Online Brokerage Account

**pboychuk** · 09-18-2008 10:12 AM

I want to learn stocks to some effect, I currently have a broker, but I want to have more control over my investments. So I am looking for an online brokerage.
TD Ameritrade seems like a good one, lower fees and good research tools, but they charge inactivity fees. So naturally I would go to scottrade, no inactivity and even lower fees, but I read their research tools aren't as plentiful. Zecco looks great, 10 free trade a month, I surely wont go above 10 any month.

So I guess my question is, For someone who wants to learn stocks, does anyone see any drawbacks with the "research tools" on any of these sites? i have been going through the guide on investopedia and it seems like you have to have these charts in order to understand whats going on. Do the online brokerages offer charts and such?

Any other hidden fees i should be aware of>?

**Gaulkin** · 09-18-2008 10:35 AM

If your a real trader you dont use "tools" to the extent your saying. I use scottrade and its more then enough tools, more then half of them i dont use because there worthless. No tool can take away a traders experience and knowledge of how everything works.

**pboychuk** · 09-18-2008 10:41 AM

Well im not a real trader lol. im trying to learn, so i figured tools or w/e may be important to learn.

**Fanatik** · 09-18-2008 10:45 AM

Gaulkin, you need some therapy... the kid's trying to start out and get a handle on his finances - no need to make comments like, "If your a real trader you dont use "tools" to the extent your saying."

Sorry not everyone is a fking expert at everything in the world like you are.

Pboy, I use USAA - which is very crappy lol. I just use them simply because I have them for my banking and they have low fees (and I'm military so its easier). I use google's charts, but I have a buddy that uses etrade for their tools and scottrade for his trading. I've heard good and bad about TD; my brother is switching to Scottrade because TD's rates are a bit high (and the inactivity fees are BS!)

Just my little 2 bits.

J

**jasaunders** · 09-18-2008 11:51 AM

I use TD Ameritrade and am very happy with them. Their research tools and interactive real-time charts are pretty good.

Beyond a brokerage, one of the best research tools you could use is Yahoo Finance. Yahoo! Finance has almost everything you could want and is a lot more valuable and user-friendly than any of the tools provided by brokerages.

**Gaulkin** · 09-18-2008 01:17 PM

The point was, dont start off using tools because there not that helpful. Fundamentals will get you farther then any tool out there. Another good way to get off on the right foot is a subscription to Investors business daily. Also read "How to make money in stocks" by William j Oneil because the book is a guide on how to use the newspaper to find winning stocks and how to pick them yourself.

**pboychuk** · 09-18-2008 03:00 PM

I have two books, and I am going through the "course" on investopedia.com (which wholly focuses on charts and ratings, thus far). I think I am going to try out zecco, it seems the most cost effective, especially because I will probably put 90% of my money in something solid, and just play around with 10% of it, so the 10 free trades will complement that mentality well.

**ChadFraz** · 09-18-2008 03:18 PM

I reccomend Charles Schwab in terms of online trading. I am Series 63/Series 7 certified (stock broker) so I know a little something about the market. It helped me when I knew little and it has helped me now that I have some experience. I have never had any troubles with them.