Investing > The Best Stock Brokers

The Best Stock Brokers

Stock brokers come in all shapes and sizes. This guide covers the best of the best — for any type of investor.

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Updated February 10, 2025

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Looking for the best broker to buy, sell, and trade stocks online? Good idea. Choosing the right broker is more important than most people think. 💡

Not too long ago, trading stocks was a complex process. You couldn’t exactly do it yourself — meaning you had to pay middlemen for much of the process.

Today, things are different. The information age has allowed for stocks to be bought and sold online, all through a few clicks by investors themselves.

What does this ultimately mean for you? Well, it means that less parties are involved in online stock trading. Less parties mean less expenses, which results in stock trades at cheaper prices. Who doesn’t like cheaper prices?

The market is extremely competitive right now, with Robinhood leading the charge toward commission-free trading since its launch in 2013. Most brokers have followed suit in order to stay alive at this point.

However, many brokers do feature fees in certain, well, hidden areas. Most have one strong selling point which differs across industry leaders, and appeals to a specific type of investor: a beginner, a DIY investor, an active day trader, advanced traders, etc.

Due to the current climate, we’ve created this stock trading guide where we’ve analyzed the best stock brokers on fees, account types, investment selection, special features, usability, research, tools, and more.

Best Stock Brokers ⚖️

Some online stock brokers are best for beginners and offer a number of free educational resources. Others have slashed fees, with a priority on commission-free stock trading – a good fit for active traders. Several focus on offering diverse investments options across a wide variety of asset classes.

Whatever you’re looking for — whether that’s low fees, ease-of-use, customer support, or something else — this guide has you covered.

Top Brokers for Stock Trading

After extensive research, we say the best stock brokers are as follows:

  1. Interactive Brokers
    Best Investment Platform for Active Traders
  2. Fidelity Investments
    Best Investment Selection and Retirement Options
  3. E*TRADE
    Best Tools and Technology
  4. TradeZero
    Best Tools for Active Traders
  5. TD Ameritrade
    Best Premium Service
  6. Acorns
    Best for Those With Difficulty Saving
  7. Charles Schwab
    Best for Online Trading with Full-Service Options

1. Interactive Brokers – Best Overall

Interactive Brokers Online Trading Platform
Interactive Brokers’ platform is designed to benefit active traders with advanced trading tools.

Looking for the number one stock broker with minimal fees, an enormous investment selection, high-powered platforms, and excellent research tools? Look no further.

Interactive Brokers stands out from the crowd of online stock brokers for a number of reasons. While most of the top stock brokers now offer commission-free trades, Interactive Brokers continues to stand out in other ways.

Let’s take a deeper dive to find out how. 👇

Pros

  • Low margin interest rates
  • Geared towards day and active traders
  • Excellent analysis tools
  • Clients may trade on 120 markets in over 30 countries using 23 currency types

Cons

  • Not optimal for the casual trader
  • Some low monthly fees if certain requirements are not met
Visit Interactive Brokers on Interactive Brokers’ website

Interactive Brokers offers a lot of options for those who are very active and love trading on a daily or weekly basis. If you like to follow the trends, enjoy trading with powerful research tools that can potentially bring your trades to new heights, or you prefer to trade on margin, this is the best online stock brokerage for you.

Interactive Brokers has impressive platforms that compete with the top stock brokers you can find. You’ll get real-time monitoring, customizable charts, and streaming news feeds.

While the platform does have fees, they are quite low and match the needs of an active trader who is trading on margin rates. In addition, they advertise stock and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) at $1, but their pricing is based on an individual share cost of $0.005 per share. If you are trading more than 200 shares, then you’ll go above the $1 incentive rate.

They also have low-tiered pricing for those traders who want to maximize their shares by trading over 300,000 shares or more. You also get a low rate for options at $0.65 per contract and no-transaction mutual funds.

