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f
OR
f
Choose from the following popular Online Brokerages:
E*Trade, Fidelity, Firstrade, Merrill Lynch Direct, OptionsXpress, Schwab.com, Scottrade, SoGoTrade, TD Ameritrade, Vanguard, Zecco Trading, Sharebuilder, TradeKing
A
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (800) 669-3900
Email: Go to http://www.tdameritrade.com/contact.html and select the General New Accounts Questions option.
URL: http://www.tdameritrade.com/ |
Specialty |
Inexpensive trading combined with the most powerful Research & Investing Tools in the Industry. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $9.99
Funds: $49.99
Options: $9.99
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,445 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
2,948 (Some require Ameritrade Transaction Fee of $49.99) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#3 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#6 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#3 |
Margin Rates |
8% base. Tiered structure with highest rate, 9.25%, for accounts < $10,000 and the lowest rate, 6.5%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
1.87% paid via Money Market Sweeps vehicle |
RANK: Customer Service |
#4 |
Weekday Support Hours |
24 hour support |
Live Chat Available? |
No |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#1 |
RANK: Perks |
#6 |
Best Perk? |
Free access to Morningstar.com Research and Analysis tools |
Current Specials |
New Accounts < $25,000 trade free for 30 days.
New Accounts > $25,000 receive $100 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $50,000 receive $200 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $100,000 receive $300 + 30 days free trading |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
5 Seconds |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
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Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (800) 387-2331
Email: tellmemore@etrade.com
URL: https://us.etrade.com/e/t/welcome/openanaccount |
Specialty |
The first to offer Global Trading. Buy foreign stocks on foreign exchanges with foreign currency. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $11.49 (averaged Tier 3 & 4 prices since Tier 1 & 2 prices would require > 150 trades per year)
Funds: $19.99
Options: $11.49 + $0.75 per contract (averaged Tier 3 & 4 prices since Tier 1 & 2 prices would require > 150 trades per year)
Bonds & Treasuries: $40 flat fee |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
985 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
1,619 (Some require Transaction Fee of $19.99) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#5 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#7 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#4 |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 7.24%, for accounts < $50,000 and the lowest rate, 4.24%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
3.15% High yield checking account. |
RANK: Customer Service |
#5 |
Weekday Support Hours |
8AM - Midnight |
Live Chat Available? |
No |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#5 |
RANK: Perks |
#4 |
Best Perk? |
Global Trading. Buy foreign stocks on foreign exchanges with foreign currency. |
Current Specials |
New accounts get 100 free Stock and Option trades. |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
2 Seconds or less |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
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Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (800) 343-3548
Email: Go to https://scs.fidelity.com/accounts/services/content/visitorsend_frame.shtml and enter your message.
URL:https://www.fidelity.com/ |
Specialty |
Best overall trading experience in the industry. Groundbreaking trading tools like Wealth-Lab Pro. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $10.95 (Assumes you trade < 120 times per year)
Funds: $75.00
Options: $10.95 + $0.75 per contract (Assumes you trade < 120 times per year)
Bonds & Treasuries: $1 per bond, $250 maximum fee |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,850 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
2,700 (Some require Transaction Fee of $75.00) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#1 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#3 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#7 |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 8.825%, for accounts < $10,000 and the lowest rate, 4.0%, for accounts > $500,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
2.68% paid on IRAs & Roth IRAs, 2.28% paid on Taxable accounts |
RANK: Customer Service |
#2 |
Weekday Support Hours |
24 hour support |
Live Chat Available? |
Yes |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#2 |
RANK: Perks |
#2 |
Best Perk? |
Wealth Lab Pro. This tool is so flexible and powerful that there are entire web sites dedicated to its use. This is the most impressive in-house tool we saw during our entire 2008 Online Brokerage Review. |
Current Specials |
If you start a new account with > $50,000 you will be assigned your own personal Investment Advisor. |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
1 Second or less |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (800) 869-8800
Email: Service@firstrade.com
URL:http://www.firstrade.com/ |
Specialty |
Best value. Lowest trading expenses in the industry among all brokers that offer a full line of products. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $6.95
Funds: $9.95
Options: $6.95 + $0.75 per contract
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
607 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
2,900 (Some require Transaction Fee of $9.95) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#7 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#5 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#1 |
Margin Rates |
5% base. Tiered structure with highest rate, 7.75%, for accounts < $50,000 and the lowest rate, 4.0%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
0.25% Money Market Sweep |
RANK: Customer Service |
#8 |
Weekday Support Hours |
8:30AM - 9PM |
Live Chat Available? |
Yes |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#9 |
RANK: Perks |
#8 |
Best Perk? |
Lowest trading costs of any full service broker plus 2,900 Mutual Funds that trade for $9.95 or less (607 free No-Load & No-Fee available and the rest trade for only $9.95) |
Current Specials |
Firstrade will pay your transfer fee (up to $100) if you transfer at least $25,000 into a new Firstrade account. |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
3 Seconds or less |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
No |
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M
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (877) 653-4732
Email: general_askml@ml.com
URL: http://www.mldirect.ml.com/ |
Specialty |
All clients have access to market leading global research. Be the first to learn about new emerging markets. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $29.95 + $0.03 per share over 1,000
Funds: 0.75% of gross proceeds with a $50 minimum and a $250 maximum
Options: Flat Dollar Amount + % of Principal
$0 - $2,499 = $23 +1.3% of principal
$2,500 - $9,999 = $39 +0.65% of principal
> $10,000 = $79 +0.25% of principal
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
Called repeatedly but reps couldn't figure out how many are available. |
Total No-Load Funds |
Called repeatedly but reps couldn't figure out how many are available. |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#10 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#10 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#11 |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 9.375%, for accounts < $25,000 and the lowest rate, 5.25%, for accounts > $10,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
0.25% Money Market. |
RANK: Customer Service |
#10 |
Weekday Support Hours |
8AM - 7PM |
Live Chat Available? |
No |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#7 |
RANK: Perks |
#7 |
Best Perk? |
Merrill Lynch wins awards every year for the quality, depth and accuracy of their international investing research. You'll be one of the first to learn about new emerging markets and world economic conditions. |
Current Specials |
None |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
None |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
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O
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (888) 280-8020
Email: Go to http://www.optionsxpress.com/cust_service.asp?pageid=home and click on the "Email" link.
