If your looking to find the right broker here are a few reviews.The best brokers i have heard about are sharebuilder,optionsxpress,tradeking,scottrade and fidelity.Which one you will find the best is up to you.
Oh and a few people at DTM seem to like marketiva.
Brokers in order of ascending price of limit orders for equities:
Zecco, (909) 657-6655
Products: Stocks, options, no-load mutual funds
Market Orders: $0.00 (up to 40 trades/month or 10 trades/day)
Limit Orders: $0.00 (up to 40 trades/month or 10 trades/day)
Mutual Funds: $10.00
Options: $3.50/trade+$0.60/contract
Minimum to Open: $0. $2000 minimum for margin accounts.
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Accepts funding by ACH. Includes a forum and some user blogs. Foreign accounts accepted. (Thanks to Karl-Johan for the update.)
Notes: "A division of Equinox Securities". Clears through Penson Financial Services. Seems to have very high margin rates - 10.50% on Oct. 14, 2006. Very low credit interest on default cash account, but see customer update below.
User Comments: "I've been with Zecco for about two months now, overall a very good experience.... I used their customer service three times. They did not follow up with one issue so I had to make the third call.... Out of two e-mails I sent I got one reply... Limit orders sometimes execute at better than the limit price... They send you a paper statement (free) every day that you had any transactions, so you might end up with a large paper trail. Their system did screw up once so far by replacing my purchase price for a position in my portfolio, but (as of today) they appear to be on top of it. Their user interface took a long time to get used to, and their double-log-in... and very short session log-out time are a hassle. 1% annual interest paid on cash balance in the account."[Editor's note: My default sweep accounts at two other brokers are bearing 4.46% and 4.39% right now.](August 10, 2007) "Opened a couple of weeks ago and customer service is terrible to fair if you can wait 24 hours on an email. But, no secure email from the web site and a very, very difficult web site to use. They do offer 4.39% on a money market sweep but you have to send in a form for it."[Editor's note: My default sweep accounts at two other brokers are bearing 4.51% and 4.55% right now.](August 31, 2007)
Rates Updated: June 21, 2007
Just2Trade, (877) 206-2274, (202) 386-7261
Products: Stocks
Market Orders: $2.50
Limit Orders: $2.50. Additional charge for extended hours trading.
Minimum to Open: $2500
Inactivity Fee: Seems to be $0.00.
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call-1.00%. "Our margin rates are the lowest in the industry, GUARANTEED."
Extras: Foreign accounts: "Non-US citizens are eligible to apply." Free real-time streaming quotes; otherwise, extremely barebones.
Notes: "A division of Success Trade Securities, Inc." Clears through North American Clearing. "A minimum of 2 years experience with online trading and computers is required."
User Comments:
Rates Updated: March 21, 2007
SogoInvest, 888-818-SOGO (1 888-818-7646), 212-668-8686
Products: Stocks
Market Orders: $3.00
Limit Orders: $3.00
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Incoming and outgoing ACH transfers. "Focuses on dollar based [and fee-based automatic] investing, with the ability to buy a fraction of a share."
Notes: "SogoInvest is a registered trademark of Genesis Securities LLC." Thanks to Boyan for the update.
User Comments: "Sogoinvest does not include dividend activity on their "Activity" page. They don't actually tell you that a dividend has hit until you see it on your monthly statement. It will show up in your cash balance and you can trade with it, but there will be no indication on their website as to why the extra money showed up. While I didn't like the answer I got, I did like that they always responded within the hour to queries submitted on their website."(March 16, 2007)
Rates Updated: June 23, 2007
Marsco, 800.962-7726, 973.228-2886
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds
Market Orders: $3.95
Limit Orders: $3.95
Mutual Funds: $15.00 for no-load funds.
Options: $3.95/trade+$1.25/contract
Minimum to Open: $2500
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Dividend reinvestment, checkwriting
Notes: Thanks to Neville for the update.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: August 2, 2006
TradeKing, 877.495.5464 (877-495-KING)
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options
Market Orders: $4.95, for stocks over $2.00
Limit Orders: $4.95, for stocks over $2.00
Mutual Funds: $14.95 for no-load funds. Load funds also incur a $14.95 commission on sale.
Options: $4.95/trade+$0.65/contract
Minimum to Open: $0. $2000 minimum for margin accounts.
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+1.0%
Extras: "TradeKing will review and open foreign accounts depending on the country of residence and at our discretion." No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs, although it does have a termination fee.
Notes: Emphasizes interactive and digital tools. Little research, although it does have stock sheets from Thomson Financial. Seems to have no checking or other cash management services.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: June 22, 2006
LowTrades, 1.877.442-2757 (1.877.4IB-BRKR), 1.312.542-6901
Products: Mutual funds, domestic and foreign stocks. (No online orders for international stocks.)
Market Orders: $5.00
Limit Orders: $5.00
Mutual Funds: $25.00
Minimum to Open: $0; $2000 for margin account
Inactivity Fee: $30/year, charged twice a year, unless one makes two trades a year, one in each of the 6-month charge periods.
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+3.00%
Extras: Foreign accounts: "Applications are accepted from all countries outside the United States, excluding Canada." Free checking, online bill payment, and some other cash management services.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: February 19, 2006
TD Ameritrade Izone, (No customer service phones)
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds
Market Orders: $5.00
Limit Orders: $5.00
Mutual Funds: $17.99. Selling a load fund also incurs a $17.99 commission.
Options: $5.00/trade+$0.75/contract
Minimum to Open: $5000
Inactivity Fee: $0.00, apparently
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate. Seems extremely high: On May 9, 2006, their highest margin rate was 10.25%, while the highest rate at JH Darbie was 8.75% and the best highest-rates on my list based on Broker Call was 6.5%.