In conclusion, traders of all types benefit from Interactive Broker’s platform, given the superior tools, research capabilities, and powerful technology offered. While it’s not the best online broker for absolute beginners, the smart investor can benefit from leveraging what Interactive Brokers brings to the table.


2. Fidelity Investments – Best Investment Selection and Retirement Features

Account opening page on Fidelity Investments' website
Fidelity offers advanced online broker tools, good analysis services, and low fees overall

Pros

  •  Detailed research and intelligence for ETF
  •  Easy for beginner traders
  •  Advanced options like Active Trader Pro
  • High price improvement
  • Excellent rating for trade executions and accuracy

Cons

  • Non-US citizens cannot open an account
  • Customers may have to sign in to multiple platforms to access different trading tools
Visit Fidelity on Fidelity’s website

Clients rank Fidelity high among online brokerages. The company has a long history as a discount broker and makes it easy for traders to buy and sell without paying too much in fees.

You can also use a variety of tools to research market trends, and get advice from robo-advisor tools. Wealth-Lab Pro is a testing tool that allows you to test out trading strategies.

In addition, Fidelity has no account minimum, and you won’t be charged any bank fees. When it comes to mutual funds, you can trade over 3,000 different funds without a transaction fee. As of October 2019, Fidelity stated that all US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) would no longer have a commission fee.

Fidelity has also been a leader in new areas of investing and technology. One new feature for cryptocurrency investing – a strategy more popular with younger generations –  is allowing traders to connect their Fidelity brokerage accounts to their Coinbase cryptocurrency account so they can see all assets in one place.

If you’re looking for a simple entry into online trading and have some market knowledge, you can easily use Fidelity to set up your own portfolio. Quite suitable for active or passive traders.


3. E*Trade – Most Advanced Online Trading Tools

ETrade online trading platform Homepage with Open an account button on the top right corner of the page
E*Trade’s online platform comes with top-notch trading and research tools.

E*Trade is one of the oldest discount brokers and was first major online broker to disrupt the old full-service broker order. The investment company offers a robust online platform for trading and market analysis, and a number of helpful tools.

Pros

  • Streaming strategy options are available
  • Futures traders use E*Trades’ mobile futures
  • Performance risk tools allows testing
  • No commission fees charged for stock and ETF trades

Cons

  • High margin rates
  • No bank account integration
  • The advanced options tools are not available in the mobile version

Visit E*Trade on E*Trade’s website

Since E*Trade has been around for a while, both advanced and beginner investors can use this platform for their interests. You can use desktop and mobile tools to access the exchange and make trades, but they have multiple market centers to provide higher speed and accuracy for trade execution. With the use of charting and robo-advisor tools, you can also use E*Trade to conduct research on investment products and trades.

E*Trade also sets itself apart by offering a variety of trading education tools even if you are not a customer. Since E*Trade eliminated commission fees on ETFs and equities, it’s easier than ever to trade on their platform, but it’s also one of the brokers with the highest margin interest rates. You can find more details on E*Trade in our comprehensive E*Trade review.

In February 2020, Morgan Stanley announced its intention to acquire E*Trade, although the details are still being finalized.


4. TradeZero: Best Tools for Active Traders

TradeZero offers a bevy of powerful features that mesh well with active trading.

TradeZero boasts low fees and commissions, solid platforms, and a powerful mobile app – all of which combine to make it a good pick for active traders.

Pros

  • Direct Routing
  • Powerful platforms
  • Well-designed mobile app
  • Low fees or commission-free trading

Cons

  • High fees for wire transfers
  • Large minimum deposit for U.S. clients

Visit TradeZero on TradeZero’s website

Although it originally started out as a Bahamian company, it expanded to the U.S. in May of 2019. The U.S. brokerage, based in Brooklyn New York, is regulated by FINRA and the SEC – but still offers U.S. clients most of the benefits that its Bahamian counterpart does.

