Brokers

A brokerage account is the account through which stocks, bonds, ETFs, and other securities are actually bought and sold, and the broker holding it can range from a full-service firm offering personalized advice for a fee to a discount online platform charging little or no commission on trades. Beyond commissions, it's worth comparing account minimums, available investment types, order execution quality, and, for margin or options trading, the specific fees and requirements involved. Brokers operating in the U.S. are required to be registered with the SEC and members of FINRA, and client cash and securities are typically protected up to SIPC limits in the event the brokerage itself fails — separate from, and not a guarantee against, investment losses.