Notes: A division of TD Ameritrade. The successor of FreeTrade, but no longer has commission-free trades. Like FreeTrade, they provide only automated bare-bones services, and accept funding only by various electronic means. At first glance, I don't see why one should prefer them over other $5.00 brokers. Thanks to David M. for the update.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: May 6, 2006
Firstrade, 1.800.869-8800, 1.888.FIRSTRADE (347-7872), 718.961-6600
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs
Market Orders: $6.95
Limit Orders: $6.95
Mutual Funds: $0 for no-load funds bought or sold online, although "a Short Term Redemption Fee of $19.95 will be applied to redemptions of No-Load Fund shares held less than 180 days". "Starting on April 2, 2007... a $9.95 commission will now apply to No-Load mutual fund trades.... Accounts opened prior to February 15, 2007 can still enjoy free mutual fund investing until March 30, 2007. For accounts opened on or after February 15, 2007, the new mutual fund commission rates will apply" [immediately].
Options: $6.95/trade+$1.25/contract
Minimum to Open: $0
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Dividend reinvestment. Valet accounts (with annual fee). Several kinds of Standard and Poor's research. No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. Foreign accounts accepted, including non-resident aliens. Also has site in Chinese.
Notes: Thanks to Byron and Lawrence for the updates.
User Comments: "Bad service. Called from Thailand and was told to send a fax application first, to get an account number, then send the original by post. Did that. One week after sending the fax, no communication. Documents sent by EMS should have arrived two days ago."(August 11, 2005) "Firstrade has been an excellent broker in every way, they are quick to respond to queries, their Valet service is excellent, good all around. I would recommend them to anyone."(November 12, 2006)
Rates Updated: January 2, 2007
Wang Investments, 1.800.353-WANG(9264), +1.212.425-9264
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, money market instruments, foreign stocks
Market Orders: $7.00
Limit Orders: $7.00
Mutual Funds: $30.00 for no-load funds. NTF funds also available.
Options: $17.00/trade+$1.50/contract, $25.00 minimum.
Minimum to Open: 0; $5000 for margin account
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. Foreign accounts accepted, including non-resident aliens. Sites in both traditional and simplified Chinese; from what others have written, my impression is that many of their employees are native speakers of Chinese.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: June 21, 2007
Scottrade, 1.800.619-SAVE (7283)
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, CDs, munis, Canadian stocks
Market Orders: $7.00
Limit Orders: $7.00
Mutual Funds: $17.00. Load funds also incur a $17.00 redemption fee. Also has NTF funds.
Options: $7.00/trade+$1.25/contract
Minimum to Open: $500
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Checkwriting. Also has site in Chinese. Personal broker. Provides a variety of Standard and Poor's research. No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. This is what they said about foreign accounts on April 1, 2004: "At the current time we can establish accounts for U.S., Chinese, Taiwan and Hong Kong residents only. This includes the 50 U.S. States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands."
User Comments: "Scottrade is a great broker if you rarely have excess cash sitting in your account. However, the interest that they pay on excess cash is very poor, at the time of this writing [September 11, 2006] it is 3% (on $10,000) while other brokers are typically paying 4.5%. [My two money market funds are paying 4.36% and 4.45%. Ed.] This difference comes out to $150 per year in lost interest on $10,000 that one could have earned if they used a different broker. It takes a lot of $30 yearly maintenance fees or $15 trades to add up to the $150 per year in lost interest."(September 8, 2006) "Scottrade's old trading platform used to be fast, functional and accurate. However, their new platform is extremely slow over a dial-up line and has many technical bugs and math errors which never seem to get addressed. They also lack the ability to write put options."(February 1, 2007) "Compared to my benchmark rate at Vanguard, they're sitting on at least 200 basis points of my money as maintenance fee. This is why I want to leave Scottrade."(February 27, 2007) [Scottrade has] a security vulnerability in their website (specifically their Streaming Quotes tool) that I first notified them of several years ago. They have both failed to even acknowledge let alone fix it. The summary of the issue is that because of how streaming quote tool is first loaded, a third-party could impersonate the account holder and have visibility into the person's account and buy/sell securities within the account.(April 4, 2007) "Scottrade... has been a complete ordeal. [They] required me to visit one of their brokers to set up my account. Upon doing so I found this particular broker to be an arrogant ass who went to far as to attempt to correct me when I used the terminology Investment Advisor Representative.... Because of his ignorance I had to find some information not mentioned on the application prior to opening my account and fax the additional information to him the next day. The broker chose to not call me and notify me when he received the information and he chose to not notify me when my account was activated and ready for funds. Upon attempting to seed my account I found that Scottrade does not accept ACH transactions.... After sending them a check to seed my account and having that check held for 12 days I was finally ready to trade. Unfortunately trading proved difficult as I found their site, at least by comparison with Ameritrade, very clunky and lacking some of the key tools I have come to rely on. I only made two trades, a purchase and a sale of a highly liquid big-cap stock. Both of these trades were executed exactly at my limit price despite the fact that the stock was trading about 10c below the limit price when I bought and about 20c above the limit price when I sold. Thanks to an open call contract I haven't closed my Ameritrade account yet. I have, however, closed my Scottrade account and will send that money back to Ameritrade, that is if I ever get it."(April 11, 2007) "I sent in an application for business account to Scottrade on 3/27/2007. [Two weeks later] the account has not been opened. The representative seemed to have little knowledge of processing this type of account. I have resent the forms they required twice and they came back for more signatures which they could have told us about the first time.... Now this morning they want me to reapply from scratch and I flatly told them they can forget about the application and return the check I enclosed for account opening. This experience with Scottrade is indeed eye opening. I wonder how many new business Scottrade has turned away because of their poor customer service and [their representatives' lack of] knowledge of their new account procedures."(April 13, 2007) "I've been with them for about nine months....[L]imit orders never execute at a better than limit price. Also, they don't pay high interest on the cash balance in the account. I don't like them too much.... Scottrade's website regularly crashes after some time with Firefox 2.0.0.6. Their little graph that shows your portfolio status when you log [into your] home page is ugly, always slow, and sometimes does not load...."(August 10, 2007) "I've had a Scottrade account... for nine years, but active only for 7 1/2.... I normally use margin, which is exorbitantly costly at Scottrade.... The only other complaint I have about Scottrade is that in the middle of the night they shut the website down for 'batch processing.' They inform the reader that the process takes 30 minutes, which unfortunately is not the case. It may be hours, because I've never had the patience to keep trying after an hour or so. This has caused me twice to miss profitable buys."(September 23, 2007)
Rates Updated: April 20, 2006
MyTradz.com, 1.877-MyTradz (698-7239), 1.419.878-1900
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds
Market Orders: $7.95
Limit Orders: $7.95
Mutual Funds: $30.00
Options: $14.95/trade+$1.95/contract
Minimum to Open: $200. Margin accounts must maintain a $2000 balance.