TradeZero has several standout features that make it a good pick for active traders, but the brokerage fills a very specific niche. It requires a large minimum deposit – $2,500 for U.S. clients ($500) for international clients, making it quite inaccessible for beginners and investors with a budget.

However, those that can afford the minimum deposit will find that the brokerage’s commission structure is very competitive – U.S. clients can trade stocks commission-free, provided that the share price is greater than $1 and that the company is listed on a major exchange such as NASDAQ, the NYSE, or AMEX.

Stocks that don’t meet these criteria can also be traded, albeit with a $0.003 fee per share for all clients, and an additional $0.99 fee for international clients only. And the investment offering of the brokerage is quite wide – clients can trade ETFs and options along with stocks.

Fees, however, are another matter entirely. The brokerage’s ZeroPro platform costs $59 per month, and so does the ZeroWeb platform. Outgoing wire transfers will set investors back $50, while outgoing ACH transfers cost $5. However, there are no inactivity or account maintenance fees charged by the brokerage.

As a FINRA member, TradeZero carries SIPC insurance. The brokerage also offers direct routing as a feature – but only for clients who meet a minimum account worth of $30,000. The platforms support various order types, level 2 quotes, complex charting tools, as well as around 100 technical indicators. On top of that, clients will gain access to real-time news streaming, a useful short locator feature, as well as enticing margin and leverage rates.

Although it won’t win any points for accessibility, at the end of the day, TradeZero has all the features that traders who use active, hands-on strategies need. The addition of features such as after-hours trading, fast executions, and a responsive, easy-to-use mobile app go a long way in making this brokerage a serious contender.


5. TD Ameritrade – Best Overall for Every Kind of Trader

Screenshot of TD Ameritrade thinkorswim online platform running
TD Ameritrade’s user-friendly platform is accessible both for rookie and experienced traders.

TD Ameritrade is often ranked at the top of online brokers because they offer both full-service and discount options. Whether you’re a very active trader or just want to build a nest egg passively, TD offers an online exchange where you can trade and test trading strategies on multiple platforms. The amount of research tools and options can be overwhelming if you are new to trading.

Pros

  • Extensive research options
  • Educational courses
  • No commission fees on stock or ETF trades
  • Additional support offered through Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Twitter, and more

Cons

  • Device apps not consistent with tools
  • Website can be overwhelming to navigate without using a guide or getting customer service help
Visit TD Ameritrade on TD Ameritrade’s website

TD Ameritrade offers a downloadable platform called “thinkorswim” that allows you to create a completely custom portfolio, and you can set up different layouts, trading defaults, and news feeds to inform you on current trends. TD’s website also has a customizable dashboard. However, this can often be overwhelming to first-time or new traders. The company has been working on streamlining its online tools.

There are over 300 types of ETFs and over 12,000 mutual funds available on TD Ameritrade. Options trading can be done through thinkorswim, which lets you trade on any spread that you want to create with up to 8 legs. Forex and international exchanges are also available, but you may need to sign up for a live broker to do so.

Overall, TD Ameritrade does have the best of both worlds when it comes to discount brokerage and low-cost trading, as well as research and education tools. They’ve recently expanded their customer service to help clients get more familiar and comfortable with their platform’s tools as well.

Though the details are still being worked out, keep in mind that Charles Schwab is set to acquire TD Ameritrade. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2020.


6. Acorns – Best for Beginners With No Investment Experience

Acorns Investment's Online Platform Intro Page
Acorns platform is designed to introduce novice traders to world of trading.

Acorns takes all the guesswork out of investing by helping you round up purchases to the nearest dollar and investing that change into a portfolio. By using a combination of discount broker options and robo-advisors, Acorns helps passive, hands-off investors create a nest egg over time.

