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How to Place an Options Order

You can place options orders on the Trading Dashboard. Please note, options orders can only be placed from accounts that are approved for options trading. You can request to add options trading to your account by submitting a completed Options and Margin Agreement form.

To search for a stock, click the search icon at the top of the Trading Dashboard. A search window will open. Enter a symbol or company name.

GIF searching for a quote in the quote box.

From the list of search results, click the stock you would like to place an options order for. A Factsheet widget will open, displaying a detailed quote for your selection.

In the Factsheet widget, select the Related Products tab.

Related Products tab highlighted on a Factsheet.

This will display the available option classes for the stock.

Choosing options classes in the Related Products tab.

Select the option class in order to open the Options Chain.

Options chain screenshot.

When the Options Chain opens in a new window, select the contract you would like to place an order for by clicking the Trade icon. This is the icon that has two arrows pointing in opposite directions. (You may have also noticed the Trade icon in other places, including your Watchlists, Portfolio and other widgets. You can click this icon to place an order directly from those places as well.)

Trade icon highlighted on Options Chain.

Pro tip: Additional information on the options contract, including the Greeks, can be found by hovering over the information icon located beside the Trade button.

Hover over information icon to show Greeks

An options order form will open in a new window.

Options order window screenshot.

Fill out the form by selecting your account, action, order type and number of contracts. Once you've filled out all required fields, click Continue.

Empty fields to be filled highlighted on options order form.

Review your order. If everything is correct, click Verify.

Review order window.

A trade confirmation message will appear.

Trade confirmation message.

You can close this window, or you can click Open Order Status to view details about your orders.

Order status window.

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