In this post, I don’t intend to promote any particular platform. I am a client of both TradeStation and MultiCharts, and both platforms, despite their differences in purpose and objectives, share a common characteristic: they have been developed by reputable professionals.
Founded in 1982, TradeStation has evolved from a software company to a full-fledged online brokerage platform. Its journey is marked by continuous innovation, making it a trusted name in the industry.
I embarked on my journey as a trader 30 years ago, back in 1997, with TradeStation when it was still known as Supercharts and operated solely with end-of-day data. By the year 2000, when the 2000i version was introduced to overcome the Y2K bug (which hadn’t been programmed to accommodate a date spanning two millennia), I was one of the few Europeans using this platform. In fact, having personally met the company’s staff during the first real-time seminar by Larry Williams in Europe (which was organized by my company in collaboration with The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Telerate), they asked me to be a testimonial for the launch of the new version. I even ended up with a quote of mine on the cardboard box containing the installation CD-ROMs (it feels like we’re talking about prehistory). Since then, TradeStation has been a constant companion in my entrepreneurial and trading endeavors.
It was only when MultiCharts enhanced its portfolio testing functionality that I left TradeStation to ride the MultiCharts wave. Before MultiCharts, TradeStation users could benefit from portfolio trading with parallel platforms like Rina Systems or Mike Bryant’s MSA Market Systems Analyzer.
With TradeStation’s acquisition of Ryna Systems, the gap that set the two software platforms apart was bridged.
Today, MultiCharts essentially serves as software that can interface with various brokers, while TradeStation is the proprietary platform of a broker. Therefore, those seeking the freedom to choose their broker can use MultiCharts, whereas those using TradeStation are obliged to go through the brokerage services provided by TradeStation itself.
The platform offers a wide range of asset classes, including equities, options, futures, and cryptocurrencies. This diversity enables traders to diversify their portfolios and capture opportunities across various markets, all from a single account.
TradeStation.com is known for its lightning-fast execution speed. With direct market access, traders can execute orders swiftly, reducing slippage and ensuring timely entries and exits.
Recognizing the importance of education, TradeStation.com has been providing an extensive library of educational resources. Traders can access webinars, tutorials, articles, and more to enhance their trading knowledge and skills.
Many traders, myself included, owe a debt of gratitude to TradeStation for their continuous efforts in financial education right from the beginning. For veterans like me, fond memories of the “Trading Systems and Development Club” pamphlets come to mind—bi-monthly companions that brightened the lives of early systematic traders with ready-to-use systems and programming tips digestible for traders of all levels, whether beginners or advanced. Moreover, the earliest books on quantitative trading were all centered around TradeStation’s programming language, Easy Language.
TradeStation.com stands as a testament to the evolution of trading platforms. With a legacy of innovation, a comprehensive suite of trading tools, and a commitment to education and customer support, it continues to empower traders worldwide. Whether you’re a novice or a professional trader, TradeStation.com provides the tools and resources to help you succeed in today’s dynamic financial markets.