SureTrader Review | Is it a Scam? Legit? Safe? Everything You Need to Know

SureTrader Review | Is it a Scam? Legit? Safe? Everything You Need to Know About Using SureTrader to Trade

How you view SureTrader may depend greatly on which SureTrader reviews you look at, and also which SureTrader customer you speak with. 

Some of its users seem to love it while others have complaints about it, and claim that it is a scam. Below, we’ll go over the pros, cons, and positive and negative SureTrader reviews, and then we will provide our conclusive viewpoint regarding trading with SureTrader.

As a news organization, it is AdvisoryHQ’s policy to present an objective review, including presenting positive and negative reviews from other sources, as well as providing our own input regarding whether a company is a scam, legit, and safe for investors and consumers to use.

No Account Minimums and No Pattern Day Trading Restrictions

First, what exactly is SureTrader?

SureTrader is one of the largest and highest-profiled online brokerages when it comes to pattern day trading as it operates outside “pattern day trading regulatory jurisdictions,” and best of all, it has no account minimums.

SureTrader is a trading platform that thousands of day traders rely on every day to trade a wide range of securities, including OTC and penny stocks.

One thing to note here is that SureTrader is NOT for U.S. traders. We explain below why the firm chose not to provide its platform to U.S. traders and investors. (In a nutshell, it has to do with SEC regulations.)

U.S. traders and investors can check out this page for U.S. based brokerage firms: Top Ranked U.S. Online Brokers to Trade With (Stocks, FX, Futures, Options, Bonds).

The below AdvisoryHQ review of SureTrader provides a detailed review of the pros and cons of trading with SureTrader. 

Note on Positive & Negative SureTrader Reviews Found on the Web

When it comes to online trading of any kind, especially that which involves penny stock trading, perception is often skewed by losses and gains, which are reflected on any SureTrader review you might come across.

If a trader makes a lot of money from an online trading site, they tend to be happy about using that online brokerage firm, and if that person loses money, they tend to look for someone to blame, and part of that blame often lands on the brokerage firm.

SureTrade is for Non-U.S. Consumers, and Here’s Why (SureTrader Review)

If you are based in the U.S. and are seeking top U.S. online brokers, then check out this category page: Top Rated U.S. Brokers (Stocks, FX, Futures, Options, Bonds, etc.).

One of SureTrader’s most highly-touted features is that its clients are not subject to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) pattern day trader rule. This is one key reason why SureTrader is not intended for U.S. traders and investors.

Under the U.S. SEC rule, U.S. trading accounts with less than $25,000 are not allowed to execute more than three trades in any 5-day rolling period. The purpose for the rule is to protect new traders from overextending themselves to disastrous results, but many traders don’t like the rule because it seriously limits their game and prevents small accounts from being turned into large ones quickly.

The SureTrader Advantage – Pros of Using SureTrader (Reviews and Rankings)

From our detailed SureTrader review, it seems that SureTrader is a great choice for day traders who are just getting started in the practice.

It is a great choice for experienced traders who are seeking a lot of trading leverage. With SureTrader, even those with small accounts can trade as much as they want, and can apply a higher amount of leverage than can be found at other online brokers.

It’s very easy and quick to open a SureTrader account with as little as $500, and you don’t have to wait until it grows to more than $25,000 to start applying some serious leverage – you can be as conservative or aggressive as you want with your trades.

What are the Pros and Cons of Using SureTrader?

Pros:

Besides its unmatched customer support, there are a lot of pros when trading with SureTrader:

• Use licensed trading professionals whom you can contact via phone, email, or live chat.
• Setting up an account is quick and easy.
• Powerful Trading Tools include a wide variety of charting features and the ability to take advantage of advanced order types. Its free mobile apps make trading very convenient wherever you are.
• Get 6:1 intra-day leverage and 2:1 overnight leverage on marginable securities above $3.
• With its advanced trading software, orders are sent instantly using direct-access technology, making the process extremely fast.
• It’s easy to use SureTrader to trade penny stocks.
• As noted, the lack of pattern day trading rules means it caters to pattern day traders and those who are just starting out.
• Its extended hours make it possible to react quickly to news and events that happen when the market is closed.
• It has one of the longest stock lists of any online broker, with more than 10,000 stocks available for shorting.

Cons, Negative SureTrader Reviews & Points to Note:

Of course, no brokerage is perfect, and this wouldn’t be a fair and reliable SureTrader review if we didn’t list a few of the cons:

• SureTrader’s location in the Bahamas could be a downfall for some, though offshore jurisdiction is not entirely uncommon. With the International Business Companies Act, the Bahamas has become an established corporate and financial hub for many North American investors. SureTrader is listed under the Securities Commission of the Bahamas.
• Based on other SureTrader reviews, there seems to be instances lots of platform issues.
• In 2016, the founder of SureTrader, Guy Gentile was charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for perpetrating penny stock manipulation schemes. In January of this year, Honorable Judge Jose Linares of the United States District Court dismissed the Federal Indictment brought against Mr Gentile by the United States Department of Justice. 
• Bloomberg reported that the indictment was dismissed by a New Jersey court due to an expired five-year statute of limitations.
• Negative customer complaints posted on topratedfirms.com discuss fees on accounts with less than $5,000. Some customers also complained about the firm’s customer service, with one reviewer stating that “SureTrader’s terrible customer service, aweful platform, pricey fee structure, and buggy software made me crazy.”
• SureTrader’s platforms only work on a PC running Windows. Mac users have to buy a special app/program, called Crossover, to be able to use it. SureTrader reports that the company is currently working on a better solution for Mac users. 
• Other negative reviews included statements like SureTrader is an “unreliable company with no account insurance.” 

