<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0205</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-05</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123541</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENSON WORLDWIDE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PNSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001551524</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McCain Richard Barto</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1700 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>59117</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-08-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 45 Restricted Stock Units, the unvested portion of which will vest on July 31, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 3,528 Restricted Stock Units, the unvested portion of which will vest in quarterly installments as follows: 1,176 shares on July 1, 2012, 1,176 shares on October 1, 2012 and 1,176 shares on December 31, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 1,921 Restricted Stock Units, the unvested portion of which will vest in quarterly installments as follows: 384 shares on August 1, 2012, 385 shares on November 1, 2012, 384 shares on February 1, 2013, 384 shares on May 1, 2013 and 384 shares on August 1, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 17,096 Restricted Stock Units, the unvested portion of which will vest in annual installments as follows: 8,548 shares on January 1, 2013 and 8,548 shares on January 1, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes 10,773 Restricted Stock Units, the unvested portion of which will vest in annual installments as follows: 3,591 shares on January 1, 2013, 3,591 shares on January 1, 2014 and 3,591 shares on January 1, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Option currently exercisable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard B. McCain</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
