 |
Charles Schwab | TD Ameritrade | E*Trade | Fidelity | |
| Branch Offices Nationwide | 415 | 303 | 103 | 29 | 118 |
| Market & Limit Orders NYSE, NASDAQ, OTC, & NYSE Amex (formerly AMEX) |
$7* unlimited shares |
$12.95 + $0.015/share over 1,000 shares** |
$9.99 unlimited shares |
$12.99 † | $19.95 + $0.015/share over 1,000 shares ‡ |
| Options (Equity/Index) |
$7 + $1.25 per contract |
$8.95 + $0.75 per contract |
$9.99 + $0.75 per contract |
$12.99 + $0.75 per contract |
$19.95 + $0.75 per contract |
| Broker-Assisted Orders | $27 unlimited shares |
$25.00 + online commission |
$44.99 | $45.00 + online commission |
$55.00 + $0.14 per share over 100 shares |
| Real-Time Dow Jones News for Investors |
Complimentary | Complimentary for active traders |
$29.99/Month | $29.95/Month | Not Available |
| Quarterly/Annual Account Maintenance Fee | $0/$0 | $0/$0 | $0/$0 | $40/$160 ¶ | $0/$0 |
| Minimum Initial Deposit | $500 | $1,000 ♦ | $2,000 ($1,000 for IRA)***** | $1,000 | $2,500**** |
| Margin Interest Rate On $7,500 Debit Balance | 7.75% | 8.50% | 9.00% | 6.99% | 8.575% |
| Buy 10,000 Shares at $20 Limit | $7 | $147.95** | $9.99 | $9.99 | $145.95 |
| Broker-Assisted Order for 5,000 Shares at $60 Limit | $27 | $97.95** | $44.99 | $54.99 | $247.50 |
| No-Transaction Fee Mutual Funds | 1,150+*** | 2,000+ | 1,300+ | 1,000+ | 1,400+ |
| Buy 5,000 of Vanguard Fund | $17 | $49.95 | $49.99 | $19.99 | $75.00 |
| Account Closing & Transfer Out Fee | $0 | $50 | $75 | $60 | $0 ($50 for IRA) |
Prices for competitors were obtained on March 30th, 2009 and are believed to be accurate, but not guaranteed. Some of the firms listed above may reduce or waive commissions or fees, depending on account activity or total account value.
* For stocks priced under $1, add 1/2% of the principal value to the commissions shown. Most foreign and pink sheet stocks must be traded with broker assistance for a $27 commission. Commissions are charged on a per order basis. Limit orders executed over multiple days and orders modified after a partial execution on the same day will be treated as separate orders for commission calculation purposes. The quarterly account maintenance fees imposed by other brokers may be waived if your account meets minimum balance and/or trading requirements.
** $8.00 flat pricing may apply depending on household balances or trade volume.
*** No transaction fee (NTF) funds are subject to the terms and conditions of the NTF funds program. Scottrade is compensated by the funds participating in the NTF program through recordkeeping, shareholder, or SEC 12b-1 fees.
**** The Fidelity Account ®
***** The minimum initial deposit may change based on the account type, or it may be modified by special promotional offers. A $2,000 minimum deposit is required to be considered for a margin account or options priviledges.
♦ $1000 minimum can be waived when customers agree to transfer $100 monthly to their Charles Schwab brokerage account using Schwab MoneyLink
† For orders involving securities listed on a national securities exchange (listed securities) a fee of $0.015 per share will apply to that portion of the order exceeding 2,000 shares.
‡ $8.00 flat pricing may apply depending on household balances or trade volume.
¶ Exceptions may be made based on balances, account type or trade volume.