avant garde

Avant Garde, operating under Avant Garde Trading Securities (AGTS), is a US-based broker-dealer headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. According to its Form CRS, the firm is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). AGTS was approved by FINRA in 2018 and executed its first trade in 2022, making it a relatively new entrant in the brokerage space.

The broker positions itself as a multi-asset platform that caters to active traders and investors. Its official domain, avantgardetrading.com, lists services including equities, options, ETFs, futures, and cryptocurrencies, alongside private placement opportunities. While the company was founded in 2020 per our records, regulatory filings indicate earlier FINRA membership.

Avant Garde Trading Securities is a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and a FINRA member, subject to federal securities regulations and FINRA oversight. Additionally, its membership in SIPC provides customers with up to $500,000 in protection (including $250,000 for cash) in the event of broker insolvency. These regulatory layers offer a degree of investor protection uncommon among unregulated offshore brokers.

However, the broker's risk score from FXCanary is 75/100 (Severe), reflecting concerns such as the absence of a proprietary trading platform, no mobile app, limited educational resources, and a relatively short operating history. Traders should weigh regulatory safeguards against these operational drawbacks.

The broker offers a single platform for trading equities, options, ETFs, futures, and cryptocurrencies. It does not provide its own proprietary software; instead, it likely relies on third-party technology via its clearing partner, Apex Clearing Corporation. The platform features a watchlist tool for organizing equities by category and creating strategy-based baskets for backtesting.

A notable offering is program trading through Letters of Direction, allowing clients to subscribe to trade strategies from third-party publishers. Additionally, the broker facilitates access to private placements (pre-IPO investments) through a partnership with Monark, available to qualified clients. Despite these features, the lack of a dedicated mobile app may hinder on-the-go trading.

Avant Garde provides self-directed and broker-assisted account options. Self-directed trading comes with $0 commission on equities and $0 plus $0.65 per options contract. Broker-assisted trades incur a $15 fee for equities and $1.50 per options contract (with minimums). A $5.00 monthly membership fee is required, which includes access to trade desk professionals and exclusive webinars.

Margin trading is available through an agreement with Apex Clearing, which also handles order execution and payment for order flow. The broker's fee schedule is published on its website, and additional charges from exchanges and clearing firms may apply. Investors should carefully review all fees, as they can impact long-term returns.

Opening an account takes approximately 5 minutes online. Funding options include ACH (1–3 business days), wire transfer (~1 business day), and check (3–5 business days). All funding must come from a like-titled account, and accounts must be active before deposits can be made. The broker does not charge for ACH setup.

To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, the broker requires identity verification, including name, address, and date of birth. This process is standard for SEC-registered brokers and ensures compliance with federal laws.

Avant Garde is designed for active traders who seek a self-directed brokerage with access to multiple asset classes, including options and futures. The program trading feature appeals to those who wish to follow and automatically execute strategies from third-party publishers. The availability of private placements may attract sophisticated investors looking for pre-IPO opportunities.

Conversely, the broker may not suit beginners due to the lack of educational resources and personalized advice. The absence of a mobile app and reliance on a third-party clearing platform could also deter traders who prioritize proprietary tools and mobile accessibility. Overall, Avant Garde occupies a niche between traditional discount brokers and specialized program trading platforms.