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payment for order flow

Payment for Order Flow (PFOF): How Free Trades Work

September 12, 2026July 2, 2026 by Bruno
Payment for Order Flow (PFOF): How Free Trades Work

Payment for order flow (PFOF) is how zero-commission brokers get paid. Here’s exactly who pays whom, what Rule 606 discloses, and why regulators disagree about it.

Categories Market Education Tags investing basics, payment for order flow, pfof, robinhood, sec rule 605, sec rule 606

Dark Pools Explained: How Off-Exchange Trading Works

September 12, 2026June 4, 2026 by Bruno
Dark Pools Explained: How Off-Exchange Trading Works

Dark pools now match nearly half of U.S. stock trades — and most retail orders never touch a lit exchange. Here is how they actually work.

Categories Market Education Tags alternative trading system, dark pools, investing basics, market structure, off-exchange trading, payment for order flow

Market Makers, Bid-Ask Spreads, and Why Liquidity Matters

September 12, 2026May 12, 2026 by Bruno
Market Makers, Bid-Ask Spreads, and Why Liquidity Matters

Every stock trade passes through a market maker who profits from the bid-ask spread. Here’s how market makers work, what payment for order flow means for you, and why liquidity affects every investment decision.

Categories Market Education Tags bid-ask spread, investing basics, market makers, payment for order flow, stock market liquidity

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