| Comparison Shopping | | | | When I first started trading stocks online with |
| You won`t have any problems finding an online stock | | | | Sharebuilder, I decided I would invest the princely |
| broker. The worldwide web is crawling with them! | | | | sum of $100... because I could! You see...unlike most |
| The hardest thing is to figure out which brokerage | | | | any other online stock trading brokerage firm I had |
| firm is right for you. This is as important as the | | | | ever encountered, I found that Sharebuilder had no |
| stocks you will be investing in... so you`ll need to | | | | minimum deposit requirement...and since that was a |
| choose wisely. | | | | big priority on my list, they got my vote. |
| | | | Interestingly, the four other online brokerage firms |
| If you`re a new entrant in the field of online stock | | | | featured in Sharebuilder`s comparison table all have |
| trading, you`ll be better off with a firm that provides | | | | what some may consider pretty hefty minimum |
| a full service offering; one that not only caters to the | | | | deposit policies. TD Ameritrade`s minimum is listed at |
| basic educational and trading needs of a first-time | | | | $2000, while Schwab`s is $2500. NB: After I verified |
| trader, but one that also allows you to buy partial | | | | this information on the respective web sites, I chose |
| shares of stocks (by way of automatic payment on | | | | Sharebuilder for that one reason. |
| a regular basis) and accumulate your investments | | | | Another important criterion to consider when you |
| over time. If you`re lucky enough to find such a firm, | | | | compare online stock trading brokerage firms is (as I |
| you`ll relish the opportunity to also complement your | | | | stated earlier) the round turn (commission) charges |
| investing strategies by making real-time trades to | | | | of the trades or online market orders. Sharebuilder |
| buy and sell stocks immediately during market hours. | | | | charges from $11.95 to $15.95 depending on which |
| offers just such a service...and is my personal online | | | | plan you choose. Since I chose the freebie plan, my |
| stock trading brokerage firm of choice. When you | | | | market trades cost me $15.95 each... but I can live |
| actually compare online stock trading brokerage firms | | | | with that because their service is so good. |
| you`ll discover that 'unlike traditional online investment | | | | TD Ameritrade however, won the coin toss at $9.99. |
| services`, Sharebuilder gives investors a unique and | | | | Believe me...this is an excellent rate for any online |
| powerful way to invest in the stock market. You`ll | | | | stock trader who deals in large volumes. |
| find (with Sharebuilder) that you`ll have a simple, | | | | As for me? |
| flexible and affordable way to invest for the long | | | | Well, all I had to start with was a mere $100... and |
| term. You`ll find a ton of great articles and tutorials | | | | given that TD Ameritrade`s minimum balance |
| on all aspects of online stock trading on their site. | | | | requirement is $2,000...umm...well...you get the picture? |
| Plus, you`ll even be able to compare Sharebuilder`s | | | | I might add though that all five brokerage firms |
| service offering with four of the other leading online | | | | involved in the comparison offered online statements, |
| brokerage firms as they have created a comparative | | | | confirmations of trades, along with reinvestments of |
| analysis table for that very purpose. | | | | dividends. That in itself is quite impressive compared |
| Ok, with such a rosy picture painted of | | | | to many of the lesser brokerage firms online. |
| Sharebuilder.com, should you even bother to look | | | | Annual maintenance and low balance fees was also |
| elsewhere? | | | | an interesting comparison. Three of the brokerage |
| Of course! That`s what due diligence is all about. | | | | firms, including Sharebuilder did not charge any fees |
| Research! Research! Research! | | | | for these... while E*trade and Schwab charged $160 |
| Don`t get me wrong. Sharebuilder is a great online | | | | and $120 a year respectively! |
| stock trading brokerage firm to deal with. But I`m | | | | The important thing and the only important thing to |
| biased, because I`m a rookie online stock trader and I | | | | consider when you compare online stock trading |
| need all the help I can get...and these guys deliver! | | | | brokerage firms is which one can meet your needs? |
| On the other hand, if you`re a long-time trader who | | | | All of the companies mentioned in this article are |
| invests big money per trade, you`ll no doubt be | | | | upstanding companies with variable policies. Choose |
| looking for the most cost-effective brokerage firm | | | | the one that`s best for you...and you`ll be on your |
| online; possibly one that charges less than $10 per | | | | way. |
| round turn. | | | | |