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+3.00%
Extras: Electronic check deposit. Online account opening.
Notes: "a division of Online Brokerage Services, Inc." Canadian citizens are accepted only if they reside outside of Canada.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Trading Direct, 1.800.925-8566
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds
Market Orders: $9.95
Limit Orders: $9.95
Mutual Funds: $21.95. NTF funds available.
Options: $15.00/trade+$1.50/contract
Minimum to Open: $0; $2000 for margin accounts
Inactivity Fee: $60 on accounts with no trades for that trading year, with exceptions.
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+1.25%
Extras: Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. Dividend reinvestment is available for an extra charge. Accepts foreign accounts, including non-resident aliens.
Notes: A division of York Securities. Clears through Ridge Clearing and Outsourcing. No money market sweep accounts, and very low interest on credit balances.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: June 14, 2007
thinkorswim, (866) 839-1100, (773) 435-3210
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, futures, mutual funds
Market Orders: $9.95/trade up to 5000 shares, or $0.15/share
Limit Orders: $9.95/trade up to 5000 shares, or $0.15/share
Mutual Funds: $0.00, up to 3 trades per calendar month; after that $15.00
Options: $9.95/trade+$1.50/contract, or $2.95/contract, whichever is less
Minimum to Open: $3500
Inactivity Fee: Seems to be $0.00.
Maximum Margin Rate: Fed funds rate + 3.25%
Extras: Several specialized software applications, such as a wireless PDA platform. "All [bond] trades done as agent." If that's true as written, it should result in clearer pricing and lower fees. Both inward and outward ACH transfers. Seems to have no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs, but I'm not certain about the setup fees.
Notes: Thanks to Bob for the update. thinkorswim does not have sweep accounts, but they pay interest on cash, starting at Fed Funds Rate - 3.75%, and they claim to have a "wide variety" of money market funds which you can buy.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: February 27, 2007
OptionsHouse, 877-653-2500, 312-362-2510
Products: Stocks, options
Market Orders: $9.95
Limit Orders: $9.95
Options: $9.95/trade
Minimum to Open: $1000. $2000 for margin trading.
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+1.95%.
Notes: "We can not open account for Canadian citizens that do not live in the United States."
User Comments:
Rates Updated: March 21, 2007
TD Ameritrade, 800-454-9272 for new accounts, 800-669-3900 for former Ameritrade accounts, 800-934-4448 for former TD Waterhouse accounts
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options
Market Orders: $9.99, +$2.00 for paper confirmation if requested
Limit Orders: $9.99, +$2.00 for paper confirmation if requested
Mutual Funds: $49.99 for no-load funds. Also has NTF funds.
Options: $9.99/trade+$0.75/contract
Minimum to Open: $0, $2000 for margin account. "Accounts funded with less than $1,000 are not eligible for any promotions. Electronic funding minimum is $500."
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Check-writing privileges for accounts with a liquidation value of $5000 or more. Funding by ACH transfer. Much independent research. Apparently accepts foreign accounts, since they have toll-free phone numbers from many countries, and remarks about legal restrictions for foreign accounts. Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs.
Notes: On June 22, 2005, it was announced that Ameritrade would acquire TD Waterhouse, thus becoming TD Ameritrade. On April 22, 2006, the two old websites started redirecting to the new site, listed here.
