5 Broker-Loved Stocks to Watch Amid Tariff-Induced Market Bloodbath April 8, 2025

Online trading also carries risks including market volatility, platform risk and cybersecurity threats. Some brokerage firms may offer insurance beyond what the SIPC provides. You can find this information by reading through the terms and conditions the company provides you. As a new investor, you may be wondering whether you should choose an online broker or a traditional broker. Both can be good options, and understanding the key differences between the two can help you determine which you need. Ally Invest is one of the best low-cost brokers on the market and is a good choice for traders of all skill levels.

Best for Fund Investing: Charles Schwab

Our team verified the data by conducting thorough online research and directly contacting companies to confirm or fill in any missing details. In one recent report, eToro found Gen Z investors are twice as likely to discuss their portfolios with friends and family as baby boomers. You’ll also find strong crypto-trading features on eToro and extensive educational materials on eToro Academy. The Forbes Advisor Investing team is committed to providing unbiased rankings and information with complete editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies, and expert insights to inform our content and guide you in making the best decisions for you.

How much money do you need to start investing?

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you’re interested in before making a decision. Brentwood, TN-based Delek US Holdings is an independent refiner, transporter and marketer of petroleum products. DK’s extensive downstream operations within the Permian Basin grant it a fairly significant competitive edge over its peers in the long term.

Best stock broker – Charles Schwab

Any online broker you choose should offer a wide variety of investment options, like stocks, ETFs, real estate investment trusts (REITs), mutual funds and bonds. Some may provide access to the forex market, cryptocurrencies and retirement accounts. Having lots of options to choose from allows you to create a well-rounded portfolio and diversify your risk across different investments.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) secures the number two spot for best stock broker for 2025 in what was an incredibly tight race. While IBKR is best known for catering to advanced traders and professionals, it also offers features that make it surprisingly accessible to a broader audience. You might be charged a trade commission when you trade a stock, ETF or other security. Though many brokers, including those listed on this page, offer no-commission trades, you might still be responsible for a contract fee. For example, you may be able to trade options without a base commission, but you’ll be charged a fee—often around $0.60—per options contract. If you’re an active trader, you’ll want to take these rates into consideration.

Zacks’ 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)

The higher the risk the lower the percentage of you net worth you should allocate to it. All investments (even the safest) come with risk so be prepared to lose money as well as profit from the stock market. If you want to buy US stocks you need a US stock broker to buy them on your behalf.

You can also access advanced trading tools such as sophisticated charting and algorithmic trading and comprehensive research resources. Interactive Brokers combines affordability, functionality and extensive resources, making it a top choice for global and active traders. An online broker is a financial institution that allows you to purchase securities, including stocks, through an online platform. Online brokers are sometimes referred to as discount brokers because they offer a considerable discount to what the typical full-service brokerage firm charges. Bankrate analyzed dozens of brokerage firms to help you find the best brokers for online stock trading. Here are our top picks due to their low costs, strong research and education offering as well as high-quality customer experience.

• This dedication to giving investors a trading advantage led to the creation of our proven Zacks Rank stock-rating system.
• Be sure to read online reviews to get a sense of a broker’s reputation and what the typical customer experience is like.
• With its broad investment offerings for trading, easy-to-use mobile and desktop applications, and low fees, Robinhood is excellent for new traders.
• The Robinhood Legend platform lets you select from preset layouts or customize them to fit your needs, and its suite of learning content is easy to digest.
• Trading fees have become very competitive, with many brokers offering commission-free stock and ETF trades.
• Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service.

However, this isn’t necessary for most people, unless you have a complex financial situation or high net worth. You can sell your investments at any time and can transfer funds in and out of the account. There’s no limit to the number of brokerage accounts you can open or on the amount of money you can add to the account. Vanguard has been around for a long time, and it’s the best online broker for long-term investing thanks to its low costs and a large variety of investments to pick from.

Why Would You Need an Online Broker for Stock Trading?

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Depending on what kind of investor you are, you’ll need to find a broker that has the features you require. Here are the features you should look for depending on your investment style. Schwab provides multiple trading experiences, giving you the option to choose between its flagship “thinkorswim” and Schwab platforms. Its extensive educational library is helpful for newer investors, and there are also podcasts, videos and in-person informational events from which to learn. Whether you choose a long-time favorite like Charles Schwab or an innovative new brokerage like …

SoFi Active Investing

• You’ll also find strong crypto-trading features on eToro and extensive educational materials on eToro Academy.
• IBKR is known for low fees and no commissions on any U.S. stock purchase or sale with the IBKR Lite pricing plan.
• To help you make a determination, this guide highlights cost information, which investment products are available, as well as deep dives into types of research tools offered by the platform.
• You can pick from things like stocks, ETFs and options trades, and you’ll track and manage the portfolio yourself.
• Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy.
• Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released reportpredicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.

This is a good example of how they are best brokers for stock trading at the forefront of stock trading technology. However, it can be a bit of a pain trying to get through to someone on the phone if you are not a large customer with a personal stock broker. Since 2009, we’ve helped over 20 million visitors research, compare, and choose an online broker. Our writers have collectively placed thousands of trades over their careers.

This perk rewards users a dollar for every 1,000 shares traded via limit orders during regular market hours. Despite these excellent features, eToro lacks mutual funds, futures, bonds and forex trading, which makes it less than ideal for anyone looking to invest in those securities. Yes, you can transfer an existing brokerage account to a new broker, maintaining your holdings and not having to sell them. Some brokers charge a fee when you move an existing account to a different brokerage. St Louis, MO-based Peabody Energy engages in the coal mining business and has thermal and metallurgical operations.

These tools can provide valuable market insights and be crucial to your investment strategy. Other factors you may want to consider when choosing the best stock broker include fees and commissions, account minimums and promotional offers. EToro’s active community makes it a good option for people who want to learn from experienced crypto traders or copy the trades of popular investors. You can also invest in prebuilt portfolios curated by eToro’s investment team or other successful investors.

Many Webull customers appreciate its excellent charting functionality and range of educational materials. However, there are criticisms about lags in trading execution, difficulty withdrawing funds and poor customer support. Some users appreciate the platform and app’s ease of use, while others are dissatisfied by the user interface and frequent app updates. Some users also expressed frustration with customer service hold times and a lack of transparency related to policy changes. Fidelity is one of the few brokers on our list with branches that offer in-person customer support. Schwab is one of the few brokerages on our list with physical branches that offer in-person customer service.

Online brokerage firms take a self-directed approach—you’re responsible for setting up the account, choosing your investments and maintaining the account. Many online brokers do provide phone support, but some may only offer support through email or online chat. EToro offers an engaging communal experience, along with access to comprehensive educational resources to build trading skills. It empowers investors to copy the trades of successful investors through social features.

With IBKR’s Interactive Traders platform, you can trade on 150 markets in over 200 countries and territories. The broker has a comprehensive selection of investment products; you can expect to pay low or no commissions. IBKR also has some of the lowest margin rates you’ll find on the market.