Comparing Brokerage Houses

• 1). Compare by research offered. If you do not use a separate source for research or choose not to do the research by yourself, it is important to use a brokerage that has robust information sources and effective research. If the brokerage offers the service of valuing public companies for you, it is considered to be very advantageous. Other research tools include charting software, access to reports, and analyst ratings.
  
  
• 2). Compare by maintenance fees. Some brokerages require maintenance fees on your account. These types of brokerages usually dedicate a broker to your account, which can be unnecessary in some circumstances. Discount brokerages do not assign a broker to your account and do not charge maintenance fees. If you feel that you need a specific person assigned to your account, you may choose to invest with a brokerage that charges maintenance fees for that service.
  
  
• 3). Compare by commission. If you are a frequent trader, it is important to have low commissions. However, brokerages with low commissions often sacrifice research tools. Therefore, it is important to establish your research needs before deciding on a brokerage based on commission. If you need a great deal of research, it is probable that a brokerage which suits your needs would require higher commissions.