What You Need:

Individual

A personal investment account registered under one person’s name only.

Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship

This is a joint account in which, in the event of death of one of the tenants, the ownership of the entire account reverts to the surviving tenant.

Joint Tenants in Common

This is a joint account in which, in the event of the death of one of the tenants, the surviving tenant is entitled to only his/her pro rata portion of the account before the death of the other tenant. Ownership is assumed to be 50/50 unless we are notified otherwise in writing signed by both joint owners.

Custodial

An account established by an adult for the benefit of a minor. The account must be completed in the name and social security number of the minor. Margin Trading is not available.

Corporate

Accounts must be registered in the same name of the corporation. Please include the Corporate Agreement form. At least one individual must be granted full trading authorization.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Corporate Agreement
Articles and Certificate of Incorporation

Limited Liability Corporation

This account is registered in the name of the Limited Liability Company as organized under applicable state laws. At least one individual must be granted full trading authorization. A Tax Identification Number is used, not an individual Social Security Number.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Limited Liability Company Authorization
Articles and/or Certificate of Incorporation

Sole Proprietorship

You must register the account in the name of the sole proprietorship, not an individual’s name. Equities, Options, and Futures trading are available.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Sole Ownership Affidavit
Articles and Certificate of Incorporation

Partnership

This account is registered in the name of the Partnership and in the care of the General Partner(s) of a Partnership. At least one person must be granted full trading authorization. A Tax Identification Number must be used, not an individual Social Security Number. Equities, Options, and Futures trading are available.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Partnership Account Agreement
Partnership Documents

Revocable Personal Trust

Account is opened under the legal name of the trust. If a Revocable Trust, a person’s Social Security number is used. Equities and Options trading are available, if allowed by the trust.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Trustee Certification
Trust Agreement

Non Revocable Personal Trust

Account is opened under the legal name of the trust. If a Non Revocable Trust, a Tax ID number is used rather than a Social Security Number. Equities and Options trading are available, if allowed by the trust.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Trustee Certification
Trust Agreement

Investment Club

This account is registered in the name of an Investment Club. A Tax Identification Number must be used, not an individual Social Security Number. Margin Trading is not available. Equities and Options trading are available.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Investment Club Account Form
Investment Club Documents

Traditional IRA

A Traditional IRA is an Individual Retirement Account to which you can contribute pre-tax or after-tax dollars, giving you immediate tax benefits that are tax-deductible. The limit for annual contributions to traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) in both the 2021 and 2022 tax years is $6,000, or $7,000 if you’re age 50 or older. However, there are restrictions that could affect how much you can contribute and what you can deduct on your tax return. Please check with your accountant or reliable online resources such as the IRS regarding the latest IRA restrictions prior to making any decisions. 

SEP IRA

The SEP-IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Plan) is a retirement plan for small businesses with any number of employees, but typically opened by sole proprietors with no employees. Available to sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations including sub-chapter S corporations, non-profits, and government agencies. Equities and Options trading are available.

Forms needed:
Account Application
IRA Application

Rollover IRA

A Rollover IRA is a tax-free reinvestment of a distribution from a qualified retirement plan into an IRA or other qualified plan within 60 days. Margin trading is not available. Equities and Options trading are available.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Regular IRA Application

Roth IRA

A new type of IRA, established in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which allows taxpayers, subject to certain income limits, to save for retirement while allowing the savings to grow tax-free. Taxes are paid on contributions, but withdrawals, subject to certain rules, are not taxed at all. Margin trading is not available. Equities and Options trading are available.

Forms needed:
Account Application
Roth IRA Application

Margin Equity Requirements – Day trade Margin Account

All accounts, classified as day trade margin accounts, must have a minimum equity of $25,000 each day to affect day trades. If account falls below the minimum equity level, a minimum equity call will be issued and is due the same business day. While the minimum equity call is outstanding, the account will be restricted to liquidating transactions only. A client may appreciate out of a minimum equity call.

Margin Equity Requirements – Non Day Trade Margin Account

Non-day trade margin accounts must maintain a minimum ongoing balance of $2,000 in order to continue their margin status. If the account closes (marked-to-market) below $2,000, the account will be reduced to 1 x buying power. If the account balance is back over $2,000 margin buying power will be restored. You also must maintain a minimum balance of at least $2,000 at all times in order to remain on the downloadable trading software.

Margin Maintenance Requirements

Maintenance Requirement (MR) is that part of the value of your securities that is withheld from your equity when holding a security in your account. The MR is calculated by taking the Market Value (MV) of each security in your account marked to the market multiplied by the Minimum Maintenance Requirement, or the higher Penson House Maintenance Requirement Percentage, if applicable.

A day trade account status exists when the purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the same security on the same day in a single account takes place. The clearing firm will look at the number of “Opening” transactions to determine the number of day trades in an account.

If a client places more than 3 day trades within a consecutive 5 day period and those trades exceed 6% of the trading activity for that period, the client is defined as a Pattern Day Trader. If a client qualifies as a Pattern Day Trader in a single margin account, then that account will be designated as a Day Trade Margin Account. A client that transacts 4 day trades within 5 business days and also has a total of 100 transactions during that 5 day period would not be deemed a Pattern Day Trader since less than 6% of that customer’s total trades would have been day trades. 4/100=4%

The clearing firm will run a query to see which customers meet the day trading definition criteria. On a daily basis, the trading activity in each individual account will be assessed to match and calculate the number of day trades for that day. This information will then be compiled with the previous 4-business day’s trades to determine the status of the account. Clients will be notified by e-mail the following business day if their account meets the Pattern Day Trader requirements and is converted to a Day Trade Account.

For the purposes of Pattern Day Trading, a “security” is defined to include both equity (stock) and option transactions.

The client can advise AutoShares in writing (by signing the Pattern Trader Change of Strategy letter) via fax to remove the classification of a Pattern Day Trader from his/her account. Note: Clients may request to change their account classification (day trade to non-day trade) ONLY one time.