot their trades since precise entry and exit points are needed to make profits. Thus, a day trading strategy is designed to begin and end quickly based on even the slightest price movement.
By holding no positions overnight, day traders minimize risk by giving themselves complete control over their trades. There is no risk tolerance when you day trade. A bad earnings report or late-breaking negative catalyst doesn’t interrupt a day trading strategy as much since traders are always ready to liquidate a position at a moment’s notice. Losses are unacceptable to day traders and bad stock trades are exited instantly.
Day traders also need to be aware of Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rules. According to PDT rules, a day trader using margin needs $25,000 in capital in their account at all times if they want to perform more than 3 day trades in a 5-day period. Any day trading platform like TD Ameritrade will automatically bar your 4th attempt to day trade stocks in a 5-day period if you don’t meet the capital requirements, which could result in holding a position overnight when you really don’t want to, ruining all the groundwork you laid for that investing strategy,
TD Ameritrade Account Options for Day Trading
Day traders have two different choices for their capital at TD Ameritrade: cash accounts and margin accounts. TD Ameritrade offers plenty of retirement and custodial accounts too, but most day traders prefer cash or margin accounts when managing their account value. If you’re wondering whether you can day trade in your IRA account, you can if you really want to, but you’ll need to wait until age 59.5 to transfer those funds and take the profit without penalty.
- Cash Account: Investment services managed with a cash account are considered the ”standard” for those who day trade. With a cash account at TD Ameritrade, you can deposit funds with no minimum and begin day trading instantly since PDT rules do not apply to cash accounts. However, you won’t be able to perform stock trades with unsettled cash. Securities trades take two days to clear, although that may change in the future.
- Margin Account: Margin simply means borrowed money and TD Ameritrade clients can borrow up to 50% of their capital from the broker in a margin account. Margin accounts have restrictions that cash accounts do not – you’ll need to abide by PDT rules unless you have $25,000 in capital and you’ll need at least $2,000 for access to margin. However, margin accounts don’t need to worry about settlement delays.
All stock and ETF trading is commission-free at TD Ameritrade, although options and futures contracts will still carry a fee. Margin rates also vary depending on the amount you wish to borrow – check here for updated margin rates. Remember, though, you’re subject to a margin call at any time.
How to Day Trade on TD Ameritrade
To begin trading on TD Ameritrade, you’ll first need to choose between a cash or margin account. Then fill out the application for the selected account and fund it with the appropriate amount. Once you’ve completed the account process, your next step is picking a trading platform within TD Ameritrade.
Choose a Trading Platform
TD Ameritrade has a couple different choices when it comes to platforms. You can use the standard online investing platform, which can be used on both web browsers and mobile devices. Or you can use the suped-up thinkorswim suite, a powerful trading apparatus capable of plotting complex trades with advanced technical tools. Both platforms have mobile apps available for iOS and Android operating systems.
- Standard Platform – The web-based platform has great functionality on both browsers and smartphones. You can trade multiple types of securities, watch videos and get real-time news reports, and read up on topics like retirement planning or wealth management. Trade execution is sleek and streamlined, plus there are plenty of technical indicators for traders with more advanced repertoires. You can transition seamlessly from the web application to the mobile application too.
- thinkorswim Platform – Now here’s a trading setup with a little more torque. The thinkorswim platform is an advanced trading application with sophisticated tools for experienced traders. With over 400 technical indicators, thinkorswim is a day trader’s dream. You can plot multi-leg options trades, analyze through different tools like Trade Architect, or scan for opportunities using the Stock Hacker or Option Hacker. Thinkorswim also provides a paper trading simulator where practice trades can be made using $100,000 in fake money.
Things to Consider
- Margin – Should you trade on margin? If you don’t have the necessary capital to avoid PDT restrictions, day trading with a margin account might not be the best idea. On the other hand, if capital is no constraint, margin accounts allow traders to bypass T+2 limitations and trade with unsettled cash. Margin can significantly juice your profits since you make money on borrowed cash, but you also could lose more than your original investment if a trade turns against you. Understand the pros and cons of margin trading before borrowing any cash from the broker.
- Trading Hours Available – Most volatility occurs outside normal trading hours and many day traders want access to pre- and post-market trading in order to benefit from outsized moves. TD Ameritrade offers early market trading beginning at 7 am EST and after market trading up until 8pm EST. Some brokers allow trading as early as 4 am EST, so consider the available trading hours when debating an account with TD Ameritrade.
- Available Security Types – Like most brokers, you’ll need specific access to trade certain securities. Options permission must be granted based on your trading experience level and futures can only be traded overnight using the thinkorswim platform. Can you access all of your preferred asset classes through TD Ameritrade? What about short selling or writing options? You’ll want to confirm these answers with customer service before signing up.
Use the Paper Trading Simulator to Practice
Thinkorswim might be an intimidating platform for newbies, but the paper trading option is very beneficial for traders of all skill levels. If you’re a day trader, you’ll eventually want to ‘graduate’ to thinkorswim since it’s a much more robust platform. The paper trading account has all the bells and whistles of the real thing, so you can test out different tools and features without worrying about making an uncorrectable mistake.
If you’re unsure how the Trade Architect works or want to test out some unique options trades, use the paper trading simulator first. Even if you’re a seasoned pro with bountiful experience on the platform, the paper trader can still be a great practice field for new techniques or contrarian trades. But don’t let paper trading go to your head – your lizard brain gets much more involved with the process when real money is on the line.
Final Thoughts
TD Ameritrade is a top choice for day traders thanks to their commission-free structure, the wealth of available asset classes and securities, and the irreplaceable thinkorswim platform. Getting started is quick and easy, plus you can give the platform a test spin using the paper trading account on thinkorswim.
If you want to day trade on TD Ameritrade, use the paper trading simulator first to get a feel for the platform and all its available tools. And also be sure to understand the risks of day trading, using margin, and trading complex instruments like options and futures. Most prospective day traders flame out quickly and never make another attempt, so be sure you’re ready to put in the time and brainpower required for success.