David Kalt, a long-time options trader, is co-founder and CEO of optionsXpress Holdings, Inc., the online options and stock brokerage. Since opening its doors in 2000, optionsXpress has fundamentally changed how retail investors use equity options for strategic portfolio management.

Under Kalt’s direction, optionsXpress has leveled the playing field for individual investors with a wide variety of innovative, options-specific trader tools for investor education, strategy evaluation and trade execution. These tools, many of which have since become standard in the online brokerage industry, include virtual trading, options chains, Strategy Scan, screeners, advanced order entry forms, single-click spread trading and spread price improvement.

In co-founding the company, Kalt brought extensive experience in the development, marketing and support of software and Internet technologies. Prior to optionsXpress, he founded Third Party Solutions, a company which developed technology and solutions for the travel industry. By 1998, Third Party Solutions’ ClientBASE™ had become the dominant marketing system for travel agencies. In 1998, Kalt merged Third Party Solutions with TRAMS Inc., where he served as chief technology officer.

Kalt has a master’s degree in computer science from DePaul University and a bachelor of arts degree in political science from University of Michigan. Kalt has the following NASD registrations: Series 4, 7, 24 and 63.