URL: http://www.optionsxpress.com/ |
Specialty |
Best Options site on the web plus a full suite of products. Great prices, education resources and trading tools. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $9.95 + $0.01 per share after the first 1,000 shares. ($9.95 base price assumes at least 9 trades per quarter)
Funds: $14.95
Options: Flat $12.95 fee for 10 contracts, flat $25.00 fee for 20 contracts, no additional per contract charge.
Bonds & Treasuries: $5 each, $14.95 minimum |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
OptionsXpress does not offer No-Fee No-Load Funds |
Total No-Load Funds |
3,000+ (All require Transaction Fee of $14.95) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#4 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#1 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#5 |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 6.25%, for accounts < $50,000 and the lowest rate, 4.0%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
0.5% for accounts < $100,000 and 1% for accounts > $100,000. |
RANK: Customer Service |
#9 |
Weekday Support Hours |
9AM - 10PM |
Live Chat Available? |
Yes |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#3 |
RANK: Perks |
#3 |
Best Perk? |
No additional charge for broker assisted phone trades. This is an industry first, hopefully competitors will follow suit. |
Current Specials |
Stock and ETF traders will receive a 33% discount as long as they trade at least 9 times per quarter (from $14.95 to $9.95) |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
No |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
No |
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S
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (866) 232-9890
Email: Go to http://www.schwab.com/ and select the "Send us an Email" option from the right side of the screen.
URL: http://www.schwab.com/ |
Specialty |
More no-fee no-load funds than any competitor. Mutual Fund traders can basically trade for free at Schwab. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $12.95 + $0.015 per share after the first 1,000 shares
Funds: $49.95
Options: $8.95 + $0.75 per contract
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,900 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
5,000+ (Some require Transaction Fee of $49.95) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#2 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#2 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#6 |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 8.75%, for accounts < $25,000 and the lowest rate, 6.25%, for accounts > $2,500,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
2.26% High yield checking account. |
RANK: Customer Service |
#1 |
Weekday Support Hours |
24 hour support |
Live Chat Available? |
Yes |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#4 |
RANK: Perks |
#5 |
Best Perk? |
Schwab's New Client Concierge is a creative and fun way to introduce new clients to the Schwab site. When you sign up for an account, your New Client Concierge welcomes you, helps you with paperwork, points to investment tools suited to your investing goals, gives you a tour and answers any questions that you have. One of many reasons they were #1 in Customer Service in our 2008 Online Brokerage Review. |
Current Specials |
New Accounts & Transfer Accounts: You receive 50 free trades if you can commit to making a minimum of 36 online equity or options trades per year and deposit a minimum of $25,000 at account opening. |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
1 Second or less |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes and no account fees or ATM fees |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (866) 232-9890
Email: Support@Scottrade.com
URL: http://www.scottrade.com/ |
Specialty |
Scottrade offers an exceptional training and trading experience for new online investors at deeply discounted prices. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $7.00
Funds: $17.00
Options: $7.00 + $1.25 per contract
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,224 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
3,312 (Some require Transaction Fee of $49.95) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#6 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#4 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#2 |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 8.75%, for accounts < $10,000 and the lowest rate, 6.25%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
Sweeps vehicle is based on portfolio size with the highest, $1,000,000+, paying an APY of 2.25% APR and the lowest, $0-$5,000, paying 0.10%. |
RANK: Customer Service |
#3 |
Weekday Support Hours |
6AM - 10PM |
Live Chat Available? |
Soon, it was about to roll out when we called for the 2008 survey. |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#8 |
RANK: Perks |
#10 |
Best Perk? |
#2 in the Trading Costs and Fees category, they are one of the low-cost leaders. |
Current Specials |
None |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
No |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
No |
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone:
Email: Go
URL: |
Specialty |
Inexpensive trading combined with the most powerful Research & Investing Tools in the Industry. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $9.99
Funds: $49.99
Options: $9.99
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,445 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
2,948 (Some require Ameritrade Transaction Fee of $49.99) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
Margin Rates |
8% base. Tiered structure with highest rate, 9.25%, for accounts < $10,000 and the lowest rate, 6.5%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
1.87% paid via Money Market Sweeps vehicle |
RANK: Customer Service |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
Weekday Support Hours |
24 hour support |
Live Chat Available? |
No |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
RANK: Perks |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
Best Perk? |
Free access to Morningstar.com Research and Analysis tools |
Current Specials |
New Accounts < $25,000 trade free for 30 days.
