ETRADE Stock Broker Review. ETRADE Securities is the granddaddy of online discount brokerage houses. I opened my first brokerage account with ETRADE in 1996. I was working for a financial firm at the time and found it funny when my employer’s compliance officer asked me for my broker’s name and number. I stated I didn’t have a dedicated broker and I made my trades online with E*TRADE. They looked at me as if I had two heads; they had never heard of an online discount broker.
E*TRADE, the granddaddy of online discount brokers, is still a good choice for active investors. Its platforms are easy to use, customer service is responsive, and trades execute quickly. Plus, it now charges no commissions on online stock, ETF and options trades.
I signed up with ETRADE because I wanted the ability to make stock trades online and to do online stock research without interacting with a broker. ETRADE pioneered this with its low flat-pricing structure. Of all of the brokerage firms I have used over the years, I find E*TRADE’s website has the best user interface.
E*TRADE is easy to use, offers lots of research, and makes it a pleasure to place trades. In addition, I have never had any problems when I had to call customer service. The staff has always been prompt and helpful and have solved my problems quickly.
ETRADE Features Review
| Minimum Investment | $0 |
| Stock Trades | $0 |
| Options Trades | $0 |
| Mutual Funds | $19.99 |
| Investment Types | Stocks, OTC/Penny Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Options, Forex, Futures |
| Accounts | Taxable, Joint, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), Trusts, Coverdell, Custodial |
| Access | Web-Based, iPhone App, Apple Watch, Android App |
| Broker Assisted Trade | $25 |
| Virtual Trades | No |
| No Fee ETFs | 108 |
| Customer Service | Phone: 24/7; Live Chat: 24.7; Email; Branch Office |
E*TRADE has evolved from a discount investment broker to a full-service investment platform with every conceivable tool. Here’s a summary of just some of them.
- Trade-in 77 international markets
- No minimum account balances
- No transaction fees on more than 1,300 no-load mutual funds
- Integrated checking account from E*TRADE Bank
ETRADE Review – Available Account Types for Investments
ETRADE is a full-service brokerage, offering investments in stocks, bonds, and other fixed-income assets, more than 8,000 mutual funds, as well as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), target-date funds, options, and futures. ETRADE also enables you to trade on 77 international markets.
- In addition to regular, taxable brokerage accounts, you can also have a traditional or Roth IRA or a rollover IRA (from an employer-sponsored plan). Add to that a small business IRA, such as a SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRA, an Individual 401(k), a Roth Individual 401(k), or a Profit Sharing Plan.
- Custodial Account — You can open a custodial account for a minor, as well as a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).
- Investment Accounts for Businesses — E*TRADE also offers investment accounts for businesses. Your business can be a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. You can even open an account for an investment club. E*TRADE uses its own clearing agency, E*TRADE Clearing LLC, to settle investment transactions.
ETRADE Investment Assistance Review
ETRADE provides financial consultants through ETRADE Securities, LLC, who can help you create an investment plan, choose investments, and manage portfolio risk
- Capital Management — If you’re looking for active and ongoing portfolio management, E*TRADE Capital Management is available to work with you.
- Managed Accounts — If you don’t want to deal with the responsibilities of day-to-day portfolio management, E*TRADE has you covered through E*TRADE Capital Management’s Managed Accounts. You must have a minimum of $25,000 in order to take advantage of this option, but it will entitle you to an actively managed portfolio of mutual funds and ETFs. The goal is to create and maintain a balanced portfolio that’s consistent with your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The service will also handle rebalancing and tax management of your portfolio.
Commission-Free Trading
In October 2019, E*TRADE joined a growing list of online brokers who have eliminated commissions on stock, ETF and options trades. (However, keep in mind there’s still a 65-cent contract fee for options).
ETRADE Mobile App Review
Complementary to the Power ETRADE Pro service, ETRADE excels in mobile device support. Trade anywhere at any time. The app currently supports these devices:
- Apple iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch
- Android Phone and Tablet
- Amazon Fire Phone
- Kindle Fire
- Windows Phone
If you want market information at a moment’s notice, ETRADE has capitalized on the new functionality available in the second iteration of the Apple Watch software, which provides you with the ability to integrate ETRADE Apple Watch app data directly into your watch face — a first for the industry.
Pretty much all of the functionality of the website is available on the mobile application. When I tested the iPad version, I couldn’t find any reason I would be forced to use their traditional website. This is nice if you are an active trader who needs access to your account anywhere you go.
Apple Pay Functionality (New)
ETRADE now offers Apple Pay functionality for ETRADE debit cardholders. The simple, efficient payment option caps off an end-to-end experience for ETRADE customers. You can now use the cash in your account for daily purchases, and you can now link ETRADE debit cards directly to Apple Pay and enjoy safe, secure, card-free payment.
