Different Trade Commission Fees by Company

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

Because of the free market system established as the economic backbone of the U.S. economy, different trading companies have different trade commission fees and a wise consumer can take advantage of the discrepancies. Within the past few years, online trading businesses that allow consumers to act as their own stockbrokers have been sprouting up all over the Web. All of the online trading companies are competing for new business so they try to lure in new customers in several ways. One way they can set themselves apart from each other is by offering you different trade commission fees in hopes of enticing you to choose them over their nearest competitor.

Online Brokers

Another reason trading companies have different trade commission fees is their overall operating expenses. Typically, online trading companies can offer lower trade commission fees than their brick and mortar cousins as they have lower operating costs. If you opt to manage your own finances via online trading, there is no fund manager responsible for your account to assist you or to take a commission from your earnings.

Brick and Mortar Brokers

Brick and mortar trading companies have different trade commission fees from each other not only to lure in new customer business, but because the skill set of their employees. Most brokerage firms reward their employees handsomely for a job well done with large salaries and high bonuses. The funds for paying for the traders must come from somewhere, and trade commission fees are just one revenue source that management can put on the books.

By taking the time to honestly evaluate your financial acumen and your comfort level, you can decide whether you want to invest solely via online trading or by utilizing the professional experience a portfolio manager brings to the table. Once that basic decision is made, you can then research your path and benefit from the different commission fees trading companies offer.

BEFORE YOU GO

See Today's Best
Banking Offers

Looks like you're using an adblocker

Please disable your adblocker to enjoy the optimal web experience and access the quality content you appreciate from GOBankingRates.

  • AdBlock / uBlock / Brave
    1. Click the ad blocker extension icon to the right of the address bar
    2. Disable on this site
    3. Refresh the page
  • Firefox / Edge / DuckDuckGo
    1. Click on the icon to the left of the address bar
    2. Disable Tracking Protection
    3. Refresh the page
  • Ghostery
    1. Click the blue ghost icon to the right of the address bar
    2. Disable Ad-Blocking, Anti-Tracking, and Never-Consent
    3. Refresh the page