Money & Investing - Banks.com

Image via CrunchBase

I just read over on Generation X Finance that Zecco is offering a number of fabulous free stock trades. In fact, it is possible to get 20 free stock trades if you sign up by September 23. Here is what Jeremy at Generation X Finance writes about the promo:

Zecco Trading is offering 20 free stock trades — a $90 value — to all new brokerage customers who sign up by Sunday, September 13th 2009! Use promo code “bonus1” to qualify.

These free stock trades are special, because you have a whole 90 days to use them. Some other brokerages give you free equity trades to use within 30 days of signing up, so by the time you transfer money into your account, the free stock trades might have expired! With Zecco Trading, you have more time to use your free stock trades when it makes sense to trade.

Now, if you are into picking stocks, this might be a good time for you to head on over and try it out. Even if you aren’t normally into stock picking, it could still be a good time to buy a few shares of something that you feel has long-term buy and hold potential. The stock market, though choppy lately, is generally on the way up. If you want to make a little extra money, it might be worth it to get in now, while the getting is good (and cheap).

I’m tempted to take advantage of this offer myself. I like the idea of cheap trades, and online trading. For the most part, I’m an index fund gal, but there are some good bargains out there. Although, judging from my current performance on Umoo.com’s stock trading game, I’m a horrible stock picker.

Disclaimer: I am not an investment professional. Nothing in this piece or on this Web site should be construed as investment advice. Before making investment decisions, do your own research and/or consult with an investment professional. All investment comes with the risk of loss. You are responsible for your own investment decisions and any loss that may result from your decisions.

There are a great many discount brokers that allow you to trade online. The advent of these brokers have made the stock market more accessible to a wider variety of people. However, it also means that you have to wade through a number of choices, trying to decide which would work best for you. Luckily, Stock Trading To Go has compiled a list that can help you. Here is a partial look at the online discount broker comparison chart:

As you can see, there are a number of options to choose from. If you look at the complete chart, you will see that there is also a compilation of tools that come with various online broker accounts. When choosing an online discount broker, it is important to consider your goals, and the types of features you want. You want to make sure that you find an online broker that works well for you. As you can see, if you want more features (and a better rating) you may need to have an account minimum and pay a little more for your trades.

However, it is also clear that there are some online discount brokers that provide accounts with no minimums. For those who are looking to start investing with very little capital, these brokers can be good choices. It is important to realize, though, that you may not get the same level of service, or as many features.

In the end, you need to do your research and evaluate what works best for you. Tools like the broker comparison chart from Stock Trading To Go can be quite helpful as you make your decision, though.

Disclaimer: I am not an investment professional. Nothing in this piece or on this Web site should be construed as investment advice. Before making investment decisions, do your own research and/or consult with an investment professional. All investment comes with the risk of loss. You are responsible for your own investment decisions and any loss that may result from your decisions.

Whether you are looking to use a retirement account for investing, or whether you just want to take advantage of a bear market to make some carefully considered investments for futures gains, using an online broker can be a good way to get started. Often, with online investment accounts, you can do your own research and you have a great deal of control over which investments you make.

However, like any other investing decision, it is important to consider your individual needs when choosing an online investment broker. Investopedia offers some tips for choosing an online investment broker that is right for you:

1. Consider a full-service broker. Even though a full-service online investment broker costs more than the discount brokers, if you are a beginner it can be a good idea to start with the support and knowledge of a full-service brokerage. Additionally, you may find that the discount investment broker doesn’t have the investment vehicles you are looking for. A discount broker will save you money, but you need to make sure it really is the right fit for you.
2. Availability and flexibility. Check the site at various times during the day (including peak trading times) to see whether or not the site has trouble with availability. You want to make sure that you will be able to make trades when you want to. Additionally, find out whether the online broker allows you to make trades via phone — and what kinds of fees are charged for phone trades.
3. Minimum deposit. Figure out what kind of minimum deposit you need to start — as well as what your account minimum should be. Some online investment brokers require very high minimums. If you can’t afford the minimum account balance, perhaps you should move on.
4. Customer service. Make sure you will have access to good customer service. When you need help with your investment account, you need help NOW.
5. Find out about cash in the account. In many cases, an online investment broker will give you a modest (3% or so) return on the cash you have sitting in your account. This is a nice bonus. But not all online brokers offer this, so see if you can look for one that does.