User Comments: "In the Summer of 2006 I was contacted by phone and asked to move our Family Limited Partnership account back to TD Ameritrade from Brownco/E*Trade. I told the broker that the account was moved from Ameritrade a couple years ago due to the policy of not providing checking or real time quotes to partnership accounts.... He called back sometime later and assured me that the account would receive both checking and real-time quotes. In addition, in consideration for my time, efforts and expense, TD Ameritrade would credit the account $500 upon a full transfer. We agreed to move our Family Limited Partnership account to TD Ameritrade, which is a time consuming process. For the first month, I could not get quotes (and thus account balances) on my screen. After a lot of phone calls and emails stock quotes finally appeared in my account. A few months later, a $250 charge appeared on my account for providing quotes. After a lot of phone calls and emails the charges were reversed. Things went swimmingly for a couple months until a $125/month charge again appeared my statement. Again, more emails. Again the charge was reversed. Today I got a phone call that TD Ameritrade is not going to honor the assurance made last summer. Stock quotes (even delayed) will not be included with this TD Ameritrade account.... Something is amiss with a marketing program that buys accounts for cash while making misrepresentations about what basic and customary services will be provided. After [writing to the CEO of TD Ameritrade], I got a phone call indicating they would not give me real time (or even delayed) quotes. The account balance in question exceeds $500k. The IRA account is slightly larger. Both will be transferred to a another broker."(March 11, 2007) "I signed up for a "free research service from Ameritrade" which turned out to be a third party marketing group that sold my e-mail address to penny stock spammers. Besides this deal-breaker, Ameritrade has always executed my trades, both stock and options, quickly and exactly according to my instructions. Their online trade fees are reasonable and their site is easy to use and has all of the features I need from them."(April 11, 2007) "I have several accounts at [TD] Ameritrade. Unfortunately, Ameritrade issues a separate ID number for each account. This procedure fails to work with users of Intuit Quicken (at least, in the Macintosh version), since Quicken only one financial institution called Ameritrade and expects that each user will have one user ID."(May 28, 2007)
Rates Updated: May 25, 2006
Investrade Discount Securities, 1.800.498-7120
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds
Market Orders: $7.95
Limit Orders: $11.95
Mutual Funds: $15.00 for no-load funds.
Options: $1.50/contract, $14.95 minimum
Minimum to Open: $2000, $5000 for international accounts
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+1.50%
Extras: No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. Dividend reinvestment. Streaming real-time quotes for active traders. Foreign currency conversions. Cash management accounts including checking, credit card, and bill payment. Customer-directed routing for broker-executed trades, which have a surcharge. Foreign accounts accepted.
Notes: "A division of Regal Securities, Inc." Clears through Penson Financial Services. Has a "processing fee" for pink sheet and bulletin board stocks.
User Comments: "I shorted QQQQ; had 70% of the short value in my account in cash, i.e. after adding the short sale proceeds I had 170%. IDS charged me margin interest on the other 30% and paid no interest on the big pile of cash in my account. What a rip-off!"(June 13, 2007) "I've had an account with Investrade for nine years. Early on they made an egregious error, and three free trades in compensation hardly made up for an ultimate cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Other than that, until they recently switched clearing firms, I've been happy with them. Their clearing firm leaves something to be desired. It sometimes reports day-ending balances tardily. In fact, in either July or August, they didn't post new balances for a week in the midst of stunning sell-offs, and for two days a client couldn't even obtain correct balances over the phone."(September 23, 2007)
Rates Updated: June 14, 2007
Charles Schwab, 1.866.877-0134
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, CDs, insurance, annuities, foreign investments
Market Orders: $12.95
Limit Orders: $12.95
Mutual Funds: $49.95. NTF funds available.
Options: $9.95/trade+$0.75/contract
Minimum to Open: $1000
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Cash management and other financial services. Separate site for foreign investors, including non-U.S. citizens. A user reports that foreign residents cannot purchase mutual funds.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
E*Trade Financial, 1.800.387-2331, +1.916.636-2510
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds
Market Orders: $12.99
Limit Orders: $12.99
Mutual Funds: $19.99 on no-load funds; NTF funds available. It is not clear from their site if the commission also applies to load funds.
Options: $12.99/trade+$1.25/contract
Minimum to Open: $1000; $2000 for margin accounts
Inactivity Fee: $40.00/quarter, with many exemptions
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Extensive financial services. Foreign investors: Sites in many countries and languages. Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs unless you request paper statements and confirmations. Dividend reinvestment.
User Comments: "I contacted E*Trade Customer Service with some simple questions about insurance coverage on my two brokerage accounts. The E*Trade response was slow, less than satisfactory, and even a bit hostile!"(May 8, 2006) "I was a BrownCo customer and when E*Trade took that over, I became a customer of E*Trade. On August 16, 2006, per E*Trade's request, I sent them the necessary information to establish a money market fund account associated with my brokerage account and requested two ATM cards for my wife and myself. As of December 17, my wife had not received her card yet. I called them many times during that four months, and they were not responsive. During the last call, the representative said that he had put the request through and once it was out of his office, he had nothing to do with it. I tried to get through to his supervisor but he was not responsive either. I decided to close the account with them. They had the guts to charge me the fee for closing the account They were incompetent and unresponsive."(December 28, 2006) "I have been with ETrade for almost 3 years. The last year has been all down hill. Services are overpriced and customer service is non-responsive, hard to get to, and less than helpful. I am changing brokers; what pushed me over the edge was customer service's condescending attitude and refusal to inform me why denied when I recently applied for options trading upgrade. I would not recommend ETrade to anyone!"(January 24, 2007) "I was a Brown customer for over 30 years. I became an E-Trade customer upon the take over. It is like dealing with the "Keystone Cops." Since early December I have been trying to open a savings account linked to my brokerage accounts. Customer service is frustrating and stupid. Lots of platitudes, no action. Imagine my shock when I executed a trade for $12,000 and when I checked my account I was on margine for $1,250,000 .....ooops. I'm on this site to move my money!!!"(January 31, 2007) "E*Trade is terrible. I'm a longtime Brown & Co customer that got transferred to E*Trade; no real problems until it came time to consolidate some other accounts. We started with a simple Roth for my wife -- two total mutual fund transfers and one cash liquidation. They got the cash -- and immediately put it in a "restricted" status -- meaning we can do nothing with it -- and even [we faxed] the requested additional IDs, [it's still restricted and they can't explain why]. Customer Service has ever-changing BS reasons why the other two transfers aren't done.... Worse, E*Trade never tries to contact us to tell us what's going on -- we have to contact them and get the run-around. After several months of futility, we've had it....Stay away from E*Trade...."(June 20, 2007)
Rates Updated: December 28, 2006
Banc of America Investment Services, 1-800-926-1111
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds
Market Orders: $14.00
Limit Orders: $14.00
Mutual Funds: According to proprietary table, subject to $45 minimum per transaction. Also has NTF funds.
