I have accounts with E*Trade, OptionsExpress, and Fidelity, and also several family members have experience with TD Ameritrade
E*Trade:
I’ve been using E*Trade for ten years now and am extremely impressed. The only minor drawback if I recall correctly, E*Trade doesn’t have access to some of the mutual funds offered by Fidelity
Fidelity:
On several trades I initiated one hour before market close, delays with phone call-in and probems with Fidelity online prevented my excuting those trades before end-of-day. This gives you an idea of serious I found Fidelity system and service delays
When I tried to sell online a mutual fund I had purchased from Fidelity online, their system responded “you cannot trade this mutual fund online.” Then I called in I was put on hold on their trading line for over 45 minutes. That trade ended up excecuting the NEXT DAY at end-of-day. By coincidence, at the same time I sold the exact same mutual fund (on the day I wanted to sell it) through E*Trade in 2 minutes.
I lost three grand due to Fidelity because as I expected market moved against my fund the next day, and their delay forced me to hold that fund during that down day. I have since moved the 1/3 of my portfolio I had in Fidelity into E*TRade.
TD Ameritrade
My father and sister use this broker and are happy with it.
OptionsXpress
Great if you love to trade options. More options trading software than you’ll find at E*Trade.
