Fees

$6.95

per trade
Account Minimum

$0

Promotion

$100-$600

in cash bonus with a qualifying deposit
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The Bottom Line

Merrill Edge offers high-quality customer service, robust research and low fees. Customers of parent company Bank of America will love the seamless, thoughtful integration, with a single login to access both accounts.

Fees

$6.95

per trade
Account Minimum

$500

Promotion

60

days of commission-free trades with a qualifying deposit
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The Bottom Line

E-Trade has long been one of the most popular online brokers, largely because of its easy-to-use tools. They offer a tiered commission structure that favors frequent traders but can add up to high costs for casual investors.

Fees

$6.95

per trade
Account Minimum

$0

Promotion

$100-$600

in cash bonus with a qualifying deposit
Read Review
The Bottom Line

TD Ameritrade makes up for higher-than-average trading commissions with better-than-average service, research and trading tools that will make everyone from beginner investors to active traders happy.

Fees

$6.95

per trade
Account Minimum

$0

Promotion

$100-$600

in cash bonus with a qualifying deposit
Read Review
The Bottom Line

TD Ameritrade makes up for higher-than-average trading commissions with better-than-average service, research and trading tools that will make everyone from beginner investors to active traders happy.

Tips For CHOOSING a Broker

Commissions

Trade Commissions

You are completely free to buy and sell shares, bonds and other investments. This is usually cheap, which is an advantage. A disadvantage is that you have to do everything yourself and have some knowledge of stock exchange.

Service

Customer Service

You do not buy separate shares but you participate in funds: baskets of shares within a theme. An advantage is that you invest in such a spread, almost effortlessly. The extra fund management costs are a disadvantage.

Tools

Trading Tools

You let someone else do the work, but you remain responsible. The investing is automated based on a profile. Usually you pay a percentage of the total investment value as compensation. Letting investing is accessible to everyone.

Account

Account Minimums

You leave the investing entirely to a specialist. There is a strong entry threshold and the compensation is high. With real serious capabilities and a fixed point of contact, we call this private banking .