Recommendations on low-cost / online stock brokerages?

I've been using USAA for about 10 years. Online stock trades cost me $8. I've been satisfied with them but they are not the least expensive. The $8 is for a frequent trader. Option trades are more expensive.

 

Scottrade...$7, option, naked and covered, bonds, free transaction on mutuals, research, real time trade data and charts...very nice.

 

I have a traditional brokerage account (Smith Barney) for L/T holdings and a Harris Direct (formerly CSFB Direct) account for short-term plays. I've been happy with Harris so far. Don't get suckered into the whole cheap commission rates b/c often those are for market orders only and you don't have control over whether they sell you an equity directly from their own inventory. For instance, XYZ stock is trading at $10, you place a market order for 100 shares with commission of say $7, total cost to you should be $1,007, but it's not likely... why? B/c they sold you 100 shares from their own inventory and charged you $7.50/share, now you're paying the $7 comm. fee plus $50 premium for the same stock. Instead of making only $7 off you, they make $57. I only place limit orders using my online account. I've had Schwab in the past, but they tend to charge higher account maintenance fees, but typically will not sell from their inventory if they can help it. Acutally, I used to place market orders via Schwab and never had a problem... usually ended up paying less than the last ASK price. No experience with Etrade, but have heard good things as well. Good luck!

 

Who are the 'cougs? Go HUSKIES!! Woof!

 

Stockpro, did you go UW? I stayed in McMahon while I was there in 1983. Back then, Cougars were more of party school. Or is it still. Now I am in TX, I do miss a view of Seattle sometime.

Oh my main question is who are you recommending even for traditional trading?

Yoshi Ace

 

I think the cheapest out there is Brown and Co. I think 5000 share orders for $5 or something like that.

 

EXECUTION! do a search online and find out who ranked tops w/ respect to execution. that is what matters much much more than commissions.

i used to work for one of the largest mutual fund companies and we had to fight this battle all the time with s/h, regulators, etc... all they would look at is cents per share we paid to execute trades and wouldn't focus on the big picture - price we paid for each share!

 

I've had an Ameritrade account for some time now and while not the cheapest, their execution is excellent, their online procedures are very straightforward and the statements easy to read.

 

Yoshi,

I am certainly a HUSKY! McMahon... that place has changed quite a bit. Did they have "clusters" in McMahon when you were there? Wazzu is still known as a party school -- after all, there's nothing else to do out in Pullman except drink, tip cows, drink some more, and share STDs.

I recommend Smith Barney for traditional account.

 

You mean $0.50/share, not $7.50/share right? $7.50/share @ 100sh would be $750.00. If the stock was trading at $10, I'd buy as much at $7.50/share as I could!

Seriously, all you're saying is if they act as a dealer on the transaction (market-maker) then they slip an extra 50 cents into the spread so the you pay more to cover the "cheap" commission?

 

shoot, i meant $10.50/share not $7.50/share.

 

Thanks Ty.

Stockpro,
Cow tipping!!!!! Very first thing I was dare to do at my 1st night out on American high school when I was 15. Snipe hunting, too!!!

I don't know what you mean by clusters??? You mean they re-modeled the place or you mean people living there.

STD, LOL. Brings back all memories of college days.

BTW THANKS for your advise, too.

 

Yoshi,

Clusters... they put (cluster) four people together to share a communal bathroom and living space with separate sleeping quarters. I was back on campus two weeks ago to sit on a business school panel and the place has changed dramatically. The new Law School is very nice.

 

If you decide to go with scottrade, i have a referal number that will earm ae 3 free trades if you use it when signing up.

 

i have been using Ameritrade for about 4 years and love it. $10.99 a trade, they let you trade pinksheets with the same cost.

 

Ameritrade is running a special at the moment with the first 25 trades free. Can't beat it.

Ed