Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., often abbreviated as IBKR, is a leading online brokerage company that brings world markets to investors and traders worldwide. Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, IBKR is a powerful platform known for its direct market access, high-speed order execution, and a massive selection of global trading products.
The group was established in 1978 by Chairman Thomas Peterffy, a pioneer who played a significant role in designing and developing the technology that precipitated the transformation of the securities industry from the manual, open outcry trading system to electronic trading. Despite the company's U.S. roots, IBKR has an extensive international presence with offices in different parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
IBKR's diverse customer base extends over 200 countries and territories and ranges from individual customers to professional traders to large institutions. The focus of Interactive Brokers is to provide its customers with sophisticated, state-of-the-art trading platforms and low-cost services. The company's goal is to execute trades at the best available prices, which translates into better returns for its clients.
One of the standout aspects of Interactive Brokers Group is its robust trading platform. The Trader Workstation (TWS) is a premier trading platform, custom fit for active traders and investors who execute multiple trades per day. It enables real-time monitoring, sophisticated risk management, algorithmic trading, and comprehensive news and data services.
Moreover, the company also offers a suite of financial analysis tools. Clients have access to detailed research reports, real-time streaming news, customizable market scanners, and other tools that assist them in making data-driven investment decisions.
IBKR also distinguishes itself in terms of low costs. The company operates a lean model and passes those savings to clients in the form of lower costs. Moreover, the interest rates charged by Interactive Brokers on margin loans are among the lowest in the industry.
Despite being a technology-centered company, Interactive Brokers values its customer service. Multi-lingual service agents are available 24/7 to assist in any way they can. Given its industry leadership, global capacity, innovative technology, and low costs, it comes as little surprise that IBKR has won numerous industry awards for its trading platforms, mobile app, and customer service.
Interactive Brokers is not just a technologically advanced platform, but it also emphasizes the importance of corporate responsibility. The company places a strong emphasis on diversity, socially responsible investing, and environmental sustainability. Driving all of this is its commitment to client trust, compliance with regulations and transparent pricing. Interactive Brokers has thus set process-driven standards in the industry and has become an exceptional place for investors and traders globally.