Options: $19.95/trade+$1.50/contract
Minimum to Open: $0
Inactivity Fee: $50 semi-annual maintenance fee for all accounts, active or inactive, except for certain relationship accounts.
Maximum Margin Rate: "Call for current rates...."
Extras: Extensive cash management services, as is usual with bank-owned brokerages. Research from Standard and Poor's, Argus, and First Call. Also has full service accounts.
Notes: Clears through National Financial Services. The famous free equities trading offer applies only to certain relationship accounts with a $25,000 minimum.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 16, 2006
AOS, Inc., 800.569-3330, 312.253-0385
Products: Stocks, options, stock futures
Market Orders: $0.015/share ($14.50 minimum)
Limit Orders: $0.015/share ($14.50 minimum)
Options: $1.50/option ($14.50 minimum)
Minimum to Open: $2000 (minimum balance)
Inactivity Fee: $30.00 if no activity in account for 1 year
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+2.50%
Extras: Also has direct access trading platform with different conditions, private client services, checks and debit cards. Foreign accounts accepted, including "most foreign residents"; Canadian accounts are among those not accepted.
Notes: Formerly American Option Services. Ordinary securities on ordinary platforms clear through Terra Nova Trading, L.L.C.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: August 29, 2006
Muriel Siebert and Co., Inc., 1.800.872-0444, 1.800.872-0711
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IPOs
Market Orders: $14.95
Limit Orders: $14.95
Mutual Funds: $35.00 for no-load funds; also has NTF funds
Options: From table, based on option price
Minimum to Open: $0
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+2.0%
Extras: Accepts funding by EFT, after the customer is approved. Free checking and debit card. Much independent research. Dividend reinvestment. A user reports that Siebert has no communications facilities for Spanish-speakers.
User Comments: "I have had nothing but good results from Muriel Siebert, particularly the SiebertNet transactions. I find them very efficient, very helpful those times that I had to call them, and the experience has been very positive. Sure, I could have saved a few dollars on trades, but to me it is worth the investment of a few dollars to have the satisfaction that the Muriel Siebert company has given me. I highly recommend Siebert!"(April 23, 2007) "I canceled my Muriel Siebert account in 2006,... fed up with their execrable customer service (despite their reputation). Always being handed off to someone else, being cut off, representatives who did not actually listen, etc. There were two final straws. On two consecutive [phone] calls asking for substantial ACH transfers from Siebert to my bank account, they transferred the wrong amount (same rep both calls). They record calls, so they reviewed the recordings and corrected their mistakes, but the mistakes were inexcusable. The last straw was being unable to get through to their margin department after repeated phone calls. I was so desperate to leave Siebert that I gave up a quarter-point benefit below their lowest stated margin interest, [which] I had negotiated."(September 23, 2007)
Rates Updated: June 21, 2007
JetTrade.com, 1.888.757- JETT
Products: Stocks, mutual funds, options, bonds, CDs
Market Orders: $14.95
Limit Orders: $14.95
Mutual Funds: $24.95. Funds which are NTF on purchase also incur a $29.00 redemption fee.
Options: $20.00/trade+$1.60/contract ($29.00 minimum)
Minimum to Open: Unknown
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Full service available.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
optionsXpress, 1.888.280-8020, 312.629-5455
Products: Options, stocks, bonds, mutual funds
Market Orders: $14.95
Limit Orders: $14.95
Mutual Funds: $14.95, even on load funds
Options: $1.50/contract ($14.95/trade minimum)
Minimum to Open: $0, $2000 for margin account
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+1.75%
Extras: Free checking (from Reserve Funds), online chat to customer service, message boards, automatic trading in options based on your chosen newsletter. Includes many interactive tools. "Yes, upon our review and at our discretion we accept unsolicited accounts from non-U.S. residents.... Although our account opening process is geared toward opening accounts for persons with a U. S. domestic address, we will review and open foreign accounts."
Notes: Clears through Legent Clearing Corp. Specializes in options (obviously), including complicated trades.
User Comments: "OptionsXpress... has a less than satisfactory level of service. They are slow to respond to queries, [and] when they respond it is usually some "pablum" type of answer such as: 'We are looking into it, maybe at a future date, we are considering it'. They have a hard time saying yes [or] no or giving a timeframe for concrete action. They told me when I reached a certain level of option contracts traded that I would get a discount. When I reached that level, they reneged. I have over $300,000 cash in the account. I receive 2% interest in their money market fund. They told me they are looking at alternatives : pablum! I would recommend that anyone look elsewhere for a broker. I am in the process of evaluating different brokers to make a move in the near future."(November 12, 2006)
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Placetrade Financial, 1-800-50-PLACE, 919-719-7200
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds, IPOs
Market Orders: $10.95, except for penny stocks
Limit Orders: $14.95, except for penny stocks
Mutual Funds: $29.95 for no-load funds. Also has load funds and NTF funds.
Options: $9.95/contract, $19.95 minimum
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+0.50%.
Extras: Dividend reinvestment. Direct access trading available. No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs, although it does have a termination fee.
