Best Brokerage Firms

Based in Morris County, New Jersey, The Daily Record reviews the best brokerage firms around the brokerage world. It quotes Smart Money Magazine's latest survey which placed Fidelity as "Premium Broker", TradeKing as "Best Discount Broker", and Merrill Lynch as "Best Full-Service Broker".

Yet, the Daily Record newsroom, headed by Warren Boroson, responded that the survey of these three best brokerage firms may not be sufficient enough for brokerage trackers since it is not suitable for day-traders or those who buy only mutual funds. Accordingly, Smart Money's survey and rankings are based only on buy-and-hold customers who are into stocks, bonds and mutual funds, those with a $50,000 account, and those who want to write covered calls.

Nevertheless, the ranking of the best brokerage firms by Smart Money has still been based according to set quantifiable and qualitative criteria. To determine the best brokerage firms, Smart Money sent their reliable field reporters to open brokerage accounts in 14 potential brokerage firms. The reporters bought and sold different kinds of securities, questioned the firms' customer service through phone and e-mail, checked their account statements and tax forms, and reviewed scrutiny on the web sites, as among some of the survey's conducted measures.

To note, the Smart Money study also included supplementary standards to further determine the best brokerage firms more accurately or to come up with the best possible approximation through their available means. They included the brokerage firms' size of commission, investment products, banking amenities, trading tools, level of research, and customer service.

And the results - Fidelity, TradeKing, and Merrill Lynch as the three #1's. Next to Fidelity in the honor as "Premium Broker" are E*Trade, Charles Schwab, Banc of America Investment Services, TD Ameritrade, WellsTrade, and Vanguard. Vanguard, as explained by Smart Money came last because it caters to fund-investors instead of stock-investors.

TradeKing grabbed "Best Discount Broker" although it is only a new-entry discount broker. Following the lead are Firstrade, OptionsXpress, Muriel Siebert, Scottrade, ThinkOrSwim, and WallStreet*E.

In the "Best Full-Service Broker", Merrill Lynch is tagged-along by SmithBarney, Edward Jones, A.G. Edwards, Wachovia, Morgan Stanley, and UBS. Merrill Lynch replaced last year's first-place Edward Jones because of the latter's below-average stock-picking. Other special determinants used by Smart Money for their "Best Full-Service Broker" aside from the brokerage firm's stock-picking are customer satisfaction and trust and statements.

Overall, the Daily Record recognizes Smart Money's survey of the best brokerage firms. These may serve as good guide for people engaged or deciding to engage in brokerage, and also as good guiding-principle for self-company assessment of the forerunning brokers themselves. The outcomes of the study at least are good only for this year'06 - Just for the record.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Finance" article category.

People interested in the above article "Best Brokerage Firms" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Debt Collection: The Basics - How Do I Choose The Debt Collection Agency That’s Right For Me? - By : Ken J. Keller

A Short Guide to Business Funding - By : John Switzer Haagensen

Choose Fee-Based Financial Advice - By : Kathryn Dawson

Free Government Small Business Grants - By : David Hensley

Government Small Business Grants and Loans - By : David Hensley

Small Business Grants from Private Companies - By : David Hensley

Grants for Small Business Expansion - By : David Hensley

Small Business Grants in California - By : David Hensley

Types of Small Business Grants - By : David Hensley

Veteran Owned Small Business Grants - By : David Hensley