In Episode 6, Donnie Roberts talk with Lynette about his experiences creating The Small Exchange, which is expected to launch in January 2020. He discusses the practical challenges of starting an exchange, his career path and how it led to this venture, the differences between starting thinkorswim in 1999 and The Small Exchange 20 years later, and some features of their “Small, Standard, and Simple” products.

Donnie Roberts is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Small Exchange, Inc.  Prior to taking on this role, he was the President and Chief Operating Officer of TD Ameritrade Futures and Forex LLC, an NFA registered FCM/FDM, where his responsibilities included oversight of execution, clearing, compliance and relationship management until October of 2016.  Before his position at TD Ameritrade, Mr. Roberts was a founding employee and principal of thinkorswim, Inc., a FINRA and NFA registered firm, where he held the positions of Managing Director of Operations, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operating Officer.  thinkorswim was acquired by TD Ameritrade in 2009.

He started his career as a clerk and Market Maker for Timberhill LLC at the Chicago Board Options Exchange, later selling electronic trading platforms for Interactive Brokers LLC, providing electronic access to exchanges worldwide.  Mr. Roberts attended St. Bonaventure University in New York, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and an MBA in Finance. He also studied economics and sociology at Oxford University.  Mr.  Roberts still holds Series 4, 7, 24, 55 and 63 licenses.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Small Exchange: https://www.thesmallexchange.com/#/

CFTC application procedures for becoming a Designated Contract Market: https://www.cftc.gov/IndustryOversight/TradingOrganizations/DCMs/dcmhowto.html

Benzinga Global Fintech Awards: https://fintechawards.com/

The Options Clearing Corporation: https://www.theocc.com/

Tom Sosnoff: https://www.tastytrade.com/tt/bio/tom-sosnoff

thinkorswim at TD Ameritrade: https://www.tdameritrade.com/tools-and-platforms/thinkorswim/features.page