An online brokerage account is a portfolio of cash and securities on an online trading platform. Investors can use online brokers instead of conven...

Some online brokerage firms have account minimums that range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. However, the top online brokers that...

To open an online brokerage account, all you have to do is visit a broker’s website. Each firm has its own account opening process, which can be co...

What kind of online brokerage account you should open depends on your financial goals. For example, if your goal is to save for retirement, you sho...

If you’re an experienced investor and you want to actively trade the markets, you might consider opening a margin account instead of a cash account...

Securities regulators require all brokerage firms to know their clients—even online brokers. To open an account, then, you’ll need to provide infor...

A paper trading account is a mock investment account that allows users to pick investments without risking any real money. The account tracks the o...

You can buy stocks without a broker by using a dividend reinvestment plan or investing in a direct stock purchase plan. While these options make it...

One of the simplest ways to diversify your investments is to hold a wide portfolio of stocks and bonds using funds that track broad market indexes...

Your money is insured at brokerage firms up to $500,000 in cash and securities, including $250,000 in uninvested cash by the Securities Investor Pr...

You can start trading at a brokerage firm as soon as you fund your account, which typically takes a few days. Some brokers may even allow you to st...

Typically, you’ll choose between a taxable brokerage account and retirement accounts such as a traditional or Roth IRA. The type of account you cho...

You can get started investing with very small amounts these days. Many brokers allow you to buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs, so you can ge...