If none of these things bother you, then you can compare SureTrader with other brokerages and see if it meets your needs.

Below is a comparison table of SureTrader vs. its immediate competitors.

Source: Suretrader.com

SureTrader Commissions: How Much Does SureTrader Cost?

Based on an analysis of SureTrader reviews, the issue of SureTrader commissions seems to be somewhat controversial.

To a number of people who are just getting into day trading, the standard commission of $4.95 per trade for up to 1,000 shares seems like a high price to pay, while for the highly experienced, especially those who are into short selling, it’s a bargain.

In reality, that commission structure is among the lowest out there.

There are a couple of SureTrader fees to keep in mind, of course. For example, while deposits into an investor’s account are free, there is a $100 fee for outgoing wire transfers. Those will be incredibly rare, but it’s worth knowing about them.

Also, if you’re going to be a SureTrader accountholder, you need to stay active because there is an inactivity fee for investors who don’t make at least 15 trades in any quarter, which will cost you $50.

SureTrader Software & Data Fees

SureTrader boasts of allowing its users to day trade freely, with “6:1 leverage and no pattern day trading rules” for its account holders.

3 Online Platforms for Different Users

The SureTrader service offers three separate online platforms for trading stocks, with its Mobile SureTrader and SureTrader ActiveWeb platforms being entirely free.

For more serious day traders, it has a platform called SureTrader Desktop, which is described as a much more powerful and intense software package that gives the trader a wider, more accurate view of the market for $50 per month.

Something to Consider – Location (SureTrader Review)

The company, a division of Swiss America Securities, Ltd., is located in the Bahamas and is regulated by the Bahamas Securities Commission. That means that there are tax implications to be aware of when using SureTrader, which we will get to later on.

It is well known that traders tend to be wary of offshore brokerages, so SureTrader has gone out of its way (via its marketing material) to proactively address any concerns that traders might have about using an offshore brokerage firm.

In addition to the usual marketing on its website, touting SureTrader as a great brokerage due to its wide selection of stocks, it also notes that it is controlled and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahamas and that its financials are regularly audited by BDO Chartered Accountants & Advisors of the Bahamas and submitted to the Securities Commission of the Bahamas.

It also notes that it adheres to anti-money laundering policies and that it insures all accounts as well as adheres to all IRS rules and regulations for offshore accounts.

SureTrader Review – Tax Filing Impact

Since your SureTrader account is located in the Bahamas, it can be affected by the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, which was passed in 2010.

Anyone residing in the U.S. who holds specified foreign financial assets with an aggregate value exceeding either $50,000 in a foreign bank ($100,000 if married filing jointly) on the last day of the taxable year or if the amount reaches $75,000 ($150,000 if married filing jointly) at any time during the taxable year is required to report certain information about these assets on Form 8938, which must be attached to Form 1040.

If you fail to report the account and any income received, the IRS can assess a 40 percent penalty on any amount you understate.

Keep in mind that if you use a brokerage in the U.S., that brokerage would be reporting that for you, and you would just report that amount on a line on your tax form and be covered.

SureTrader Reviews: How Easy Is SureTrader to Use?

Whether or not SureTrader is easy to use seems to depend on whom you ask or the SureTrader reviews that you read.

However, based on our SureTrader review and analysis, below are a couple of factors to note.

The layout is admittedly minimalist, with few bells and whistles, which can be a positive for serious traders who only care about buying and selling stocks.

However, as it seems that SureTrader’s main focus is on first-time traders who may be trying things out, that lack of sophistication may be a conscious decision to make things simpler to understand.

It is very easy to create an account with SureTrader and only takes a couple of days for approval.

If someone wants to sign up, they will have to scan a couple of pieces of identification and a current utility bill. It’s just that easy.

Should You Use SureTrader in 2017-2018?

For anyone thinking of getting into day trading, getting into SureTrader penny stocks is probably a good choice as a beginning point. However, there are many aspects of the brokerage that seem like they’re not the best for experienced traders. Also this broker has received lots of negative reviews from existing and previous trading customers. So, “buyer beware!”

The best features that it offers make it a great option for new investors. Its major selling points include the fact that pattern day trading rules are not applicable, and its relatively easy-to-understand fee structure seems custom-made for a newbie or someone who doesn’t want to risk everything that they have at first. In other words, it is perfect for new investors, which seems to be SureTrader’s sweet spot.  

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Summary

Reviewer

AdvisoryHQ

Review Date

2020-06-17

Item Reviewed

Broker - SureTrader

Author Rating

2

Item Name

SureTrader