Smart Money Discount Broker Survey – Where’s Thinkorswim?

I just came across Smart Money’s 2009 discount broker survey, which ranks the most popular brokerage firms by categories like commissions, research, and customer service. E*Trade (ETFC) came out on top, with Fidelity and Charles Schwab (SCHW) rounding out the top 3.

However, I noticed that my broker of choice, thinkorswim, did not make it into the survey. You’d figure that the firm ranked #1 by Barron’s would make the cut.

 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) also failed to make the cut. I found that a bit unusual given than thinkorswim is almost certainly bigger than companies like WallStreet*E and SogoTrade. And IB is just enormous – at least with active traders, though those guys probably don’t read Smart Money magazine.

I put an email into the good folks at Smart Money asking them if there’s any particular reason thinkorswim wasn’t included. I plan on giving thinkorswim a ring as well.

Maybe the merger with TD Ameritrade (AMTD) is a factor?

For now, here are the best discount brokers, as compiled by Smart Money. If I learn anything, I’ll post it here.

1) E*Trade (ETFC)

2) Fidelity

3) Charles Schwab (SCHW)

4) TradeKing

5) TD Ameritrade (AMTD)

6) Muriel Siebert

7) Scottrade

8) Firstrade

9) OptionsXpress (OXPS)

10) Banc of America (BAC)

11) Just2Trade

12) WellsTrade

13) ShareBuilder

14) WallStreet*E

15) Zecco Trading

16) SogoTrade

Disclosure: I am an OptionXpress (OXPS) shareholder