New Accounts > $25,000 receive $100 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $50,000 receive $200 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $100,000 receive $300 + 30 days free trading |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
5 Seconds |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (888) 818-7646
Email: support@sogotrade.com
URL: http://www.sogotrade.com/ |
Specialty |
At $1.50 per trade, SoGoTrade offers the lowest stock trading prices in the industry. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $3 per trade or $1.50 per trade if you agree to the $10 monthly membership fee.
Funds: Not available
Options: Not available
Bonds & Treasuries: Not available |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
Not available |
Total No-Load Funds |
Not available |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#9 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#8 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#9*
* SoGoTrade was penalized in the expense category for not offering any Mutual Funds, Options, Bonds, Treasuries or CDs |
Margin Rates |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 5.75%, for accounts < $50,000 and the lowest rate, 3.5%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
Tiered structure with highest rate, 1.75%, for cash amounts > $1,000,000 and the lowest rate, 0.10%, for accounts < $2,500. |
RANK: Customer Service |
#6 |
Weekday Support Hours |
8AM - 7:30PM |
Live Chat Available? |
Yes |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#10 |
RANK: Perks |
#9 |
Best Perk? |
Fractional Share trading. This service is not unique to SoGoTrade, but they definitely offer it much cheaper than anyone else we reviewed. |
Current Specials |
25 Free trades when you sign up for a new account |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
No, but their parent company is Genesis (manages 2-4% of NASDAQ daily volume) so executions are fast and accurate. |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
No |
Checking available? |
No |
Managed Accounts available? |
No |
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Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (800) 669-3900
Email: Go to http://www.tdameritrade.com/contact.html and select the General New Accounts Questions option.
URL: http://www.tdameritrade.com/ |
Specialty |
Inexpensive trading combined with the most powerful Research & Investing Tools in the Industry. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $9.99
Funds: $49.99
Options: $9.99
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,445 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
2,948 (Some require Ameritrade Transaction Fee of $49.99) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
#3 |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
#6 |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
#3 |
Margin Rates |
8% base. Tiered structure with highest rate, 9.25%, for accounts < $10,000 and the lowest rate, 6.5%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
1.87% paid via Money Market Sweeps vehicle |
RANK: Customer Service |
#4 |
Weekday Support Hours |
24 hour support |
Live Chat Available? |
No |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
#1 |
RANK: Perks |
#6 |
Best Perk? |
Free access to Morningstar.com Research and Analysis tools |
Current Specials |
New Accounts < $25,000 trade free for 30 days.
New Accounts > $25,000 receive $100 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $50,000 receive $200 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $100,000 receive $300 + 30 days free trading |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
5 Seconds |
SIPC Member? |
Yes |
IRAs & Roth IRAs available? |
Yes |
Checking available? |
Yes |
Managed Accounts available? |
Yes |
Online Brokerage |
|
Contact Information |
Phone: (800) 669-3900
Email: Go to http://www.tdameritrade.com/contact.html and select the General New Accounts Questions option.
URL: http://www.tdameritrade.com/ |
Specialty |
Inexpensive trading combined with the most powerful Research & Investing Tools in the Industry. |
Link to our Detailed Review |
|
Average Trade Expense |
Stocks: $9.99
Funds: $49.99
Options: $9.99
Bonds & Treasuries: Net yield basis |
Total No-Fee & No-Load Funds |
1,445 (Free to trade) |
Total No-Load Funds |
2,948 (Some require Ameritrade Transaction Fee of $49.99) |
RANK: Overall Trading Experience |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
RANK: Web Site Functionality |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
RANK: Trading Costs and Fees |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
Margin Rates |
8% base. Tiered structure with highest rate, 9.25%, for accounts < $10,000 and the lowest rate, 6.5%, for accounts > $1,000,000. |
Interest paid on Cash |
1.87% paid via Money Market Sweeps vehicle |
RANK: Customer Service |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
Weekday Support Hours |
24 hour support |
Live Chat Available? |
No |
RANK: Research Tools & Investing Information |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
RANK: Perks |
Will be included in the 2009 Rankings |
Best Perk? |
Free access to Morningstar.com Research and Analysis tools |
Current Specials |
New Accounts < $25,000 trade free for 30 days.
New Accounts > $25,000 receive $100 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $50,000 receive $200 + 30 days free trading
New Accounts > $100,000 receive $300 + 30 days free trading |
Trade Execution Guarantee |
5 Seconds | |
