Fees
$6.95
per tradeAccount Minimum
$0
Promotion
$100-$600
in cash bonus with a qualifying depositThe 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 tradeAccount Minimum
$500
Promotion
60
days of commission-free trades with a qualifying depositThe 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 tradeAccount Minimum
$0
Promotion
$100-$600
in cash bonus with a qualifying depositThe 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 tradeAccount Minimum
$0
Promotion
$100-$600
in cash bonus with a qualifying depositThe 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 tradeAccount Minimum
$0
Promotion
$100-$600
in cash bonus with a qualifying depositThe 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
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.
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.
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 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 .