| The process of evaluating trading brokers for you to | | | | above. |
| sign up with is not as difficult as you may think. First | | | | When doing your research, it is important for you to |
| of all, there are several very solid choices to put on | | | | think about the kind of trader you are, or will be. If |
| your short list of brokerages to review. These include | | | | you are looking for information on how to choose |
| the big names of E-Trade, Scottrade and TD | | | | your broker, you are likely a beginning trader or |
| Ameritrade. It may include lesser known but highly | | | | toward the new end of your trading career. New |
| rated brokers like TradeKing or optionsXpress. It may | | | | traders tend to start basic, so they won't be using |
| also include the online services of some of the big | | | | the most sophisticated tools that are available from |
| brokerage houses like Fidelity and Charles Schwab. | | | | some of these brokers. And new traders haven't |
| While there are definitely differences with each of | | | | found their successful trading formula yet. So there is |
| these, you can be confident that choosing from any | | | | a learning curve period that they must progress |
| broker on this list is a safe bet. | | | | through that is characterized by smaller trades (with |
| E-Trade is probably the biggest name of all the online | | | | fewer shares) and lots of buy and sell orders. So |
| brokerages. More than any other brand, they have | | | | cost can be a particularly important consideration as |
| maintained advertising campaigns over the years with | | | | you try to maintain your profit margins in this |
| television, print and online ads, among others. And | | | | situation. |
| they are a top-tier broker by any standard you may | | | | But here is the important question for you when |
| use. E-Trade consistently rates highly in terms of | | | | evaluating who will be your online broker. First, of all |
| customer service, research quality, trading platform | | | | the strengths and weaknesses of these brokers, |
| and tools, and in other categories. That is why they | | | | which are most important for me as a beginning |
| are the choice of experienced traders and investors. | | | | trader? And second, how can I get the quality that I |
| But these high service levels come at a price, with | | | | am looking for with the lowest possible commissions |
| E-Trade being toward the higher end of cost when | | | | and fees? |
| you compare them to the grouping of brokers listed | | | | |