Direct-Access Brokers
Some brokers offer customers the option to route orders directly to exchanges or specific trading venues, bypassing PFOF arrangements. Interactive Brokers, for example, offers a 'directed trading' option and publishes detailed execution quality data. These brokers typically charge commissions per trade rather than receiving PFOF, which changes the incentive structure. Whether commission-based or PFOF-based routing is more economical depends on the investor's trading frequency and order size.
IEX Exchange
The Investors Exchange (IEX) is a U.S. stock exchange designed with features intended to level the playing field between institutional and retail investors, including a 'speed bump' that delays high-frequency orders. Some investors and observers consider IEX an alternative to exchanges where high-frequency market makers may have structural advantages. Several brokers offer IEX routing.
Reading Your Broker's Rule 606 Disclosure
SEC Rule 606 requires brokers to publish quarterly reports disclosing where they route their customers' orders and what PFOF they receive. These reports are publicly available on brokers' websites. Investors can use these disclosures to understand whether their broker receives PFOF for their orders and, if so, from which market makers. Comparing Rule 606 disclosures across brokers is one way to evaluate routing practices.
Limit Orders vs. Market Orders
Using limit orders rather than market orders gives investors more control over the price at which their trades execute, regardless of the market maker handling the order. A limit order specifies the maximum price a buyer will pay (or minimum a seller will accept), which limits exposure to unfavorable spreads. This is a practical step available to any retail investor using any broker.