It is understandable if you are paying less attention to your brokerage account these days, given the current market malaise. But the recent slide in stock and bond prices may represent a "generational investment opportunity," Ron Baron, a manager of several Baron funds and founder of Baron Capital, recently wrote in a letter to shareholders.
In short, it's a good time to be active as an investor. But it also pays to be selective in times like these, which makes the services offered by your online broker highly important, whether for you that means plying your brokerage's tools to sift for hidden gems in the stock bargain bin, finding smart fixed-income strategies or even getting professional investment guidance. With that in mind, we conducted our annual review of online brokers. This year, we have 10 contenders. Five are large, well-known brokers that cater to all kinds of investors, from novices to active day traders: Charles Schwab, E*Trade, Fidelity, Merrill Edge and TD Ameritrade. Schwab acquired TD Ameritrade in 2020, but the brokerages still work independently, and the firms asked to be reviewed separately, except in the category of advisory services. The remaining five firms are smaller in stature, but each has something to offer: Ally Invest, Firstrade, Interactive Brokers, J.P. Morgan SelfDirected Investing and Wells Trade, the brokerage arm of financial firm Wells Fargo.
Each company answered dozens of questions in seven categories, including commissions and fees; investment choices; advisory services; tools; research; and mobile, which tested the functionality of each firm's app. We also measured what we call user experience a general category for how many ways, and how well, a company interacts with its customers. The score in each category was based on information provided to us by the brokerage firms, which we vetted to the best of our abilities.
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
My Top 30 Index: An Update
A year ago, I put together what I called \"my own reinvention\" of the Dow Jones industrial average, the popular 142-year-old large-cap index.
Balance Your Risk and Reward
These new ETFs let you cut stock market losses. But you'll sacrifice some gains.
IS A HYBRID CAR RIGHT FOR YOU?
Hybrids offer a fuel-saving option for drivers who have reservations about all-electric vehicles. But there are trade-offs.
HOW TO REACH YOUR INVESTING GOALS
Patience helped these four investors make their portfolios work for them.
WHERE TO INVEST NOW
Expect a lot of midyear churn, with a rally toward the end of 2024.
TIPS FOR FINANCING A HOME PROJECT
I recently had a call with a client who was looking to fund the construction of a swimming pool at his house.
MORE WOMEN THAN EVER ARE STARTING BUSINESSES
Retail and travel businesses, along with health, beauty and fitness, are popular with women entrepreneurs.
Finding Home Health Care
It’s important to hire a caregiver you trust.
UNDERSTANDING BOND FUND YIELDS
What's a 30-day SEC yield? A trailing 12-month yield? A yield to maturity? We explain what each measure says about an income fund.
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ON STUDENT LOANS
If you have federal student loans, you may benefit from new government policies. Here's what you need to know.