Notes: Clears through Penson Financial Services.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: April 12, 2007
WallStreet*E, 888.925-5783, 305.669-3026
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, precious metals
Market Orders: $14.99
Limit Orders: $14.99
Options: $15.00/trade+$1.25/contract
Minimum to Open: $5000
Inactivity Fee: $100.00. No details given.
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Valet accounts available. Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. They also have a site in Spanish.
Notes: Clears through U.S. Clearing. Also a full service brokerage.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Freedom Investments, 1.800.944-4033
Products: Stocks, options, bonds
Market Orders: $15.00
Limit Orders: $15.00
Options: $50.00/trade+$3.00/contract
Minimum to Open: Unknown
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Notes: A subsidiary of Oppenheimer and Co. Inc.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Cambridge Discount Brokerage, Inc., 1.866.232-4488, 954.596-5940
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, foreign securities
Market Orders: $15.00
Limit Orders: $15.00
Mutual Funds: $75.00 on no-load funds. NTF funds also available
Options: $3.00/contract ($30.00 minimum)
Minimum to Open: Unknown
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
FBRDirect, 1.888.200-4350
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, IPOs, mutual funds
Market Orders: $14.95+$1.00 "Postage/Service Fee"
Limit Orders: $14.95+$1.00 "Postage/Service Fee"
Mutual Funds: $25.00 for no-load funds. "$2 postage/service fee may apply" to all funds, including load and NTF funds.
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $50.00, except "if the account has generated two or more stock, option, fixed-income or mutual fund transaction fee fund trades in the 12 months," calculated on the basis of calendar years.
Maximum Margin Rate: According to table. 8.50% on May 9, 2006
Extras: Checkwriting, debit cards.
Notes: Formerly FBRIS. Part of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. Clears through National Financial Services.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: May 9, 2006
Seaport Securities Corp., 1-800-SEAPORT, (212) 482-8689
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds
Market Orders: $14.95. There seems to be a $1.00 "postage and handling" fee in addition.
Limit Orders: $14.95. There seems to be a $1.00 "postage and handling" fee in addition.
Mutual Funds: $35 on no-load funds. No NTF funds.
Options: $25.00/trade+$2.00/contract
Minimum to Open: $0
Inactivity Fee: $50/year, if there have been no trades between July 1 and June 30.
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+2.50%
Extras: Dividend reinvestment. "Check writing privileges."
Notes: Clears through Ridge Clearing and Outsourcing. Seems to have no research.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Sherry Bruce's State Discount Brokers, 1.800-99-STATE, 800.222-5520, 216.765-8500
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds
Market Orders: $14.00+$3.00,+$1.00 if you want a paper confirmation
Limit Orders: $14.00+$3.00,+$1.00 if you want a paper confirmation
Mutual Funds: $25 for no-load funds. NTF funds available.
Options: Unusual price structure with a minimum of $35.00
Minimum to Open: $0
Inactivity Fee: $50.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Checkwriting has a fee of $10/year. "Valet Account" available.
Notes: Clears through Ridge Clearing and Outsourcing.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: May 9, 2006
TruTrade, 1.800.328-8600 for ReCom customers; 1.800.671-8505 for Levitt and Levitt customers
Products: Stocks, optons, mutual funds
Market Orders: $12.95
Limit Orders: $17.95
Mutual Funds: $12.95 for no-load funds
Options: $29.00 minimum, price/contract depends on price of option
Minimum to Open: $5000
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. Foreign residents accepted, including non-resident aliens.
Notes: Clears through U. S. Clearing.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
NetVest, 1.800.961-1500?
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds, IPOs
Market Orders: $14.00
Limit Orders: $19.00
Mutual Funds: $29 for no-load funds
Options: $20.00+$1.50/contract
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $50.00/year. "No inactivity fee will be assessed if there is at least 1 (one) revenue-producing trade during the calander year."
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+0.25%
Extras: Dividend reinvestment. Online bond search. No setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs if the IRA account maintains a balance of $10000 or has 2 transactions/year. Foreign accounts accepted, including non-resident aliens.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
U.S. Brokerage, Inc., 800.25-STOCK, 614.448.3200
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds
Market Orders: $19.95
Limit Orders: $19.95
Mutual Funds: $25.00 for no-load funds. Apparently no NTF funds.
Options: $20.00/trade+$2.00/contract
Minimum to Open: $2500
Inactivity Fee: $50.00/year if there are no trades for 1 calendar year
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Cash management services including checkwriting.
Notes: Formerly U.S. Discount Brokerage. Clears through Penson Financial Services.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: May 9, 2006
JH Darbie and Co., 800.606-8844, 212.269-7271
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, CDs, cash management, asset management
Market Orders: $14.95
Limit Orders: $19.95
Mutual Funds: $25.00 on no-load funds
Options: $37.50 minimum, which includes 5 contracts. $2.00 for each additional contract.
Minimum to Open: $0
Inactivity Fee: $0?
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+2.50%?
Extras: Checking accounts, accepts deposit by electronic check. Full service also available. Dividend reinvestment.
Notes: I've had an account there for about 4 years, and I'm more than satisfied. Personal service, but very little research. Clears through Ridge Clearing and Outsourcing. No real-time quotes.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 15, 2006
WR Hambrecht and Company, 1.800.673-6476, 610.725-1150
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, IPOs, private equity investments
Market Orders: $19.95
Limit Orders: $19.95
Mutual Funds: $50.00 on no-load funds. NTF funds available.
Options: $30.00/trade+$1.75/contract
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $25.00/year with less than 1 trade per year
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+3.75%
Extras: Check writing. Dividend reinvestment for dividends over $2.00. Debit cards. Full service brokerage. Extensive in-house research, also available for free to the general public. They promise equitable IPO distribution through an auction system.
