Best Online Brokers

When you are trying to decide the best onlinepurchase more than 5,000 shares, Charles Schwab will
brokers for you, first determine your priorities andcharge you $0.003 for every additional share.
what type of investor you are. Other items toTD Ameritrade was formed when TD Waterhouse
consider when you are choosing the best onlineand Ameritrade merged. TD Waterhouse was
brokers are commissions, fee structures, balanceacquired by Ameritrade in 2005 and charges a flat
requirements and customer service.fee of $9.99 for per trade for any amount of shares.
E*TRADE is an inexpensive option for best onlineThere is no minimum account opening amount.
brokers for active traders who are experienced andAccording to current investors, TD Ameritrade rates
don't need a lot of technical advice. You will need avery high for customer support and research tools in
minimum of $1,000.00 to open an account withthe best online broker's area.
E*TRADE. There is a $12.99 fee for both market andSharebuilder is one of the best online brokers for
limit orders. Also, you are required to pay $40.00 pernew investors. They provide a wide range of
quarter to use their services.investment strategy support. Sharebuilder has no
Fidelity's commission fee for both limit and marketminimum opening account balance requirement. With
orders is $19.95. The minimum amount of funds toSharebuilder you can also set up automatic
open an online account with Fidelity is $2,500.00.investments for buying and selling stocks online for
There is no quarterly or annual fee to use Fidelity'sonly $4.00 per trade. Regular limit or market orders
services. This is the best online brokers for investorswill cost you $15.95 each. As a side note, Sharebuilder
with a higher net worth who likes all the frills of a fullis part of ING Direct.
service broker. Because Fidelity is considered a fullFirstrade is a relatively unknown broker as far as
service broker they provide a wide range ofbest online brokers. It appears as if they charge
investment tools and calculators and are rated$6.95 for market and limit order commissions with no
extremely high for customer service.quarterly or annual fees. Firstrade does not have a
Scottrade only charges $7.00 per market and limitminimum opening funding requirement. However, as
orders. The minimum opening balance is only $500.00.with most discount brokers you will receive little or
This is one of the best online brokers for beingno technical support.
inexpensive. Because they are inexpensive they don'tVanguard is considered more of a full service broker
offer a lot of technical or research support, you arelike Fidelity and Charles Schwab. Because you will
basically on your own. Scottrade does not charge areceive additional services you will pay more than you
quarterly or annual fee. Scottrade does charge anwould if you choose a discount broker as your best
additional fee of 0.5% of the total principal in additiononline brokers. Vanguard is going to charge you
to the $7.00 flat commission fee.$25.00 per market or limit order trade. You will also
Charles Schwab might be considered by some as thehave to pay a $30.00 annual service fee. The opening
pioneer in the discount broker world, but they arebalance for Vanguard is $3,000.00.
definitely not the cheapest of the best onlineThis is only a small sampling of the best online
brokers. Charles Schwab charges $19.95 for both limitbrokers. Each online broker has different
and market orders and they also charge an additionalrequirements for opening account balances, quarterly
$0.015 for all shares over 1,000. You will be charged aor annual fees and commission structures. You will
$45.00 per quarter service fee to use their brokerageneed to decide which broker is going to fit your
services. You also need to be aware that if youneeds and goals.