Alternatives trading can be complex even more so than stock trading. When you buy a stock, you simply decide the number of shares you desire, and your broker fills the order at the prevailing market price or a limitation price you set. Trading options requires an understanding of sophisticated techniques, and the process for opening an alternatives trading account consists of a few more steps than opening a common investment account.( Required to brush up on puts, calls, strike rates and other choices trading lingo? See our post on alternatives trading 101). Compared to opening a brokerage account for stock trading, opening a choices trading account needs bigger amounts of capital. And, given the complexity of anticipating multiple moving parts, brokers require to understand a bit more about a prospective financier before awarding them a permission slip to start trading choices.