For questions about brokerage firms, opening a brokerage account, etc. Questions asking for specific service recommendations are off-topic.
3
votes
1answer
44 views
How are brokerage accounts protected from theft, computer glitches and fraud?
I'm thinking about investing in stocks, but I'm worried about losing my investments for reasons unrelated to changes in the market.
I know that brokerage accounts are not FDIC-insured.
What if a ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Is Tradeking collecting too much information when I open an Roth IRA?
I recently signed up with Tradeking a Roth IRA account. During registration, I entered my home address DOB and SSN. I was ok with it. But then Tradeking started sending me emails (1) the first one ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
If I transfer brokerages for a taxable investment account, who is responsible for sending Form 1099s?
I am considering transferring brokerages for a taxable investment account. Will the new brokerage be responsible for sending me all Form 1099s for tax year 2013? Or is the old brokerage still ...
2
votes
2answers
50 views
Execute or trade an options contract?
Take this call for example:
FIO Jan13 22 Call
Let's say this Thursday the stock goes to $23. Here is my math:
Cost of option: $35
Cost of stock bought at $22: 100x$22 = $2,200
Thursday price of ...
10
votes
3answers
145 views
What are the cons to using a brokerage account for day to day banking?
I've noticed (for awhile now) that my online discount brokerage account carries many features of a traditional bank account:
Online bill pay
Direct Deposit
Checks
ATM Card
FDIC or SIPC coverage
Cash ...
8
votes
2answers
194 views
Do margins on a brokerage account affect your credit score?
If you have the ability to trade on margin, will this improve your credit history/score? If you refuse to pay the margin and lack the funds to pay for the money borrowed, I understand that it can ...
4
votes
1answer
109 views
Borrowed shares how are they tracked?
When a short position is opened in the stock market how does the brokerage know whether the trader has actually borrowed the shares or not?
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Trading on exchanges or via brokerage compnaies?
I was wondering what relations are between brokerage companies and
exchanges? Are brokers representing investors to trade on exchanges?
For individual investors, what are some cons and pros of ...
4
votes
1answer
198 views
How can a U.S. citizen open a Canadian brokerage account?
Is there any way to open a Canadian brokerage account while still being a U.S. citizen? I would like to open an online brokerage account if possible in Canada to trade on the TSX (I hate ADR).
3
votes
2answers
76 views
How can I request and verify that my identity information is purged from a bank I no longer use?
I have consolidated a lot of finances from several banks (Chase, a Credit Union) and brokerage houses (Schwab, Fidelity) and since I no longer use these institutions I would like to request a complete ...
4
votes
1answer
145 views
When you buy mutual funds through a broker, where are the shares held?
This question arises from a previous one regarding managing all one's investments from one screen on a brokerage house's web site, and a recent answer by @Patches regarding segregation of the ...
6
votes
3answers
158 views
Can stock brokerage firms fail?
Can brokerage firms like Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, or Vanguard fail? They seem pretty unshakable, but the recent financial crisis made it clear that even very large financial companies can fall. And ...
6
votes
1answer
191 views
Wells Fargo Brokerage has no shares of stock to short
I want to short several hundred shares of a stock.
Wells Fargo brokerage has no shares to short. Would a different brokerage be likely to have access to shortable shares, or do they all access the ...
1
vote
2answers
160 views
Which brokers offer the largest selection of mutual funds?
I use Morningstar for mutual fund picks, but my broker (Merril Lynch) does not offer many of them. It's a pain because sometimes they don't offer good fund alternatives.
Is my only option to move to ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
How expensive is it to keep minimal cash at a brokerage?
With the recent events at MF Global, I am reluctant to keep any more than a minimum of cash at any brokerage; it seems that in the cases of fraud, you either don't get your money back or it may take ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What does “this trade was unsolicited” mean on a brokerage confirmation?
I sold some stock in my IRA brokerage account with Vanguard. Everything seems to have gone through fine, but the confirmation states in all caps that "this trade was unsolicited."
I'm just curious ...
4
votes
3answers
141 views
Automatic investments for cheap
I'm looking for a way to do automatic investments (say to put $100 every month into an index fund). I use Sharebuilder for my regular investments, but it looks like they charge $4 per transaction for ...
6
votes
2answers
75 views
Other than being able to borrow to invest, how is a margin trading account different from a cash account?
Other than being able to borrow against one's portfolio value to purchase additional investments, how is a typical brokerage margin trading account different from a typical cash trading account?
...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the fee charged for ADRs, which is deducted when dividends are paid?
My brokerage charges me a fee to hold ADRs; this fee is deducted anytime the ADRs pay dividends. I'm told that this is a standard fee and could not be negotiated.
Is this fee truly carved in stone, ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
What is the cost of “free” trades?
It's not unusual to get a certain number of free trades when you open a new account at a brokerage, but some firms have gone as far as effectively eliminating trading fees altogether. For example, ...
12
votes
4answers
853 views
Why does my bank suddenly need to know where my money comes from?
Today I went to my brokerage acct for Wells Fargo and the page said that online trading was suspended.
So I called them and the rep said, "we need to know where your money came from."
This is an odd ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
At Questrade, based on the commission schedule, does an investor need to buy a minimum of 495 shares?
From this link:
http://www.questrade.com/trading/tax_free_savings.aspx
It says :
commissions are 1ยข per share, $4.95
minimum / $9.95 maximum.
That means , the investor needs to buy a minimum ...
4
votes
1answer
595 views
Understanding summary of brokerage account value, cash balance, buying power?
I am totally new to stock and their trading. I have questions when I was trying to understand an account at a brokerage company:
Account 12345678(Margin)
Net Liq Value $23,416.36
Buying Power - ...
2
votes
2answers
392 views
Finding a Brokerage for Dollar-Cost Averaging
What lessons can you share when practicing dollar-cost averaging with a discount brokerage?
The goal is an inexpensive way to invest with every paycheck. With amounts that small, commissions have a ...
3
votes
2answers
135 views
Can I roll back an accidental brokerage & retirement account transfer?
I transferred my accounts (Brokerage + Traditional IRA + Roth IRA) from E*Trade to Edward Jones in full. I didn't realize a couple things in the process:
That fees would be assessed ($180).
That the ...
21
votes
4answers
868 views
Why do a lot of people recommend Vanguard so often?
What is it with Vanguard? I've heard the name come up a bunch, but I don't know why this particular company is getting all the good free press...
0
votes
1answer
581 views
How does transferring to a new brokerage account work?
I currently have 2 brokerage accounts - one at Schwab and one at Vanguard - I would like to consolidate them both at Vanguard. How does that work? Do the stocks (mutual funds in this case) just ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I transfer my Employee Stock Purchase Plan assets to a different broker?
I'm considering consolidating my assets with a single broker; is there any way I can transfer the shares I own to another manager?
The trick is that each ESP purchase has a 2 year period before I ...
6
votes
5answers
277 views
Checking to brokerage transfer latency: Why does it take 3 days to move money, even at the same bank?
It takes my bank 3 days to transfer money back and forth to my brokerage account, even though my checking and brokerage accounts are both with the same bank.
I don't understand why in the digital age ...
7
votes
2answers
354 views
Why does a no-load fund have transaction fees? Isn't that a contradiction?
According to Scottrade's website, the T. Rowe Price Retirement funds are "No-load" but at the same time "Transaction fees apply". I thought the whole idea of No-load funds was not having any ...
7
votes
2answers
582 views
How can I purchase Skype stock during the IPO?
Skype will be going IPO soon. How can I purchase their IPO stock?
14
votes
6answers
862 views
