3 Best Brokerage Firms for Investors Today

by NerdWallet | December 9, 2013 11:45 am

What Do Brokerage Firms Offer Investors?

Opening an account at a brokerage firm allows you to buy and sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other types of investments. There are two broad categories of brokerage firms: traditional and discount (often called “online brokers”). Traditional brokerages are what typically come to mind when people think of financial advisors: professionals who guide you through financial decisions. They offer a comprehensive range of financial planning services, including investing advice, tax advice, retirement and estate planning, and much more. Most of the major banks like Bank of America (BAC[1]) and JPMorgan (JPM[2]) offer traditional brokerage services. While traditional brokerages provide a highly personalized experience, it comes at a cost. They often charge annual fees amounting to 1-2% of the assets they manage.

Discount brokers simply provide the online platform that enables you to trade securities. It is entirely up to you to make the investment decisions. Some discount brokers like TD Ameritrade (AMTD[3]) offer in-person advisory services, but because these are not part of their core product offerings, they are far less comprehensive than those offered by a traditional broker. That said, the cost of a discount broker is dramatically lower. In fact, most discount brokers don’t charge yearly account fees, and just charge a $5-$10 commission on the trades you make. Discount brokers are a more affordable option for the majority of investors, so we will focus on them. But if you want to learn more about traditional brokers, check out our Ask an Advisor[4] platform for more information.

Where to Open an Account

Before you open an online brokerage account, it is important to have a clear financial objective in mind. Different brokerages are tailored toward different types of investors. Most people are investing for long-term goals like retirement or buying a home. For these investors, a broker should offer a variety of mutual funds and ETFs, provide quality customer service, and not charge account inactivity fees. On the other hand, more active investors will care about other factors, such as the price of trades, research offerings, and data tools. We have broken out the main points that you should pay attention to depending on your investment style and level of experience.

First-Time Investor

• Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs with low expense ratios
• Customer service (with access to brick and mortar branches)
• Easy-to-use online interface
• Low account minimums and no account inactivity fees

Do-it-yourself investor

• Large variety of low-cost mutual funds and ETFs
• Basic tools and research reports
• Customer service and mobile access
• Low commissions (under $7 per trade)

Best Broker for First-Time Investors: TD Ameritrade

Easy-to-use with great customer service

[5]

100+ ETFs and thousands of no transaction-fee mutual funds, 24/7 customer service, and an intuitive web interface Commission Per Trade: $9.99 Account Minimum: $500 Promotion: Fund a new account with $2,000 to receive 60 days of free trades and up to $600 Sign up for TD Ameritrade[6]

TD Ameritrade is also our pick for best overall broker[7] for new investors because it has consistently high customer service ratings and offers a full suite of trading, research, and educational tools. They offer more than 100 commission-free ETFs and thousands of no-transaction fee mutual funds. For those who value in-person interaction, TD Ameritrade has over 100 branches across the U.S.

Best Broker For DIY Investors: TradeKing

Provides similar tools and capabilities as larger brokers at half the cost

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Improved stock and ETF screening capabilities, robust online investor forum Commission Per Trade: $4.95 Account Minimum: None Promotion: Refer a friend and both receive $50 Sign up for TradeKing[9]

TradeKing offers similar tools and capabilities as its larger competitors, but commissions are far cheaper at $4.95 per trade. The company has a simple user interface and differentiates itself with an active community forum where investors share and discuss ideas. TradeKing’s research offerings have dramatically improved since its merger with Zecco. An investor looking for a lower-cost version of TD Ameritrade or Scottrade should consider TradeKing. One thing to watch out for is a $50 maintenance fee that TradeKing will slap on any accounts that have an account balance less than $2,500 and have been inactive for a year.

Best Brokers For Active Investors: Lightspeed

Cheapest trades, great execution, and no frills

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Extremely low commissions with direct market access Commission Per Trade: $0.0045 per share ($1 minimum per trade) Account Minimum: $10,000 Promotion: 30 days of unlimited free options trading when you fund an account Sign up for Lightspeed[11]

Active traders want extremely low commissions, and Lightspeed provides that with ETF and stock commissions at $0.0045 per share and a $1 minimum per trade. Other deep-discount brokers like Interactive Brokers also have very low costs, but Lightspeed edges them out through better customer service. Lightspeed provides direct access to ECNs and exchanges, which is important for active traders. Lightspeed also has a robust trading analytics platform, but it is very complex and has a very steep learning curve to master. Overall, Lightspeed is a great option for day traders and professional investors who need cheap executions, but if you only trade occasionally or use a buy-and-hold strategy, consider the other options above.

Read More From NerdWallet

73 Will Be The Retirement Norm For Millennials[12]

The Best Brokers for Options Trading Online[13]

The Best Online Brokers for Penny Stock Trading[14]

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/12/best-brokerage-firms-amtd-lightspeed-tradeking/

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