Online brokers - recommend please

I'm looking to get an online brokerage account to start a little portfolio.

I used to have an etrade account and was fairly happy with their service but since this was about 2 years ago I would love to hear some new recommendations.

[Sniper]

If your intent is to make a few trades a year, then just about any of the primary online brokers are good.

You should select the one that has the research products you are most interested in, and an interface that you are comfortable with.

Well I might be making about a dozen or more trades a month as I plan on taking a small amount of money to basically gamble on anything that looks interesting in short time frames (right now I'm planning on putting the real bulk of my savings in the safest thing I can find as I am clueless about real investing and dont want to f up).

I was really just wondering if there was a clear 'best choice' out there. But I guess I'll just use etrade since I already have an account with them and from the tone of your post it seems they are all basically equal.

[Sniper]

They are all basically equal, unless you plan to be an active trader, at which point you should look for a Direct Access broker... like Tradestation, Cybertrader, InteractiveBrokers, TerraNova, etc.

A direct access broker will generally provide less hand holding/support/extras, in exchange for lower commissions and better executions for an active trader.

If you aren't going to actively trade, I recommend Scottrade. I use it for my personal portfolio and for the investment club at my college. Good service, $7 a trade, nice interface.

Yes, this is my first post. No, I don't work for Scottrade.

[RikaKazak]

www.scottrade.com is a MUST!!!!!!!!! Excellent customer service, quick to answer, and only $7 a trade, no account minimum, no $0 balance fee, ETC. ETC. I've used them for over 3 years and STRONGLY RECOMEND them!!!!!

[Sniper]

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If you aren't going to actively trade, I recommend Scottrade.

[/ QUOTE ]

Scottrade is not the best choice for an active trader, you will get horrible executions compared to a direct access broker.

Are you using ScottradeElite?

[housenuts]

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and only $7 a trade

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do most brokerages have a flat fee like this? are any based on %? I plan on making smaller trades and $7 per could really cut into the profit (if any)

[Sniper]

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do most brokerages have a flat fee like this? are any based on %? I plan on making smaller trades and $7 per could really cut into the profit (if any)

[/ QUOTE ]

The commission at the direct access brokers are < .01/share.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you aren't going to actively trade, I recommend Scottrade.

[/ QUOTE ]

Scottrade is not the best choice for an active trader, you will get horrible executions compared to a direct access broker.

Are you using ScottradeElite?


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah Sniper, I said "If you aren't going to actively trade, I recommend Scottrade."