Pros

  • Great for investors who want to save money
  • Customizable for your trading preferences
  • Can add or withdraw lump sums
  • Can set up automatic deposits
  • Very accessible mobile app
  • Automated investments are made for you in ETFs based on recommendations from your personal information, but you can choose to invest in any portfolio you like

Cons

  • The account is taxable
  • Little range of investment products
  • In a world of no-fee commissions, Acorns does charge you fees including $5 to open an account and $1 to $3 in monthly fees
Visit Acorns on Acorns’ website

We wanted to include Acorns because it’s received pretty high reviews from customers, as well as some lower ratings due to their account fees. Overall, Acorns may only be right for those who truly just want to passively learn about investing and don’t want to learn about online trading exchanges in greater detail. Our Acorns review can provide you with more info you should know about this investment app.

For those who have no experience with trading and don’t want to learn, Acorns offers a simple way to “grow your money” passively. You don’t even have to fund the account manually, as everything is automated. With that said, their monthly fees are a little high if you are only investing in change, and you may not grow your account as fast. In addition, you may potentially pay taxes on any dividends you earn from stocks.


7. Charles Schwab – Best for Full-Service and Online Broker Needs

Charles Schwab Online Trading Services Platform
Advanced tools and full-service options make Charles Schwab’s platform ideal for experienced traders

With no account minimum and lots of trading tools, Charles Schwab is one of the best when it comes to online trading with full-service options. They do not charge any stock, ETF, or options trading commission fees in the US.

Pros

  • Easy refund if customers are unhappy
  • StreetSmart Edge platform gets more options
  • No commission fees
  • Mobile web and app platforms offer the same tools and functionality

Cons

  • Full-service options are more expensive
  • Margin rates are higher than average
  • Schwab often pushes clients towards full-service advisors
Visit Charles Schwab on Charles Schwab’s website

Overall, Charles Schwab does what other online brokers cannot do. They have streamlined mobile and desktop platforms to offer the same range of tools and trading options. You can also get the guidance of a financial advisor for an additional charge, or you can use their system to trade on your own. Schwab also provides full banking capabilities for its investors.

With StreetSmart Edge, you can simulate trades using real-time news and data with customized charts. This lets you see projections of stock performance so you can make informed decisions. However, they suffer slightly in trading technology and execution of orders since they use wheel-based routing. While it’s generally accurate, traders may find that their stocks and multiple-exchange options are routed to third-party wholesalers.

If you want the best of both worlds in a truly intuitive online broker tool, Charles Schwab has it all. Investors should only be careful of not falling into paying for full-service advisors if they use the trading tools and can manage their own portfolios.


Which Stock Broker Should I Use? 🤔

There are a lot of great brokers and wealth management companies, all with unique and interesting features. But if you’re wondering what an online broker is — and which online broker is best for you — then these are the questions we need to answer.

It all depends on what kind of investor you are, and what you’re looking for in an online investing service. If you want to learn about investing online and become an expert, you can – Almost all of these companies offer great lessons, courses, and even demo accounts where you can practice trading without risking actual money.

The companies provide great education because a small percentage of your profit is their profit, generally speaking. This is how most successful online investors start off – Learning little by little and making money in the process.

Robo-Advisors 🤖

If you don’t want to do everything on your own and spend time on learning, no problem. There are actually companies that professionally invest your money, making you a profit for a very low fee (and sometimes no fee at all). These companies are called robo-advisors, and they make use of algorithms and innovative software to put your money to work with little to no effort on your part.

The best thing about these “robos” is that they have super-handy mobile platforms which means you can easily manage your 401(k), college fund, or whatever else by looking at your phone once a week. This option is usually very safe as all advisors’ clients have insurance provided by the government. So no need to worry too much. There are plenty of ways to have a very comfortable retirement without much hassle, as we will see in a moment.

Day-Traders ☀️

If someone is the opposite of a passive investor, then they’re an active investor A.K.A. a day trader. If you want to be on top of the markets, seize daily opportunities, and make the most out of the potential of online brokers, maybe this type of investing is for you.

