| A stock broker is the middle man, a facilitator who | | | | represent you and protect your interests in your |
| helps the investors to trade in shares in the stock | | | | stock trading. |
| market. He helps them in buying and selling the shares | | | | So what should you do to find a right stock broker if |
| of the companies whose stocks they are interested | | | | you are a beginner? |
| in trading. These companies are listed in the stock | | | | The best course is to log on to internet and check as |
| exchanges. A stock exchange is a kind of stock | | | | many sites of online stockbrokers as you can. Note |
| market. A stockbroker is a stock market expert. | | | | down the special features, services and benefits that |
| Whether you are a beginner or a veteran in stock | | | | each stock broker offers. |
| trading, it is important for you to find the right stock | | | | Draw a list of important features and then compare |
| broker. You trust him with your money for buying | | | | all the stock brokers on the basis of those features. |
| stocks that you order. He has also to transfer the | | | | The basic features and services provided by the |
| money that is due to you after you sell your stock | | | | stockbroker should include, among other things, the |
| to your bank account. | | | | experience, certifications, commissions, stock trading |
| Your stock broker is the key person who provides | | | | tools, trading platform and other benefits. |
| you the crucial advice for trading the shares. He | | | | You list of features and services should also include |
| recommends which shares to buy, which to sell and | | | | facilities such as |
| which to hold for some time. | | | | Online stock trade, broker-assisted trade, scheduled |
| He also provides you all the education that enables | | | | investment orders, Margin Interest Rates and Cash |
| you to understand the intricate process of stock | | | | Interest Rates. |
| trading, if you are a beginner. The education may | | | | The stock brokers have different miscellaneous |
| start with the introduction to what is a stock and | | | | interest fees that include Electronic confirmation, |
| may continue to the advanced training in the use of | | | | Electronic statement, Monthly statements and |
| fundamental and technical analysis of stock charts. To | | | | confirmations (hardcopy), Duplicate historical |
| the experienced traders, the stock broker provides | | | | confirmation, Duplicate historical statement, Overnight |
| efficient and fast working tools such as symbol | | | | delivery, Broker Assisted Trade, Margin Sellout, |
| finders, latest news flashes, charts and graphics for | | | | Returned ACH (Electronic Transfer), Returned |
| trading. | | | | Checks, Notices, such as Sell out or Buy in, Wire |
| Since most of the stock trading takes place online, | | | | funds out domestic / International, Voluntary |
| your stock broker provides the trading platform for | | | | reorganizations, Legal items, Certificate delivered out |
| online trading. If his web server, for example, is slow, | | | | Reregistered, Regulatory Transaction Fee, |
| the traders may be put to huge losses due to slow | | | | Transfer(ACAT) out , Transfer(ACAT) in, Internal |
| execution of their orders. | | | | Transfer, Account closing, Online confirmations and |
| If his customer support services are poor, you may | | | | statements, Annual account maintenance, Inactive |
| feel lost in want of urgent and crucial financial | | | | account and so on. |
| information. A stock broker, therefore, is a hub | | | | They also offer various trading Packages such as |
| where all your trading activity takes place and | | | | Real-time Market Trades, Real-time Limit Trades, |
| financial transactions about stock trading are | | | | Scheduled Investments, Account Minimums, Transfer |
| executed. | | | | Funds Fees, Inactivity Fees and Subscription Fees. |
| It must also be noted that quite often you invest in | | | | There may also be other charges for services like |
| stocks keeping in view your long-term interests. For | | | | online Equity Trades, fast order execution, customer |
| example, you start investing when you are young so | | | | service, scheduled investment and fractional shares, |
| that you can reap the benefits when you are retired | | | | trading platform, online security, trading technology, |
| and old. You want to invest in stock for the | | | | dividend reinvestment services, stock news and |
| education of your children under education plans. | | | | stock charts. |
| You might like to know what tax benefits are | | | | Any charge on an individual service may not appear |
| available in different long-term investment plans. All | | | | significant once in a while, but since you are going to |
| these factors point out that you are entering into a | | | | be a regular online stock trader, you have to pay for |
| long term, almost life long relationship with your stock | | | | these services quite frequently. The cumulative |
| broker. | | | | impact may eat into your earnings. |
| It would, therefore, not be prudent to settle for just | | | | So you have to be very careful in choosing your |
| any stock broker you come across. You have to do | | | | stock broker. |
| an extensive shopping to find the right person to | | | | |