Steve,
Thanks for the informative post. I have been with MBT for a year and I agree with you that trading without ARCA would be unthinkable. You point out very accurately the essential point that using ECNs is a complex and subtle strategy that is utterly reliant on extensive experience and careful observation. People who assume that online trading is nothing more than pushing a buy button should really stick to Datek or Etrade or the like.
The other point that you make is one I have made over and over again on this thread: you just don't find better service any where than at MBT. If you haven't visited it, I suggest you try the MBT live chat room on mIRC. The address is #mbtrading on othernet. They have a dozen tech experts online at all times to handle anything that comes up. This has been an incredible resource for me. In a year I have gotten a major education in the intricacies of trading software, charting, execution routing, internet connectivity issues, etc. Every day I see new traders come in the chat room with their beginner's questions and every day I see the experts at MBT patiently talk them through everything from the basics to the most advanced issues. I see people that make me feel like a tech genius and then someone new comes in with sohpisticated suggestions and questions that stimulate all kinds of dialogue and innovation. Every day there are improvements made to the Realtick software based on this dialogue between customers and MBT staff. This, in my opinion, is the cutting edge of online trading and it is happening at this exciting place known as MBT.
BTW, like you, I am a private trader and a customer of MBT. I have no other connection to MBT or any other firm (except my own construction company).
Hope to see you in #mbtrading and thanks again for posting.
Rick Faurot |