Making a job out of investing is not nearly as easy as having someone do everything for you, but it can pay off. Online brokers know this, which is why there’s a bunch of them who love their day traders and have courses and platforms made especially for active investing. If this is your cup of tea, there are some fantastic options here for you too.

So, how can I learn to invest and make a profit? What is the best option if I want someone to invest my money for me and safely grow my wealth? What is the best broker for someone who wants to sit down and work the markets, making the most out of what the stock exchange has to offer?

If you read on just a little bit more, these questions will be answered in this order. In all honesty, the brokerage industry has really evolved since the old days, and we live in an age where anyone can safeguard and grow their wealth, even with a small starting capital.

So let’s see what kind of investor you are, and what kind of service is perfect for your financial goals.

What is the Best Stock Trading Platform For Beginners? 🏆

If you’re looking for online stock trading platforms geared toward beginners, there’s quite a few of them. The better their clients invest, the more money these companies make from commissions – This is why online stock brokers are often a good and very incentivized source of education.

This education is provided through free written and video lessons, as well as demo accounts. These accounts are a very realistic simulation of real trading. Essentially, you interact with the real market in real-time, but you invest virtual money, so there’s no risk. This is a fantastic way to test the theoretical knowledge you’ve gained through lessons and such.

Some great popular platforms will probably give most beginners a migraine and drive them away from investing forever. These are expert-oriented platforms that don’t care much about being user friendly, so they’re really hard to figure out and get used to.

Intuitive, Easy-to-Use Platform 👨‍💻

What you need as a beginner is an intuitive, easy-to-use platform that looks good and has all the important buttons displayed in plain sight. Buying a stock you like shouldn’t be rocket science and transferring money from your bank to your brokerage account should be a piece of cake too.

The creativity that goes into making these platforms can be amazing sometimes and mobile apps are often just as handy for all kinds of trading. Check out what the best stock trading apps look like if you want a great user-friendly experience and powerful investing capability on your phone screen.

If the platform is understandable, and you feel confident with your knowledge, then it’s time to dive into the stock market for real. At this point, you need a safe broker with low prices – basically, a platform that won’t punish you if you make a mistake here and there. This is important since a good first live investing experience can spark confidence in you and push you to improve even more.

So, these are some of the main factors to consider when choosing the perfect first broker. Since we like investing a lot (as you may tell from the investing website and all), we’ve made an exact guide on how to make a great educated choice quickly. Take a look at our list of best online stock brokers for beginners to get started on your self-directed investing journey.

Should I Use a Robo Advisor? 🤖

Hands-free online investment is a new and very disruptive trend in the financial industry. Basically, you can give your money to a company of professional financial advisors and they’ll manage and grow it for you. So, What’s the catch?

Unlike traditional human advisors, robo-advisors are a combination of human management skills and robotic computing power. The extra computing power drives costs down dramatically because an algorithm can sometimes do in a millisecond what a human would need an hour and two cups of coffee for.

On top of that, robots don’t need paychecks and don’t form unions (Yet…). That’s why the most competitive robo-advisors are sometimes 8 or 10 times cheaper than traditional human advisors. OK, so they cost less. But are they worth it?

The yearly returns you can get from a robo-advisor can vary from about 3% to 12%, but that’s not the only reason why you should sign up with one. Some of these companies can give you a fully automated investing experience, which means the only thing you have to do is check your portfolio on your phone. So, do nothing and earn money – that’s the idea.

Total_value_pf_assets_under_management_by_robo-advisors_worldwide_from_2015_to_2020
The Robo-advisor companies have seen a major growth in the last 5 years that counts $8.1 trillion as of 2020.

Be it saving up for a holiday, college tuition, or retirement, many robo-advisors can help you with this. On top of that, robos are generally very safe. They’re all insured by the same governmental regulators and have good security, so your account won’t get hacked and you’re covered if your robo goes bankrupt.

