| Picking out an online discount broker may seem like a | | | | Are you planning to build a diversified global portfolio |
| very easy task. Look for the broker with the lowest | | | | that includes international stocks? If you are, then |
| commission prices and sign up for an account. But | | | | you need to confirm that your online broker offers |
| what stock trading services does this broker offer? | | | | this type of stock trading service. |
| Are there extra fees to have services added? | | | | An alternative to purchasing international stocks |
| Before opening up an account with an online broker, | | | | directly is to invest in ETFs (exchange traded funds) |
| you need to make sure that they offer the services | | | | or mutual funds that specialize in foreign securities. If |
| that you need. | | | | this is something your interested, check out what |
| While there are a ton of different stock trading | | | | types of services are offered from your online |
| services offered today by discount brokers, there | | | | discount broker in this area. |
| are a few that you probably want to consider looking | | | | Dividend Reinvestment |
| into. Below is a list of some of the more common | | | | Do you invest in dividend paying stocks? If you are a |
| services offered by various online discount brokers. | | | | high yield investor, then you probably should make |
| Test Trading Strategies | | | | sure that your broker offers dividend reinvestment |
| Does your discount broker offer any stock trading | | | | stock trading services. A trader can identify where |
| strategies that will test various simulations? This can | | | | they would like dividends to be invested in with these |
| be a very effective learning tool, especially for the | | | | types of services. The most popular option is to |
| novice investor. Several brokers will offer FREE stock | | | | reinvest the dividend distributions directly back into |
| trading services that will simulate various transactions. | | | | additional shares of the stock. |
| When opening up an online account, verify the broker | | | | Trade Stock Options |
| offers some type of simulation product. If you do | | | | An advanced trading strategy, option stock trading |
| not have a mentor to work with, then simulating | | | | services are another consideration when choosing |
| different trade options is the next best thing and will | | | | your online discount broker. If you ever think you |
| save you a lot of money in the end. | | | | may want to explore the world of options trading, |
| Stock Watch Lists | | | | make sure your broker offers these types of |
| Many brokers will offer a stock trading service that | | | | services. Typically a broker will make you submit a |
| tracks the movements of securities on a predefined | | | | special application to allow you buy and sell stock |
| list. You simply log into your account, create a list of | | | | options. |
| stocks to watch, set the criteria you are looking for | | | | Final Thoughts |
| and wait for notifications. | | | | As you can tell from the list above, there are plenty |
| Most of the time your broker will send out an | | | | of stock trading services that can be offered by a |
| automated email signaling a stock has hit a certain | | | | stock broker. Most of these services are FREE to an |
| threshold that you have set. For example, if you | | | | account holder, but may not always be available |
| were interested in buying stock XYZ under $15, a | | | | through every broker. An important part of learning |
| service like this would sent out a communication that | | | | the stock trading basics is to pick out the online |
| the share price has dropped below your threshold. | | | | broker that is the right fit for your trading needs. |
| International Stock Trading | | | | |