Any good brokers w/ fast Execution and better spread

why not just do it online? fees are going to be much higher with a broker

If you have 100-150k available, you are a retail client. So what sort of thing did you have in mind when you said 'apart from the retail firms' because I can't think of anyone other than 'the retail firms' who would want your business.

In any case, placing orders online is going to be much faster than calling someone, waiting for them to get your stuff on their screen, and then explaining what you want to do. It's also going to be much cheaper.

I did mean an internet broker. I have used Thinkorswim/Scotttrade et al but the slippage & speed of execution hasn't been that impressive. Where you ca get the best spread in the retail domain ?

I am going to piggy-back off of nauru's comment here -- in the terms of the major banks, 150k is in the smallest tier.

Institutional clients and ultra-high net worth clients receive larger discount and preferential treatment because this is business that the firm can't lose without feeling it.

Interactive brokers?