Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a global brokerage firm established in 1978, renowned for its advanced trading platforms and a wide range of investment products.
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This page will explore what is Interactive Brokers, what it does, and whether its financial services platform and investment offerings work for your financial needs.
What is Interactive Brokers?
Interactive Brokers Group Inc., founded by Chairman Thomas Peterffy, is a securities firm with over 47 years of experience and $16.1 billion in equity capital.
The company grew to become what is Interactive Brokers now by conducting broker/dealer operations on more than 150 market destinations globally, offering direct online trade execution and clearing services for institutional and professional traders.
Its platform supports a wide range of products, including stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, gold, crypto, and funds, with affiliates executing approximately 2.7 million trades daily.
Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, Interactive Brokers employs over 2,950 staff across offices in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, India, China, Japan, Singapore, and Australia.
The firm is regulated by major global authorities such as the SEC, FINRA, NYSE, and FCA, ensuring compliance and security for its international clientele.
What does Interactive Brokers do? Is IBKR safe?
With platforms designed for mobile, web, and desktop, Interactive Brokers caters to traders at all levels.
The platform includes over 200 free and premium research providers, advanced trading tools, and supports 90+ order types for executing diverse strategies.
The platform supports trading in 28 currencies, enabling investors to fund accounts and trade assets seamlessly. Tools like the World Map Screener and World Data Screener assist users in identifying global investment opportunities.
IBKR offers professional pricing with commissions starting at $0 for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, alongside low rates for other products.
The platform provides margin rates up to 53% lower than industry averages and offers interest rates of up to 3.83% on instantly available cash.
Additionally, clients can participate in the Stock Yield Enhancement Program to earn income by lending shares.
Interactive Brokers LLC is rated investment grade by Standard & Poor’s.
Interactive Brokers Key Executives
- Thomas Peterffy – Founder and Chairman of the Board
Thomas Peterffy, a pioneer in securities markets and electronic trading, founded Interactive Brokers after emigrating from Hungary in 1965. He introduced computerized mathematical models for pricing equity options and developed innovative technologies like automated market-making systems and tablet computers for trading. Under his leadership, Interactive Brokers has become a global leader in electronic brokerage. - Milan Galik – Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
Milan Galik joined the company in 1990 as a software developer and played a key role in developing the firm’s automated trading and electronic brokerage systems. He led the expansion into European derivatives markets and has been CEO since 2019. Galik holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Budapest. - Earl H. Nemser – Vice Chairman and Director
Earl Nemser has been with Interactive Brokers in various leadership roles since 1988. He specializes in securities and commodities law, with a career background in prominent law firms. He holds a B.A. in Economics from NYU and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law. - Paul J. Brody – Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director
Paul Brody joined the firm in 1987, overseeing back-office operations and later becoming CFO in 2003. He has extensive experience in financial operations and has served as Vice Chairman of The Options Clearing Corporation. Brody graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University. - Thomas A. Frank – Executive Vice President
Dr. Thomas Frank joined in 1985, developing the company’s early market-making systems and serving as Chief Information Officer from 2006 to 2024. He continues to play a strategic advisory role and has served on the board of The Options Clearing Corporation. Dr. Frank earned both an S.B. and a Ph.D. in Physics from MIT.
Interactive Brokers Addresses
- United States
209 South LaSalle Street, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
P.O. Box A3770, Chicago, IL 60690-3770 - Canada
1800 McGill College Avenue, Suite 2106, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3J6 - United Kingdom
20 Fenchurch Street, Floor 12, London EC3M 3BY - India
502/A, Times Square, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400059 - Japan
Kasumigaseki Building 25F, 2-5 Kasumigaseki 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-6025 - Hong Kong
Suite 1512 Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty - Australia
Level 11, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
PO Box R229, Royal Exchange NSW 1225 - Singapore
8 Marina View #40-02A, Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960 - Switzerland
Gubelstrasse 28, 6300 Zug - Ireland
North Dock One, 91/92 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 D01 H7V7 - Hungary
Madách Imre út 13-14., Budapest, 1075
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