Independent registered investment advisors looking to enrich their trading experience now have access to the thinkpipes® platform, an advanced, highly-customizable trading-platform for advisors.
thinkpipes is designed to meet the needs of many advisors - from traders of equities or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to those advisors who are looking to start or expand their use of options strategies. thinkpipes is based on the award-winning thinkorswim technology, from TD Ameritrade.
"thinkpipes is much more than a trading platform and has truly become one of the most powerful tools that we leverage day-to-day," said Donald Capone, CFA, portfolio manager at JK Financial, Inc. "If it's being traded on the market, I no longer have to use multiple sources for historical data or quotes. It's all right there at your fingertips in thinkpipes."
Tailored Trading Experience
Advisors trading equities, ETFs and options are able to customize their thinkpipes experience with a tabbed-page design to view streaming quotes, charts and order executions. Through seamless integration, account and trading data automatically update in both thinkpipes and Veo®, TD Ameritrade Institutional's1 web-based advisor platform. Using drag and drop functionality, thinkpipes enables advisors to build customizable screens to view account and market data in a way that best meets their individual needs. Filtering enables advisors to quickly search for specific assets across multiple accounts, or view expiring option contracts.
Advanced Trading Capabilities
thinkpipes is a powerful tool giving advisors enhanced ability to monitor and quickly react to changes in the market. Advanced equity and options strategies are built into the platform for point-and-click trading. thinkpipes provides advanced options trading functionality from basic covered calls to more sophisticated multi-legged option strategies. Advisors can now easily perform pre- and post- trade allocations across client accounts with the advanced block trading capabilities.
"Implementing options strategies in clients' portfolios has a lot of momentum right now and advisors are demanding tools that will take their trading experience to the next level," said Jeff Chiappetta, managing director, Institutional trading and fixed income, TD Ameritrade Institutional. "With the launch of thinkpipes, advisors now have access to a tool that can execute their trading strategies efficiently and cost-effectively."
Cost-Effective Market Data and Charting Systems
Advisors can now experience potential cost savings on streaming market data delivered to their desktop. thinkpipes offers advisors with real-time Level II quote data to provide insight of a stock's depth and price action throughout the trading day. Whether it's a perspective from 20 years to 20 seconds, advisors are able to analyze historic market data using more than 150 available chart studies and indicators. While advisors are keeping up on the market, they can now monitor the day's news as it happens within the thinkpipes homepage with live streaming CNBC.
Advisors Leverage Options Education and Dedicated Strategy Desk
The thinkpipes platform is part of TD Ameritrade Institutional's Options Market Center; a powerful trio of technology, expertise and education made available to advisors. The Options Market Center provides advisors with access to a dedicated strategy desk, and an extensive options education program. Advisors looking for options-related expertise and support can tap into a team of specialists on the Strategy Desk. These knowledgeable professionals can help advisors implement strategies designed to manage risk, minimize portfolio volatility and potentially enhance returns within their clients' portfolios. The Strategy Desk enables advisors to leverage the experience of our seasoned team to help understand the potential benefits and risks involved with using options.
Advisors that custody with TD Ameritrade Institutional can view thinkpipes education modules by logging on to Veo. The online modules provide advisors with an introduction to the thinkpipes platform, and explore features such as order placement and the option montage dashboard.