Charles Schwab Thinkorswim

Thinkorswim (ToS) is a premium, commission-free trading and investing platform now operated by Charles Schwab. Known for its powerful analytical tools, it caters to both active traders and long-term buy-and-hold investors via downloadable desktop software, a web portal, and mobile apps. 

Charles Schwab operates in the Netherlands by offering its Schwab International Account to Dutch residents, granting direct access to U.S. financial markets, ETFs, and global trading. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Account Specifics:

• Investment Access: You can trade U.S. stocks, bonds, options, and over 1,100 ETFs. European-domiciled UCITS ETFs are also available to Dutch and European Economic Area (EEA) residents. [1, 2, 3]
• Minimum Deposit: $0 minimum balance requirement to open and maintain the account. [1]
• Currency: Accounts are denominated solely in U.S. Dollars (USD), which means Dutch investors utilizing Euros (EUR) will be subject to currency conversion fees. [1]
• Dutch stocks cannot be traded through Charles Schwab.

Top Features for Investors

Advanced Charting & Analysis: Access hundreds of technical studies, fundamental data, and historical earnings tracking directly on the thinkorswim Desktop platform. 

No Account Minimums: You can open a Schwab brokerage account and access all ToS platforms for free, though certain trading products like options require minimum funding to trade. 

paperMoney®: A built-in virtual trading environment that allows you to test out investing strategies with $100,000 of simulated cash without risking your real capital. 

Expanded Trading Hours: The platform offers 24/5 trading on over 1,100 heavily traded stocks and ETFs. Through a ToS account, you can invest in and trade:

• Stocks & ETFs
• Options
• Futures
• Forex 

How to Get Started

Open an Account: You must first open a standard brokerage account with Charles Schwab. Download: Once your account is active, you can download the thinkorswim desktop application or access the web version directly from your Schwab online dashboard. Practice: Log in with your Schwab credentials and launch the paperMoney environment to familiarize yourself with the interface before risking real money.