Most importantly, robo-advisors generally have low minimum requirements. This means that they are a great choice for young investors who don’t have a huge amount of money but have wisely decided to start saving money regardless.

Oh, and also… Young investors who want it all to be automatic and accessible from a phone will probably get their wish fulfilled. The industry is one the rise right now, and it’s a perfect time to jump in on the action. So, if you want to see how easy it is to find a perfect match for you and get started, check out our list of the best robo-advisors of 2020 and get yourself a money-making machine.

Self-directed Investing 👨⬅️

If you don’t want to pay management fees and want to take matters into your own hands, you can join the millions of investors who are doing just that. Investing yourself requires certain knowledge and a level of dedication, but leaves an investor with most options.

If long-term money growth and preservation is your goal, then bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds will likely make up a big part of your portfolio. Since these assets tend to be very stable, they generate growth over time and don’t require your constant attention.

However, safe, slow retirement investing is usually the job of traditional and robotic advisors. Investing on your own enables you to use brokers that offer huge discounts, penny stocks, and charge low or no commissions among other things. There are also great options for day traders, so let’s go through these types of brokers and see if they’re what you need in your financial life.

Which Online Stock Broker is the Cheapest? 💸

How can I invest without fees? That’s a very good question, and luckily, it has many satisfying answers. It just so happens that most online brokers are slashing prices left and right to stay ahead of their already-affordable competition. Some of these competitive companies go as far as lowering their fees and commissions to zero in certain cases.

Low-cost services like these are abundant nowadays and they are commonly called discount brokers. Depending on which one you chose you might get to trade stocks, options, and ETFs super-cheap or even commission-free.

Especially interesting for some are penny stocks, which are stocks that go for $5 or less on the market. These stocks usually belong to new companies that have a chance to take off like crazy, but also to disappear into oblivion quickly. This is a risky investment, but if you like the potential of small companies, take a look at how the best brokers for penny stocks look like.

Penny Stocks explained
Penny stocks are considered a potentially very profitable investment.

So, finding a cheap broker isn’t hard, but finding one that’s also great overall might be. Aside from the low prices, a broker should have a good trading platform, research tools, and reliable customer service. If you use buggy trading software that crashes all the time and there’s no customer support to help out, prices will probably be the least of your concerns.

We’ve tried and tested all top discount brokers to see which ones have the lowest prices, as well as the best overall offer. Check out our list of the best discount brokers today to see if one has the full package you’re looking for.

Day Trading – How To Get Started? 👷‍♂️

This is probably the form of investing that requires the most dedication, as it is something often done on a daily basis – hence the name. Above all things, what any day trader needs is a good trading platform. So, what makes a platform great for day trading?

First and foremost come reliability, fast execution, and low prices. Day trading is all about making quick trades at the exact right moment. That’s why having software that’s slow and not up to the task can lose you money and patience in no time.

Complex research tools, interactive charts, indicators, and other such features are also highly beneficial. They make an investor’s computer look like it’s hacking into the Matrix, but these features are there for more than appearances. Detailed, fast research capabilities can help tremendously, which is why it’s important to find a broker with a useful suite of trading tools.

Man learning how to day trade Forex on his laptop computer.
Interactive Brokers offer an advanced trading platform with leading analysis tools for expert traders.

A good platform should also be heavily customizable and able to support addons for automated trading – in case you’re a tech-savvy trader. Aside from these features, a good education will always come in handy. Most brokers have lessons on how to use their platforms, and some can even give you a very comprehensive course and take you from beginner to intermediate level in no time.

Software, pricing, reliability, education… This is a lot to consider. Luckily, there are several companies with very alluring offers. We’ve narrowed the list of these services to include only the best platforms for day trading, so check them out if you are, or are striving to become an active trader.

Can You Trust Stock Brokers? 🤷

If your entire life savings are on some brokerage account, safety is the no. 1 priority. That’s why all stock brokers and advisors are regulated and insured by the government, so you’re mostly safe in case your broker goes bankrupt or does something illegal.