Notes: "This site is for U.S. investors only."
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Fidelity Investments, 800.343-3548
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, insurance, commercial paper, CDs, IPOs, precious metals
Market Orders: $19.95
Limit Orders: $19.95
Mutual Funds: $0.00 for most Fidelity funds. $75.00 when buying other no-load funds. NTF funds available.
Options: $19.95/trade+$0.75/contract
Minimum to Open: $2500
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate. A casual comparison on September 23, 2007, suggested that their margin rates were high. "BrokerageLink accounts are not eligible for margin loans or short sales ...."
Extras: Extensive cash management and independent research. Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs.
User Comments: "Fidelity does not stand by their statements. I bought a Sears bond in July 2003 listed as uncallable.... It was called...."(April 19, 2004)
Rates Updated: September 23, 2007
Civilian Capital, 1.866.345-6476, 323.938-3220
Products: Stocks, options, investment in new movies (for accredited investors)
Market Orders: $19.95
Limit Orders: $19.95
Options: $12.95/trade+$1.35/contract
Minimum to Open: $1000. $2000 for margin accounts
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Notes: Specializes in investment in new movies (for accredited investors).
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
T. Rowe Price Brokerage, 1.800.225.5132. "Outside the United States Contact the AT&T International Operator."
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, precious metals, bonds, commercial paper
Market Orders: $19.95
Limit Orders: $19.95
Mutual Funds: $35.00, which seems to apply also to load funds. NTF funds available.
Options: According to table, with $35.00 minimum
Minimum to Open: $2500
Inactivity Fee: $30.00/year, subject to several exemptions
Maximum Margin Rate: "1.75% above the Pershing base lending rate"
Extras: Free checking. ATM card.
Notes: Brokerage arm of financial services firm. Clears through Pershing Securities.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
WellsTrade, 1-866-817-7940
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds
Market Orders: $19.95, up to 1000 shares, for stocks over $1.00/share
Limit Orders: $19.95, up to 1000 shares, for stocks over $1.00/share
Mutual Funds: $35.00. NTF funds available.
Options: $9.95/trade+$1.00/contract
Minimum to Open: $1000
Inactivity Fee: $15.00/calendar quarter, unless the account has 2 commissionable trades in the previous 6 months, or $20,000 in assets
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: "WellsTrade accounts are offered through Wells Fargo Investments, LLC (member SIPC), a non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company", and WellsTrade offers incentives to link with Wells Fargo bank accounts, including some limited free-trading deals for those with accounts over $25,000.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: March 21, 2007
Downstate Securities Group, Inc., 800.780-3543, 727.586-3541
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds
Market Orders: $20.00
Limit Orders: $20.00
Mutual Funds: Unusual pricing structure up to 0.75% of principal on no-load funds. There are also some charges on load funds.
Options: $22.00/trade+$2.00/contract
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Foreign customers accepted, including non-resident aliens.
Notes: Clears through Mesirow Financial, Inc. As far as I can tell, they no longer (October 1, 2007) provide any commission or fee information on their site. They don't bother having an SSL certificate in their own name, which is a little worrisome.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: April 17, 2004
Mercantile Brokerage Services, 800.737-3635, 410.486-4700
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, CDs, annuities
Market Orders: $18.00
Limit Orders: $20.00
Mutual Funds: $25.00 for no-load funds. NTF funds available.
Options: $25.00/trade+$2.00/contract
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $20.00/year, 1 trade in that year. Exemptions for fee-based accounts, "fundvest position of $10,000 or more", and in many other cases.
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+2.00%
Extras: Also has fee-based accounts and full-service advisory accounts with online trading. Full cash management services for VIP accounts, free check writing for other accounts, dividend reinvestment.
Notes: Formerly Peremel and Co.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: May 9, 2006
Wall Street Access, 800.925-5781
Products: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options
Market Orders: $19.95+$1.50
Limit Orders: $19.95+$1.50
Mutual Funds: $50 for no-load funds+$1.50
Options: $1.35/contract ($19.95 minimum)+$1.50
Minimum to Open: Unknown
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+2.625%
Extras: Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs. Foreign accounts accepted, including non-resident aliens.
Notes: For active traders. Clears through Pershing LLC. They actively solicit "soft dollar" arrangements. The way they express their margin rate and their commissions (omitting the $1.50 "postage and handling" fee on all transactions) makes me suspicious.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: April 19, 2004
Ameriprise Financial, 800.AXP-SERV (297-7378)
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, CDs, annuities, cash management services
Market Orders: $19.95+$4.00 "order handling fee"
Limit Orders: $19.95+$4.00 "order handling fee"
Mutual Funds: $39.95 on no-load funds. NTF funds also available.
Options: $40.00/trade+$2.00/contract (+$4.00 "order handling fee"?)
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $10.00/quarter unless the account balance is at least $25000.00. There are also other exemptions.
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Various account classes with or without many banking features.
Notes: Formerly American Express Brokerage.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
InternetTrading.com, 1-800-696-2811
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds
Market Orders: $19.95+$4.50 "handling fee"
Limit Orders: $19.95+$4.50 "handling fee"
Mutual Funds: Unknown
Options: $25.00+$2.00/contract+$4.50 "handling fee"
Minimum to Open: $10000
Inactivity Fee: $25.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Foreign accounts are apparently accepted, since they list a "handling fee" for them.
