| The history of the American stock market had | | | | investors to set up an account through the |
| its beginnings in the late 1700s during the fledgling | | | | website. They can then access their financial |
| years of the country. In Philadelphia, founding | | | | portfolio at the touch of a mouse. Additionally, |
| citizens of this new world instituted a stock | | | | these companies will offer up-to-the-minute stock |
| exchange wherein currency could be exchanged in | | | | quotes, historical performance and forecasts for |
| order to support business and stimulate this new | | | | each stock, as well as in-depth information about |
| economy. | | | | each of the companies. |
| This initial exchange gave way to a group of | | | | Investors report that the ability to trade stocks |
| merchants who banned together to form the | | | | online offers many benefits not provided through |
| New York Stock Exchange. This initial assembly of | | | | traditional brokering. First and foremost, online |
| men met every day on Wall Street to trade their | | | | investment offers lower brokerage fees than |
| stocks and bonds - an outdoor ritual that lasted | | | | required through traditional brokerage houses. |
| through to the early 1900s, when commerce | | | | Through online trading, investors typically pay $10 |
| moved indoors. Today, investment on this scale | | | | and under per trade. Online trading also affords |
| has come full circle - operating outside the bricks | | | | investors a level of independence and control not |
| and mortar of traditional trading. Today's investors | | | | previously experienced through traditional trading. |
| operate en masse through the Internet, buying | | | | Investors can pick and choose stocks online that |
| and selling stocks online with the click of a mouse. | | | | meet their own personal financial goals. |
| Buying and selling stocks online has become the | | | | Using the tools provided through the brokerage |
| new way of investing. In this chaotic world of long | | | | websites, investors can research those companies |
| work hours combined with the juggling of frenzied | | | | and stock in which they are interested. Further, |
| family schedules, the computer has taken an | | | | investors can access their portfolio to keep |
| ever-increasing role - giving us a place to work, | | | | careful track of their financial status as they |
| communicate, and be entertained any time of day | | | | move towards the goals they have set out for |
| from the comfort of our homes. The computer | | | | themselves. |
| has also taken an ever-increasing role in investing, | | | | Part of what keeps the financial world moving at |
| offering consumers the opportunity to trade | | | | a pace that continues to stimulate economy and |
| online. Several reputable companies have | | | | promote business is its ability to adjust to |
| pioneered the online investment arena where they | | | | changing conditions in society. Online trading is |
| have kept pace with the changing needs of | | | | simply a response to what is happening in the |
| today's modern investors. | | | | world of finance on a grander scale. The ability to |
| In accessing stocks online, investors have been | | | | buy and sell stocks online meets investors where |
| given access to a bevy of services previously | | | | they are in today's world and gives them the |
| only obtained through visiting brokers in the brick | | | | opportunity to take a greater role in their own |
| and mortar world of finance. Online investment | | | | financial future. |
| through reputable brokerage companies requires | | | | |