Power ETRADE Pro Review
To make advanced trading software more understandable and relevant to regular Main Street investors, the ETRADE Pro function has been upgraded. ETRADE Pro is perfect for active traders, and the app for it is second to none. There’s no additional charge to use this service. It’s available to any customer who executes at least 30 stock or options trades per calendar quarter or maintains a minimum brokerage account balance of $250,000. Power E*TRADE Pro comes with:
- Point-and-click order entry — just click the security symbol from the panel you’re in and the trade happens
- Professional-grade advanced trading tools — advanced options screener, analytics, strategy optimizer, and margin analyzer give you some of the best tools in the business
- Real-time technology — track the markets with live streaming watch lists, straight-off-the-wire market news, sector and industry tracker, and on-air CNBC TV
- Sector & Industry Tracker — a bird’s-eye view of the market and sectors
- Scan the market for trading ideas — using built-in backtesting, as well as a probability calculator to evaluate the likelihood of an investment hitting a certain price
While viewing the orientation videos, the customer can launch a suggested layout. The E*TRADE Pro user orientation has been updated for a more seamless experience. The feature also provides at least two screens for personalization, including a total of six customized screens (up from four).
Not only is the design more streamlined, but the revamped tool allows you to build multiple options strategies, run through various scenarios based on expiration dates and price points, more easily customize graphing features, and seamlessly send any strategy directly for trade execution.
E*TRADE Screenshots
ETRADE Account Protection Review
Securities within your account are protected by SIPC for up to $500,000, including up to $250,000 for cash. E*TRADE also has “excess SIPC coverage” purchased from London insurers that covers up to $600 million ($150 million per customer), including up to $900,000 in cash. This coverage is for broker failure and not for declines in the market value of your portfolio.
ETRADE also has FDIC insurance coverage of up to $250,000 per customer if you have funds on deposit with ETRADE Bank. In addition, E*TRADE’s Complete Protection Guarantee provides $0 liability for unauthorized use of your accounts, including trades, transfers, ATM usage, and bill paying.
E*TRADE Security
As a computer professional, security is of utmost importance to me. I understand how much the Internet can be like the Wild West, and I want to sleep at night knowing my financial information is secure. This is why I use E*TRADE’s Symantec Virtual Digital Security Token. You receive a keychain-sized device that generates a new personal 6-digit access code every 60 seconds. For individuals who have smartphones, Symantec also offers an app that effectively does the same as the key fob. It’s available for iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Windows smartphones.
You then log in with your username, password, and key code. This makes unauthorized logins to your E*TRADE account nearly impossible. In my opinion, all banks and brokerages should offer this feature as standard.
ETRADE Promotion
Currently, ETRADE is offering a special limited-time promotion for new members. Sign up today and deposit at least $5,000 into a new ETRADE account. E*TRADE will reward you with a cash bonus of $100 or more.
To take advantage of this offer, you must open a new non-retirement account by January 6, 2020, and fund it within 60 days of opening.
Here’s how much of a cash bonus you can receive:
| Opening Deposit | Cash Bonus |
|---|---|
| $1,000,000 or more | $2,500 |
| $500,000 – $999,999 | $1,200 |
| $250,000 – $499,999 | $600 |
| $100,000 – $249,999 | $300 |
| $25,000 – $99,999 | $200 |
| $5,000 – $24,999 | $100 |
Review ETRADE Pros & Cons
Pros
- Commission-Free Trades — E*TRADE no longer charges commissions on online stock, options and ETF trades.
- Comprehensive Trading Platform — The trading capabilities, research and investment tools on the platform are the first rate. This makes online trading as easy as it could possibly be.
- Best User Interface — It’s the perfect investment platform for the investor who is self-directed and wants to manage his or her own portfolio without the need to involve customer service in the process.
- Low Minimum Deposit — The $500 requirement opens the platform to investors of all sizes and levels of investment experience, including small and new investors.
- Accommodates Different Investor Levels — You can operate efficiently on the platform as a full-blown do-it-yourself investor, use financial consultant assistance, or have your entire portfolio professionally managed through Managed Accounts solutions.
Cons
- Oriented Toward Active Traders — E*TRADE offers lower transaction fees for active trading, but how many investors make 150 or more trades per quarter, so as to be in a position to get the benefit of those lower fees?
ETRADE Review Summary
Although I started out with ETRADE, I no longer use it as my primary broker. ETRADE has narrowed its services to focus more on investing than the previous full gamut of financial services.
Today, E*TRADE isn’t the lowest priced broker, but the site is very easy to use. In addition, trades do execute fast, and from my experience the telephone customer service is responsive.
E*Trade is well suited to small investors who prefer buy-and-hold and execute only a few trades per year. The tools on the site are first-rate, and assistance is available as needed.
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