Most of the online brokers you see beckon with campaigns that are designed to ease the minds of novice investors. The pricing, platforms, and support are generally directed to help those who are, to some degree or another, uncomfortable with trading, computer systems, or both. This is a smart move for the industry. Bringing on investors who normally wouldn’t use the computer to trade opens up new markets and gets dollars off the sidelines and into the game.

Just2Trade is very different in this regard. Although the online brokerage has extremely low pricing, Just2Trade specifically targets experienced investors. In fact, you have to apply to get a Just2Trade account, and it’s not just a matter of filling in some blanks with your personal information; instead, Just2Trade only accepts investors with “2+ years of online trading experience” and “knowledge of trading terminology,” to name a few criteria. This BankShout review will look at Just2Trade’s pricing, platforms, and services so that you can decide if you are cut out for this one-of-a-kind brokerage.

Getting accepted by Just2Trade is more akin to applying for a job than for a brokerage account. In addition to wanting experienced investors, Just2Trade’s website insists that its applicants have at least two years of computer experience and the ability to maintain $2500 in your balance. These restrictions, the company says, allows Just2Trade to maintain very low service costs–savings which is passed onto to the investor in the form of low prices.

As in rock bottom prices: unlimited $2.50 equity and mutual fund trades and .50 cent options. If you trade on margin–and it is one of Just2′s requirements that you know how–the brokerage’s margin rates are some of the lowest in the industry, as well. Although Just2Trade wants investors that know what they are doing, the brokerage does offer broker-assisted trades by telephone, at $20 per equity, $25 per mutual fund, and $20 per option plus $1 per contract. Just2Trade’s website says that they offer about 2,900 no-load mutual funds, plus IRAs and money market sweep accounts.

There are a couple of trade-offs with low prices, and Just2Trade’s platform is one of the casualties. Although the company promises “split second fills,” the J2Trader application is extremely bare bones, with none of the add-ons or market news that can make a difference in the day’s trade. This is somewhat expected. Just2Trade is courting semi-professional traders, after all, and the company expects you to do your own research and simply doesn’t provide things like web seminars or extensive analysis.

Another limitation is that Just2Trade’s platform uses Java, so you can mostly forget about trading through any of your handheld devices. Just2Trade does offer 19 different options chains (things like Butterfly Puts, Collars, and Straddles, for example) as well as the popular Maxit program that can assist you with tax implications of trades.

Since Just2Trade isn’t designed for a lot of investment hand-holding, the efficiency of service should weigh heavily on an investor’s decision to use this brokerage. Funding your account with Just2Trade is relatively easy, including funding via check, wire, ACH transfer, or account transfer from another bank or brokerage.

It is also telling that Just2Trade’s “preferred” method of communication is email, according to the website. The site says that live representatives “are available during company hours,” but doesn’t go into much detail beyond that. Just2Trade goes out of its way to state that they “emphasize your account will be entirely self-managed.” You have to credit the company for being honest in marketing to a crucial trading niche: seasoned investors who want rock-bottom commission costs and don’t need to be visiting branches or calling brokers on the phone.

• Outstanding low pricing on equities
• Solid number of no-load mutual funds
• Cheap options contracts
• Reasonable minimum account balance

• Extremely limited research and analysis
• Customer service is not a priority
• No mobile trading
• Trading platform is bare-bones