The Webull Cash Management account also earns a competitive APY, so you can earn interest on your invested cash. Get expert advice, actionable strategies, and exclusive offers that help you save more and spend with confidence. Charles Schwab has $9.93 trillion assets under management (AUM) as of March 31, 2025. The tax-free savings account is a great wealth-building tool, but it’s sadly misunderstood. Once a pioneer in the space, Scotia iTrade now finds itself playing catch-up, working to regain relevance in a market where user expectations have evolved rapidly. If it hopes to remain competitive, significant upgrades are still needed across the board.

• Charles Schwab pioneered the low-cost brokerage model decades ago, and that legacy continues with its lineup of no-commission-fee offerings.
• Its consistent focus on accessibility, innovation, and service excellence makes it the clear choice for both new and experienced investors alike.
• As a subsidiary of the State Bank of India, SBI Securities provides a secure and efficient platform and is one of the best brokers for trading derivatives, equity, and ETFs.
• The Trading Experience category looks at how easy it is for investors to place trades using an online brokerage.
• You can reach Fidelity customer support at any time via phone and web chat.

Make sure the Largest Brokerage Firms Offer Comprehensive Trader resources?

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. The Largest Brokerage Firms working capital and client-funded accounts must be kept separate to avoid conducting business with client funds. Any fraudulent behaviour with Largest Brokerage Firms is monitored by financial regulators in the jurisdictions brokers are allowed to operate. To get a piece of the pie, these companies will need to hire a whole crew of employees, who will also charge fees to represent their clients. Brokerage firms, as we’ve stated above, are growing and need a few representatives to cut their costs and remain competitive. Yes, NRIs can invest in the Indian stock market through the NSE and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

• With over $14.1 trillion in assets under management, Fidelity is the largest online broker worldwide.
• If you’re not sure what Desjardins really offers for those ultra-low commissions, dig into the details—you might be surprised by the value.
• National Bank Discount Brokerage and Desjardins Online Brokerage now offer $0 commissions for stocks and ETFs, and they do have some minor costs in the small print.
• On top of that, we ran hundreds of everyday investor tasks on each platform to see how things actually work in real life.
• As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Fees

Once you’ve made a decision on a broker, you can refer to our guide to opening a brokerage account. Yes, you can actually buy and sell stocks without a broker, but it is not a common approach these days. Some companies still offer direct stock purchase plans that allow you to buy shares directly from the company. Companies administer these plans according to internal rules, and some are only open to company employees.

Vanguard’s Fee Structure

Fidelity invests in its systems and online trading platforms, offering an enhanced investor dashboard and customizable indexes for a personalized experience for its users. Upstox has long been one of the leading stock brokers in India, offering investments in mutual funds, IPOs, and F&Os. It appeals to cost-conscious investors with a flat fee of ₹20 on equity intraday, F&O, currency & commodity, and high complaints resolutions. Upstox has over 6.1 million active clients and provides access to advanced tools and charts in the global markets, allowing users to diversify their portfolios effectively.

If the company does not have in-depth knowledge about various investment options, then it will not be able to provide relevant financial advice to its customers. In addition to this, the company must also have sound knowledge about investment strategies. It should be in a position to suggest to the customers the right investment options.

Factors That Determine the Reputation of a Brokerage Firm

The term “broker-dealer” refers to the specific regulatory role, while “brokerage firm” denotes the broader business entity. As of this writing, the largest broker worldwide (in terms of number of users and AUM) is Fidelity, closely followed by Charles Schwab and Vanguard. Read our IBKR review and our article covering Interactive Brokers’ statistics such as largest online brokers number of users, AUM, and more.

EToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, aswell as trading CFDs. Some platforms offer access to research from leading fund managers, such as Goldman Sachs or investing house Morningstar. It could also include more in-depth support and educational tools, such video tutorials. With so much competition for your trading dollar, you can easily find a platform that’s affordable and matched to your investment goals. Many also cater to beginner investors with fractional investing, so you can buy a slice of the most expensive stocks. The process of buying and selling shares is transacted via the stock market, where companies are listed and valued across a range of indices.

Want to better understand how TD Direct Investing’s platforms stack up for new investors? Explore our detailed experience breakdown to see what really matters beyond the promos. At the end of the day, new investors need real support, not just a free app. Look for a broker that offers education, guidance and a place to build your confidence. To explore how Questrade supports your trading needs, dive into the full platform breakdown for more details. While TD Direct Investing doesn’t lead in most areas, it performs well across the board.

Sam Levine has over 30 years of experience in the investing field as a portfolio manager, financial consultant, investment strategist and writer. He also taught investing as an adjunct professor of finance at Wayne State University. Sam holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and the Chartered Market Technician designations and is pursuing a master’s in personal financial planning at the College for Financial Planning. Previously, he was a contributing editor at BetterInvesting Magazine and a contributor to The Penny Hoarder and other media outlets. In addition to our top picks above, we explored two additional stock brokers for Australians. View our full review of eToro to learn more about its various offerings and platforms.

What brokerages offer low-cost trading?

Keep in mind that Firstrade pays low interest on uninvested cash, so you may want to consider other options for your idle funds. They charge no commission on stock and ETF trades, which is a significant advantage for frequent traders. JP Morgan, ranking fourth, has a significant presence with $3.7 trillion in assets under management and 82 million customer accounts.

If you look past the surface, you’ll see that not all platforms are moving forward. Some firms are doubling down on marketing instead of platform development. While the race to win over new investors is on, seasoned investors—many of whom helped build these firms—risk being left behind. Zerodha is the biggest stockbroker in India and is considered to be the safest stock broker in India. It is trusted by over +10 million clients on NSE & BSE, and contributes to over 15% of all retail order volumes in India daily by trading and investing. Zerodha’s trading platform, Kite, is also considered the safest and best trading app for Indian stock traders.

Additionally, the bank offers research and analysis to help traders make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve. Fidelity lets you trade fractional or whole shares, mutual funds, ETFs, options, bonds, cryptocurrency and more. With no minimum deposit requirement and no commissions on U.S. stocks, ETFs or options trades, it can be a cost-effective option for beginner investors. CommSec is one of the largest online brokers in Australia, providing trading access to 25 exchanges throughout the world.