Additional Trading Features

Explore select trading features at Schwab, including alerts, watchlists, market data, and cost basis.

Learn about cost basis and realized gain/loss at Schwab.

Get more details

Managing alerts, watchlists, and market data at Schwab is easy.

alert icon

Alerts

Here's what you need to know:

  • TD Ameritrade web and mobile users: Real-time trade notifications are the only alerts automatically moving to Schwab. For all other notifications, you'll need to set up new alerts after the move.

How to establish alert settings on Schwab.com.

  • This is a screenshot of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where Alert Settings are found within the Profile tab.
  • This is a screenshot of alert delivery methods and where to confirm contact details.
  • This is an example of Email, Text Messages, and Mobile App Notifications with email notifications selected.
  • This is an example of profile and security selections with the email option selected.
This is a screenshot of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where Alert Settings are found within the Profile tab.

1. After you log in, navigate to the Profile icon > Alert Settings.

This is a screenshot of alert delivery methods and where to confirm contact details.

2. To make sure you receive alerts, confirm your email address and phone number.

This is an example of Email, Text Messages, and Mobile App Notifications with email notifications selected.

3. Select how you want to receive alerts regarding your portfolio.

This is an example of profile and security selections with the email option selected.

4. Select how you want to receive alerts for profile changes or when deposits and transfers occur.

How to set alerts on Schwab.com.

  • This is a screenshot of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where Alerts are found within the Profile tab.
  • screenshot of how to set alerts
This is a screenshot of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where Alerts are found within the Profile tab.

1. After you log in, navigate to the Profile icon > Alerts.

screenshot of how to set alerts

2. Choose from a wide range of portfolio, research, and securities alerts.

The symbols used in this image are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation.

How to establish alert settings on the Schwab Mobile app.

  • This is a screenshot of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where Alerts are found in the Service section.
  • This is an example of the Profile menu showing alert settings on the Schwab Mobile app.
  • This is an example of alert settings being updated on the Schwab Mobile app.
This is a screenshot of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where Alerts are found in the Service section.

1. Log in and, from the Summary screen, tap on the Profile icon.

This is an example of the Profile menu showing alert settings on the Schwab Mobile app.

2. From the Profile menu, select Alert Settings.

This is an example of alert settings being updated on the Schwab Mobile app.

3. On this screen you can explore and update your alert settings.

The symbols used in this image are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation.

Watchlists

Great news—watchlists will be moving to Schwab. Here's everything you need to know about the watchlist experience at Schwab. 

  • If you use watchlists in the TD Ameritrade Mobile app, be aware that watchlists saved locally on your mobile device will not move to Schwab; only watchlists saved in the app itself will move.
  • Once at Schwab, your watchlists will not sync between the thinkorswim® suite of platforms and Schwab's platforms. So, for example, any change made to a watchlist on thinkorswim would require a manual update to Schwab.com or the Schwab Mobile app to keep your watchlists aligned.

Two types of watchlists at Schwab and TD Ameritrade.

  • User-created watchlists
  • Position watchlists
  • User-created watchlists
    • Manually created.
    • Clients create, add, and delete symbols.
    • Maximum symbol limits apply.
  • Position watchlists
    • Automatically generated. 
    • Include the symbols for every position held in an account.
    • Cannot be modified by clients.
    • No maximum symbol limits. 

Compare Schwab's watchlists side-by-side.

  •  
  • User-created watchlists
  • Position watchlists
  •  
    Maximum number of symbols allowed
  • User-created watchlists
    • Schwab.com: 300
    • The Schwab Mobile app: 300
    • thinkorswim: Unlimited 
  • Position watchlists
    Unlimited
  •  
    Watchlists moving from TD Ameritrade to Schwab
  • User-created watchlists
    Will move to Schwab: Watchlists on tdameritrade.com and the TD Ameritrade Mobile app containing 3,000 or fewer symbols. 

    Will not move to Schwab: User-created watchlists containing more than 3,000 symbols. 

    Watchlists on Schwab.com and the Schwab Mobile app are each capped at 300 symbols in size. Any TD Ameritrade watchlist containing more than 300 symbols will be broken into multiple watchlists when moved to Schwab. When that happens, a group number will be assigned to indicate that it's a newly migrated watchlist at Schwab.

    Example: A TD Ameritrade watchlist named Technology containing 1,000 symbols would move to Schwab and break into: 
    • 3 watchlists of 300 symbols each
    • 1 watchlist of 100 symbols 

    This would result in 4 watchlists called: 
    1. Group1_Technology 
    2. Group2_Technology 
    3. Group3_Technology
    4. Group4_Technology 
  • Position watchlists
    Will be automatically recreated at Schwab. 
  •  
    Streaming quotes on watchlists on Schwab.com
  • User-created watchlists
    You will receive streaming quotes in any watchlist (custom or position) containing 300 or fewer symbols. No streaming quotes will be available in any watchlist that has more than 300 symbols.
  • Position watchlists
    You will receive streaming quotes in any watchlist (custom or position) containing 300 or fewer symbols. No streaming quotes will be available in any watchlist that has more than 300 symbols.
  •  
    Streaming quotes on watchlists on the Schwab Mobile app 
  • User-created watchlists
    You will receive streaming quotes in all watchlists. 
  • Position watchlists
    You will receive streaming quotes in all watchlists. 

How to create and edit watchlists on Schwab.com.

  • This is an example of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where watchlists can be found in the Research section.
  • This is an example of the Edit watchlist functionality.
This is an example of the navigation menu on Schwab.com, showing where watchlists can be found in the Research section.

1. After you log in, navigate to Research > Watchlist.

2. Look for the Manage watchlists dropdown menu for easy access.

This is an example of the Edit watchlist functionality.

3. From here, it's easy to create, edit, and delete watchlists.

The symbols used in this image are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation.

Market data

Schwab provides real-time streaming quotes free of charge to nonprofessional clients. Here's what else you can expect.

  • Streaming quotes are currently available on Schwab.com and the Schwab Mobile app in the following places: the trade ticket (web and mobile), SnapTicket (web only), and watchlists (web and mobile).
  • There will be no market data changes for traders using the thinkorswim suite of platforms.
  • Nasdaq TotalView (Level 2) quotes are available on thinkorswim.
  • You'll receive quotes from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) for Canadian equities on Schwab.com; thinkorswim users will receive OTC quotes for Canadian equities.

The market data experience for professionals.

The market data experience for professionals.

Professional traders using Schwab.com and the Schwab Mobile app can expect the following at no cost:

  • Streaming, real-time equity quotes sourced from Nasdaq and CBOE on watchlists
  • A real-time NBBO snap quote at order entry

Watch for more market data experience and subscription details as you get closer to your Schwab transition date.

How Schwab compares to TD Ameritrade's market data experience.

  •  
  • Market data at TD Ameritrade
  • Market data at Schwab
  •  
    Platforms
  • Market data at TD Ameritrade
    tdameritrade.com and the TD Ameritrade Mobile app
  • Market data at Schwab
    Schwab.com and the Schwab Mobile app
  •  
    Default no-cost professional trader experience
  • Market data at TD Ameritrade
    • Receives 15-minute delayed NBBO quotes with real-time snap quotes at order entry. 
    • Options quotes are delayed 15 minutes with real-time quotes at order entry. 
  • Market data at Schwab
    • Get streaming, real-time quotes sourced from Nasdaq and CBOE on watchlists with real-time NBBO snap quotes at order entry.
    • Options quotes are delayed 15 minutes with real-time snap quotes at order entry. 

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