Brokers
Your broker is the foundation of your trading infrastructure. For the OPERATOR swing system in an IRA, the right broker has ThinkorSwim integration (for scanner scripts), solid IRA options approval, and commission-free stock trades.
The Three Brokers That Work Best With OPERATOR
ThinkorSwim (TD Ameritrade / Charles Schwab)
Best overall for the OPERATOR system. The TOS ThinkScript platform is where Scanner A, B, C, and all three Wheel scanners run. The Stock Hacker scan tool is the most powerful free scanning platform available. IRA accounts supported. Options Level 2 (buy calls/puts) available in IRAs. Commission-free stocks and ETFs, competitive options commissions ($0.65/contract).
If you plan to use the TOS ThinkScript scanners — which is the recommended setup — ThinkorSwim is the platform to use. The scripts won't run anywhere else.
Tastytrade
Best for options-focused traders who care about the Wheel strategy. Tastytrade's options commissions are capped at $10 per leg, making it cost-effective for selling covered calls on multiple positions. IRA accounts supported. No ThinkScript integration — use the OPERATOR web scanner instead.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR Lite)
Best for international traders or anyone wanting the lowest margin rates. Commission-free on IBKR Lite. Strong IRA support. No ThinkScript — use web scanner. The TWS platform has a learning curve but is powerful for multi-leg option strategies.
| Broker | TOS Scripts | IRA Options | Commissions | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThinkorSwim | ✓ Full support | Level 2 | $0 stocks, $0.65/contract | OPERATOR full system |
| Tastytrade | ✗ (use web scanner) | Level 2 | $0 stocks, capped options | Wheel strategy focus |
| IBKR Lite | ✗ (use web scanner) | Level 2 | $0 stocks, $0.65/contract | International traders |
Whichever broker you choose: (1) Open a Traditional or Rollover IRA, (2) Apply for options Level 2 approval (allows buying calls/puts), (3) Fund with $5,000 minimum, (4) Enable paper trading mode first for 30 days. TOS has a full paper trading simulator that mirrors real market data.