| Online stock trading sites offer investors | | | | |
| access to a variety of tools and research | | | | Scottrade |
| that just a few years ago were only available | | | | |
| through full service brokerage accounts. | | | | Scottrade’s claim to fame is superior |
| | | | customer satisfaction as noted in J.D Power |
| There are many online stock trading sites to | | | | and Associates survey of online brokers. |
| choose from, but narrowing down the field may | | | | Commissions are on the low side and |
| seem time consuming and overwhelming. | | | | transactions are processed quickly. |
| | | | |
| Here are thirteen of the top-rated online | | | | TD Ameritrade |
| stock trading sites that continually show up | | | | |
| on just about every list of the best. | | | | TD Ameritrade is another brokerage that is |
| | | | the result of mergers (Ameritrade was one of |
| Ultimately, your choice is a personal one | | | | the merged companies and it has been around |
| based on a number of factors and how you rank | | | | for a number of years). The company has a |
| them in importance. | | | | large selection of mutual funds and is noted |
| | | | for its responsiveness to customer inquiries. |
| Not every online stock trading site on this | | | | |
| list will work for you because some are | | | | |
| stronger in one area, while weaker in | | | | Thinkorswim |
| another. | | | | |
| | | | This is a newcomer to the online stock |
| All of these sites encourage you to browse | | | | trading scene, but worth checking out if |
| through their pages, although some parts will | | | | you’re interested in something |
| be off limits unless you have an account. | | | | different. The site is not like any of the |
| | | | others, but Barron’s gives it |
| Here are online stock trading sites you | | | | extremely high marks, so despite its |
| should consider: | | | | quirkiness, there’s plenty of |
| | | | substance. |
| Charles Schwab | | | | |
| | | | TradeKing |
| Schwab is the granddaddy of discount | | | | |
| brokerage and is carrying this tradition to | | | | TradeKing is the online stock trading site to |
| its online offering - although it is looking | | | | checkout for low cost trading. This is their |
| more like a traditional brokerage all the | | | | thing and SmartMoney.com, Barron’s and |
| time. | | | | Kiplinger all agree. If you are looking for |
| | | | the best prices on trades, this is the place |
| It offers its own research and clients can | | | | to start. |
| work with an investment advisor or Schwab | | | | |
| will manage their account for them. | | | | Vanguard |
| | | | |
| E*Trade | | | | Vanguard made a name for itself at the |
| | | | low-cost leader in mutual funds. Vanguard is |
| E*Trade gets high marks for its range of | | | | a solid company that excels in providing |
| offerings including banking and mutual funds. | | | | value to their customers and in consolidating |
| The company has absorbed several other | | | | investments in a brokerage account. |
| brokerage firms and is now a significant | | | | |
| player in the online stock trading market. | | | | WallStreet*E |
| Like its competitors, active traders get | | | | |
| lower rates on their trades. | | | | WallStreet*E combines low commissions with a |
| | | | broad range of web-based services to appeal |
| Fidelity | | | | to investors who want an integrated approach |
| | | | to investing and banking. The company offers |
| Fidelity shows up at the top or near the top | | | | a variety of online banking products and |
| of almost every ranking of online stock | | | | other services that will appeal to those who |
| trading brokers. They are not the least | | | | want to see their whole financial picture. |
| expensive, but top most lists in customer | | | | |
| satisfaction. Fidelity is known for its | | | | Wells Fargo |
| research and investors can talk to advisors | | | | |
| face-to-face at one of the many Fidelity | | | | The financial services powerhouse Wells Fargo |
| investment centers. | | | | has an online stock trading site that fits it |
| | | | image of comprehensive services. You are |
| Firstrade | | | | offered five different levels of accounts |
| | | | depending on whether you want a strictly |
| One of the advantages of a brokerage account | | | | independent trading account or a version of |
| is consolidating your investment activity in | | | | their managed accounts. Investors looking for |
| one account cutting down paperwork. Firstrade | | | | a single place to find all their financial |
| topped a survey by Kiplinger as the online | | | | services will find Wells Fargo a good place |
| stock trading broker offering the most | | | | to start. |
| no-load mutual funds without a transaction | | | | |
| fee. | | | | Conclusion |
| | | | |
| Muriel Siebert | | | | Online stock trading sites offer investors a |
| | | | wide range of tools, research and services. |
| Muriel Siebert may not have the marketing | | | | |
| muscle of other online stock trading sites | | | | Finding the right one for your style of |
| but it is a solid brokerage house worth your | | | | investing and that meets your needs is a |
| look. The company receives high marks for | | | | matter of visiting the sites to get a feel |
| customer service and research. The fee | | | | for the interface. |
| structure is straightforward and easy to | | | | |
| understand. | | | | Pay attention to the fee structure and how it |
| | | | works with your trading style. If you are an |
| OptionsXpress | | | | infrequent trader, look for maintenance or |
| | | | inactivity fees. |
| Despite its name, this online stock trading | | | | |
| site offers accounts that trade just about | | | | If you want advice, see how that affects your |
| any type of security you want including | | | | trading costs. |
| options, stocks, mutual funds, exchange | | | | |
| traded funds, futures and more. This site is | | | | Many of these sites will let you open a demo |
| easy to use and gets to the point. Not the | | | | account, which will give you an idea how the |
| cheapest, but tops in functionality. | | | | real thing works. |