The first and most important question to ask when getting started with financial spread betting is, "Do I really want to?". The wealth warnings the spread companies display prominently on their promotional material and websites are more than just a grudging compliance with financial regulations.
There are considerable risks associated with spread betting and the unwary and unprepared can, even in the more benign market conditions that have been seen of late, soon find themselves exposed to unlimited and substantial losses. The rewards may be high, but so too are the risks.
The spread companies have no interest in luring unsuspecting clients into their lair. They are well aware that their image will be tarnished by tales of personal financial woe and customers who cannot afford to pay their debts are bad for business. That is why they are more than happy to help potential clients to understand exactly what it is they are letting themselves in for when they open an account.
Once you have convinced yourself that you wish to start spreadbetting, and have set aside a capital sum you are prepared to lose, the next step is how to open an account and with which firm or firms.
The choice is wider than ever. There are now more than 7 firms specialising in financial spreads and one more has just been launched. Competition is increasing, which can only be good for customers. The range of products and services is expanding and spreads are tightening as the firms pursue a relatively small client base.
It is easy to say that all the firms are the same. They are not. It is important to establish what kind of trading pattern you wish to undertake.
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How often will you trade? How will you trade - on the phone or over the internet? What kind of financial products interest you? What type of account will suit you? Who offers the keenest spreads on the products which appeal to you? Are there any hidden costs? What is the maximum stake you wish to place and how does this square with the minimum stakes imposed by many of the firms? What level of customer support is on offer? What are the trading hours? What are the settlement arrangements? These are important questions that will help you make up your mind on which firm to choose.
All the firms have their own websites and these provide an easy starting point to allow you to get a feel for the character and service and product levels each offers.
However, the best way is to phone the firms that interest you most and speak directly to their staff. Although many encourage trading over the internet, direct contact by phone is still favoured by many traders. How each one handles your inquiries will give a flavour of the kind of relationship you are likely to develop in the future.
Most firms offer two basic types of account. Although specific details will vary, you can either trade through a deposit or a credit account. The deposit account in its simplest form requires you to lodge funds with the firm which allows you to trade as long as any losses do not exceed the amount of your deposit.
Before opening a deposit account, it is important to check with each firm the exact terms and conditions that will govern your trading.
Credit accounts tend to allow you to take more aggressive positions and, as a consequence, require you to provide more detailed information about your personal finances. The spread firms are no different from any other lending institution in this respect and will carry out the usual checks. You will need proof of identity and also have to demonstrate that you have liquid assets to meet your liabilities.
With more clients opening multiple accounts, some of the firms have recently increased their credit criteria and many will now ask you to demonstrate liquid assets equivalent to five times your credit limit.
The ability to meet those liabilities, and the margin calls that you will incur when the markets have moved against you, is important. Spread firms understandably adopt tough credit policies, and if you cannot meet a margin call, your position will be closed down.
Whether or not you need to open more than one account depends on your trading ambitions. All the firms offer the basic product range, but for the more esoteric products you may need to use more than one firm.
Having more than one account also allows you to take advantage of the arbitrage opportunities that sometimes occur when the selling spread limit offered by one firm is higher than the buying spread limit offered by another.
When your account is set up and it is time to place your first bet, there is one golden rule to bear in mind. Do not make that trade until you have mentally calculated the absolute risk you are running.
When you have calculated that and are comfortable with it, you can begin. The dealers will help with the jargon and explain "stop losses" for you.
Indeed, if you have selected IG as your spread firm, then the first trade you make will be identified as such to the dealer on his or her computer screen and you will be transferred to the customer services section.
They can still execute the trade for you, but the staff have more time to help with any other queries and guide you through those first nervous moments.