Online brokerage account

[dawgball]

I did a quick search on this and didn't come up with anything. I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on particular online brokers that they use.

Here are mine:

Firstrade: Extremely low fees ($6.95 market/limit on stocks and $6.95 + $1.25 per contract for options) and very responsive customer service. Processing of deposits and withdrawals are average. I use this account for an investment club LLC that I trade for, so many of our requests are more difficult than most.

OptionsXpress: This is a great site for trading options due to the many triggers and advanced trading setups that they have. Their fees are a little more expensive than a deep discount broker ($13.95 per trade and $1.25 per contract on options). Customer service has been excellent here.

I am looking at opening an account with Scottrade because there is a brick and mortar right down the road from me that could be handy at times. Their fees appear to compare to Firstrade's, but I have not used their site at this point. Does anyone have experience with them?

 

[TJBELL]

How ironic, just got my packet yesterday in the mail, but have looked at it real quickly today.

Call your local office and have them send you out one. Compares fees/prices of Ameritrade, E*Trade, Fidelity, Schwab, TD Waterhouse, etc

Looks very informative!!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[dawgball]

Thanks, TJ.

I have the packet in front of me. I ate lunch next to their office yesterday, so I stopped in and picked up the information. Their comparison prices are great, but I wanted to see if anyone has personal experience with them or another comparable broker that they have enjoyed.

 

[redsfann]

I've been using Scottrade since they opened an office here in town a little over a year ago. Have had no complaints at all, but I don't trade much and I don't leave much $$ there unless I'm buying something.
The key for me with them is the lack of a minumum balance and the lack of a no activity fee if I don't trade the account for 6 months or more.

 

[dawgball]

Thanks, redsfann.

 

[Doughboy]

I know a few guys who ave used it for a few years. One is an old broker in my office, and he said they hae the best software and also the best technical ananlysis "stuff" The charts I have seen look great there, and I think they give you good research also. I used Ameritrade in college, and thought they were fine, but very basic at the time. Haven't used in a few years, so not sure what they look like now.

 

[THE HITMAN]

I use Ameritrade. They don't pay much , if anything, on balances since the interest rates started dropping. Site runs OK and services and info seem to be expanding all the time. Hard mail statements used to come monthly, now come only every 3 months, I don't care for that.

 

[dawgball]

Thanks for the info. As far as paper statements go, I don't care to receive them, so that wouldn't play too much into my decision.

 

[MadJack]

i use etrade.com

i have a brokerage acct there (10 bucks a trade) and a money market/checking acct. been there since march and the service has been fine.

 

[dawgball]

after further review, I will not be opening an account with Scottrade because they do not allow Spread trading.

I have decided to go with OptionsXpress.