However, this regulation alone isn’t a good enough argument for trusting a company to hold a vast amount of your money. The truth is, some brokers have an impeccable reputation, while others, some of which are very popular, get tons of fraud accusations and lawsuits.

This is why you need to research every broker and wealth management firm individually to figure out whether your money is safe with them or not. Don’t worry, though. There are many reputable top brokers, like the ones listed above, that are known for keeping their customer’s money safe.

Whenever we review a broker, we pay close attention to anything that raises red flags for potential clients. This includes customers’ complaints, lawsuits, and shady paragraphs in the terms of agreement you have to sign. All in all, since online brokers are a mixed bunch, it’s best to take a look at each one individually and decide if they’re trustworthy.

Features To Consider When Choosing Brokers ⭐

Most brokers require you to deposit a certain amount before your account is activated. Moreover, many services can deactivate your account if you don’t make enough trades every month.

Luckily, there are a bunch that have very low minimum requirements, making the first steps easy for new investors. For example, a number of brokers have a $0 minimum deposit with plenty of world-class tools available.

Retirement Account Types ✅

Brokers usually offer different account types, each specialized for a certain function. One of these functions is retirement investing, and many companies offer IRAs and Roth IRAs, which are accounts with lower taxes, suitable for long-term investing.

If you’re a retirement investor, check if the broker you like offers an actual non-taxable retirement account before you sign up. Fidelity and Vanguard — investing giants known all over the world — are two of the best brokers for Roth IRAs.

Investing Education And Research ✅

This depends on your level of knowledge and experience, but it’s always good to have a broker that offers useful info when you need it. This includes everything from instructions on how to use the broker’s platform to more advanced education on analyzing stocks.

It’s also great when a platform has its data and research so you don’t have to go to third-party websites to look at information and statistics about the stocks you want to buy. The popular broker E-Trade offers both good lessons and fantastic research, so take a look if that’s what you’re searching for.

Range Of Investment Types ✅

These are the products you can buy and sell, and how a broker’s list of offerings looks like is very important. If there are many products to choose from, you have more options to tailor your portfolio to your preferences. Investment types usually include:

  • ☑️ Stocks
  • ☑️ ETFs
  • ☑️ Mutual Funds
  • ☑️ Bonds
  • ☑️ Futures
  • ☑️ Options
  • ☑️ US govt treasury bonds
  • ☑️ Commodities

Ideally, a broker should provide users with assets that can make up a high-quality, diversified portfolio with products like risky yet profitable stocks and very safe government bonds. Some top-tier companies like Interactive Brokers have just about everything on their list of assets.

Mobile Investing Apps ✅

Having access to your portfolio at all times can only be achieved with a good investing app. Due to high demand, some brokers have developed mobile investing apps that are just as feature-packed and easy to use as regular desktop platforms.

Not all mobile platforms can fill in for their desktop counterparts at all times, but those that can are worth having. A great example of a broker with a powerful, inuitive, and yet very user-friendly app is Robinhood. It’s a good tool on a low-cost platform, so it might be worth checking out if you’re looking for good mobile investing options.

Customer Support ✅

Say you lose your online brokerage account password. You want to send an email to your broker’s customer support, but can’t find the address anywhere online. Then, you try calling them by phone, and after 10 minutes of waiting you get a pre-recorded message saying you should send customer service an email. Things like this actually happen in real life.

That’s why quick and reliable customer service is very important, and some are better than others, to say the least. For example, Charles Schwab offers a moneyback guarantee on all fee-based services to assist customers when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, some other online brokers are hard to get a hold of or don’t even have a phone number to call.

Before you jump into any brokerage firm, you need to make sure that it’s easy to call and get help when something goes wrong. You may want to do a practice call to see how fast support is able to figure out your problem via live chat or call up their customer service line to see how responsive they are.

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