Best stock trading company for a very light trader with under $500?

Question

I am looking to get into stock and bond trading. I am a college student and I am willing to put around $500 aside just for trading stocks. I looked on etrade but I believe there is a $1000 minimum for cash trades. I am not looking to trade that often either. Mainly buy stock and hold it for a while. Any ideas on what companies are good for this?

Answer 1

All major brokerage firms provide their clients with on-line services, including trading platforms, latest market & financial news and research.

Customers need to select the site that is best for them.  Traders have requirements in a site, while investors have other requirements.  

Although most sites are geared to general securities and commodities, however customers may have special needs for the types of products they trade, and the markets in which they trade.

It seems that the most popular firms for on-line investing all of which provide excellent platforms and services are; Scottrade; Chas.Schwab; TDAmeritrade; Fidelity; E-Trade and Thinkorswim

Maybe the last thing you should be looking at is what broker to use, instead of educating yourself a litlle longer before making any investment/frading move.  You not going to able to do much trading with $500 and definelty won't be abe to do any thing with bonds.

Here's some websites that will help you with your investing education.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp

http://finance.yahoo.com/

http://www.investors.com/?tn=top

http://investorshub.advfn.com/default.as...

http://www.thestreet.com

http://www.brokerage101.com/

http://www.1source4stocks.com/

http://www.decisionpoint.com/TAcourse/TA...

http://stockcharts.com/

http://www.grahaminvestor.com/

http://www.thestreet.com/

http://www.morningstar.com/

http://www.dividenddetective.com/

Answer 2

You should check out Firstrade.  They have no minimum deposit requirements.  I am currently a customer of Firstrade and I am very happy with what they have to offer at their cheap rates.  Good customer service too.

Answer 3

Hi,

I don't know about US brokerage site.

But before looking for brokerage site where to put your money, have you looked how to invest?

Are you studying your investing approach? Which is the best way for you? Which is your competence niche where to look for?

Remember that Stock exchange can be a good way to invest money and also to loose money :D

Ciao

Roberto

Answer 4

Stockbuilder.com lets you trade with low investment amounts. Its a good company. Its not good if you want to trade often because  I dont think it fills the orders quickly. You can check out their FAQs