Notes: A division of Emmett A. Larkin Company Inc. Many additional fees. The "handling fee" for transactions in foreign accounts is $10.00 instead of $4.50.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Cititrade, 1.888-663-CITI (2484)
Products: Stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds
Market Orders: $24.95
Limit Orders: $24.95
Mutual Funds: "$29.95 or 20% of principal, whichever is less" on no-load funds
Options: "$29.60 per trade + $0.56/contract + 0.28% of principal"
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Broker Call+1.50%
Extras: Dividend reinvestment. CitiOne Account includes checking and Cititrade Card. Seem to be no setup fees or maintenance fees for IRAs.
Notes: The site seems to be closed, with Citi providing online brokerage service only to Smith Barney full-service customers. "[A]fter May 25, 2007, you will no longer be able to access your brokerage account or trade on-line through www.mycititrade.com.... You can also contact (800)-846-5200 or (212)-820-2380 for further information."
User Comments: "I am not a US citizen or resident, and I had three requirements: a. cash management (debit card, linked accounts), b. the ability to buy mutual funds, and c. facilities for communication in Spanish.... Cititrade has all three.(July 10, 2006)"
Rates Updated: April 18, 2004
Vanguard Brokerage Services, 1.800.992-8327
Products: Stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, foreign securities, insurance, commercial paper
Market Orders: "$25 or $0.025 per share, whichever is greater"
Limit Orders: "$25 or $0.025 per share, whichever is greater"
Mutual Funds: $35.00 for transaction-fee funds. NTF funds available.
Options: $30.00/trade+$1.50/contract
Minimum to Open: Unknown
Inactivity Fee: $30.00/year maintenance fee for regular accounts
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: At least some foreign accounts accepted, through their separate site for "non-U.S. investors". Dividend reinvestment. Electronic deposits.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
PennTrade, 800.953-2860, 208.676-0562
Products: Stocks, mutual funds, Canadian stocks
Market Orders: $29.95
Limit Orders: $29.95
Mutual Funds: $19.95 for all funds
Minimum to Open: $500
Inactivity Fee: $0.00
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
Extras: Foreign accounts accepted, including non-resident aliens.
Notes: " the online trading division of Pennaluna and Company". Clears through National Financial Services.
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
Merrill Lynch Direct, (877) ML-Direct (653-4732)
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds, CDs
Market Orders: $29.95
Limit Orders: $29.95
Mutual Funds: Seems to have no commission even on no-load funds. Also has load funds and NTF funds.
Options: According to table
Minimum to Open: $2000
Inactivity Fee: $25.00/quarter, unless account has 2 trades in the last six months or meets minimum asset requirements.
Maximum Margin Rate: Based on proprietary base rate
Extras: Free checking and debit card, and other (fee-based) banking services. Free Merrill Lynch research. "Orders of at least 100 shares may receive a price that is better than the current bid or offer."
Notes: "The information in this Internet site is directed at, and is intended for distribution to, and use by, persons in the U.S. only."
User Comments:
Rates Updated: April 12, 2007
Benjamin and Jerold, 800.446-5112, 312.554-0202
Products: Stocks, options, bonds, wealth management services
Market Orders: $29.00+$2.00
Limit Orders: $29.00+$2.00
Options: $29.00 minimum. Above that, according to size of trade
Minimum to Open: Unknown
Inactivity Fee: Unknown
Maximum Margin Rate: Unknown
User Comments:
Rates Updated: October 1, 2007
• Fidelity
Best online broker overall.
Fidelity gets the highest scores for its excellent research tools, even though its commissions are higher than some other online brokers. Its website is easy to use, with a wide range of investment tools and calculators. Its customer-service scores are also among the best in the business. Fidelity's base commission rates are $19.95 per market order, but there are no handling or maintenance fees. Although that's higher than a lot of online brokers, rates drop for those with high account balances or for very active traders. Fidelity has a minimum opening balance of $2,500. It also offers numerous branch offices throughout the country where clients can speak with a trained professional.
• OptionsXpress
Best discount broker.
OptionsXpress sits somewhere between a premium online broker like Fidelity and no-frills brokers like Scottrade, with its commissions reflecting that. OptionsXpress trades are $14.95 for the first eight per quarter, though the rate drops to $9.95 per trade after that. Reviews say OptionsXpress has fast service, a wide fund selection and low fund prices ($14.95 each). Barron's likes the extensive research tools and portfolio reports that OptionsXpress offers, especially for beginners who can practice with a $5,000 "Virtual Trade" account. Reviews like that there are no hidden maintenance or inactivity fees. Although OptionsXpress used to focus on options trading only, it now covers a full range of stocks, bonds and mutual funds. There is no minimum investment to open an account.
• Scottrade
No-frills online broker.
Reviews say that Scottrade offers excellent value for the money for those who don't need a lot of handholding. Trades are fast, customer service is good, and costs are low. The minimum opening investment is $500, and market orders are only $7, with no inactivity or maintenance fees. However, Scottrade offers less in the way of research or additional services, so it's best for those who don't need much extra help. Scottrade has opened nearly 300 branch offices, which allows clients to talk to an advisor.
• ShareBuilder
Best online broker for novices.
With ShareBuilder, reviews say new users can expect plentiful investment strategy primers, ranging from dollar cost averaging to diversification, and the company has no minimum balance requirements. This is one of the few sites that allows customers to set up automatic investments for stock trades, which only cost $4 each. Regular market orders will cost you $15.95, however. Although ShareBuilder doesn't get the best scores in any one area, it fills a niche for those who want low-cost automatic investments.
http://www.optionetics.com/brokers/comparison-table.asp
This post has been edited by IncomeForBeginners: Oct 2 2007, 09:16 PM